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Global Toxics & Human Rights Project

In the News

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Op-Eds

Toxic Coal

Toxic Coal

November 30, 2022

English translation of article published in Zeit Online. In the op-ed, UN Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana warns about the dangers of continuing coal and nuclear power amid Germany's energy crisis and the need to invest in renewable energy instead.

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La alianza sin precedentes que abrirá a Latinoamérica las puertas de los mercados internacionales

La alianza sin precedentes que abrirá a Latinoamérica las puertas de los mercados internacionales

October 13 2022

Article in Spanish describing the need for Latin American countries to ratify the Escazú Agreement to ensure ecological justice, informed participation in decision-making and the protection of environmental defenders.

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FSO Safer: The ageing oil tanker is a time bomb on Yemen’s coast

FSO Safer: The ageing oil tanker is a time bomb on Yemen’s coast

May 10, 2022

Dr. Marcos Orellana warns of the imminent risk of humanitarian disaster the FSO Safer oil tanker could cause off Yemen's coast and stressing that the international community must take action now.

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ESCAZÚ: A milestone on the road to ending Latin America’s environmental conflicts

ESCAZÚ: A milestone on the road to ending Latin America’s environmental conflicts

April 2022

Interview with Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana on the significance of the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, better known as the Escazú Agreement.

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The Right to Live in a Non-Toxic Environment

The Right to Live in a Non-Toxic Environment

March 18, 2022

The piece written by Marcos Orellana and David Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, discusses the failings regarding managing the risks of pollutions and toxic wastes and how it harms the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

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Relator de la ONU: “Veo la desesperanza de la gente frente a impactos tan fuertes”

Relator de la ONU: “Veo la desesperanza de la gente frente a impactos tan fuertes”

February 28, 2022

Interview in Spanish reflecting on the Special Rapporteur's academic trip to Peru and the situation of a right to a healthy environment in the country.

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‘Babies here are born sick’: are Bolivia’s gold mines poisoning its indigenous people?

‘Babies here are born sick’: are Bolivia’s gold mines poisoning its indigenous people?

January 12, 2022

Along with UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, Marcos Orellana submitted a letter to the Bolivian government calling out inaction on regulation, use, and trade of mercury as evidence mounts that mercury contamination is causing illness in Bolivian fishing communities.

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Press Releases and Press Coverage 

Paraguay: Alarming increase in use of pesticides compromises human rights says UN expert

Paraguay: Alarming increase in use of pesticides compromises human rights says UN expert

Press Release | 14 October 2022

Press release following UN Special Rapporteur on toxic and human rights' country visit to Paraguay. The Special Rapporteur presented his preliminary observations and expressed concern for the alarming increase in pesticide use.

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Lapidario informe preliminar de la ONU sobre sustancias tóxicas y DDHH en Paraguay

Lapidario informe preliminar de la ONU sobre sustancias tóxicas y DDHH en Paraguay

Press Coverage | 14 October 2022

Article covering the UN Special Rapporteur on toxic and human right's presentation of his preliminary observations following his country visit to Paraguay. Written in Spanish.

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UN expert calls for a global ban on mercury trade and use in small-scale gold mining

UN expert calls for a global ban on mercury trade and use in small-scale gold mining

Press Release | 20 September 2022

Press release on Special Rapporteur Marcos Orellana's presentation to the Human Rights Council on his report addressing the human rights violations related to the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining.

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