Europe: NGOs Urge EU Not to Take Back Seat on Mercury Treaty
HCWH – Environmental and Health NGOs are deeply disappointed by the European Commission’s decision not to propose new restrictions on mercury until a global treaty is signed, in the recently adopted revised EU Mercury Strategy.  more

Global: Cancun Statement: Climate Change and Health, The Time to Act is Now
HCWH – Leaders from different organizations presented a Declaration Statement on Climate and Health, asking negotiatiors at COP16 to take into account the significant human health dimensions of the climate crisis along with the health benefits of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.  more

Pakistan: Hospitals Told Use Incinerators not Considering Environment nor Health
Dawn.com – The Environmental Protection Agency has issued notices to all the hospitals, asking them to submit their waste disposal plan to protect people from a host of ailments caused by medical waste from hospitals and clinics. Officers have also asked the hospitals not having incinerators to use incinerators of other hospitals for medical waste disposal by paying them the charges. Such hospitals have also been directed to install own incinerators without considering environmental nor health impacts at the earliest and report to the EPA. more

India: Bio–medical Waste Management in Healthcare Discussed
E-Pao – Manipur Pollution Control Board today organised a one-day awareness programme on 'Bio-medical Waste Management and Handling' at Shija Hospital and Research Institute.  more

Philippines: Dept. of Interior and Local Government Ordered Reduction of Mercury in Health Care
PIA – Secretary Jesse Robredo, through Memorandum Circular 2010-140 issued on December 7, 2010, enjoined all provincial governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, DILG regional directors and others concerned to ensure compliance to the Department of Health Administrative Order 21 mandating gradual phase-out of mercury-containing devices in all Philippine health care facilities and institutions. more

Philippines: Greens Call Commission on Human Rights to Affirm Chemical Safety as a Basic Human Right
EcoWaste – The EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, staged the first ever "Human Rights Day March for Chemical Safety" with an urgent plea to the Commission on Human Rights to uphold the Filipino’s right to be protected against harmful chemicals. more

China: Blast At PVC Chinese Plant Kills Four
Chemical and Engineering News – An explosion at a polyvinyl chloride plant in northern China killed four people and injured dozens of others, according to government reports. The Yushe Chemical Industry complex where the accident took place uses acetylene as a feedstock to produce the polymer. more

Europe: Message to EU Delegation: Don't Forget the Health Dividend
HCWH – A "Cancun Climate and Health Statement" announced during Health Day in Cancun, highlights the benefits to health of strong climate change policy. It has been sent to European Union delegates and members of the European Parliament delegation taking part in the climate change talks in Mexico."  more

Global: HCWH and Partners’ Joint Letter for Negotiators in Cancun
HCWH – At health, especially allergy sufferersHealth Care Without Harm, Health and Environment Alliance and Climate and Health Council, together with some of the world’s largest medical, nursing and health organizations are calling on world leaders to take bold action to address climate change. They stress that failure to do so will result in widespread suffering and death."  more

US & China: Risks of Electronic Waste for Health to be Studied by University
Cincinnati News – Researchers at the University of Cincinnati will team up with colleagues in China to study the health effects of chemical exposures from computers, televisions and other electronic waste on pregnant women and their babies.  more

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