NTN PROFILE > ISSUE PAPERS
THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE and AUSTRALIA
What exactly is the Precautionary Principle? Who opposes it, and why? It is now accepted by many countries and has been given expression in both international forums as well as in some national legislation. However, for it to become an enforceable norm of ‘customary international law’ from which no nation can dissent, it requires operationalising by lead nations such as the United States. This can only be brought about by an informed and resourced civil society working with regulators to show that the precautionary principle is the much needed commonsense approach to environmental risk.
The PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE GETS REAL(pdf 130K)
RISK ASSESSMENT
Members of the National Toxics Network, have been involved in the issue of risk assessment and risk communication for over a decade. Over this time the 250 groups and campaigners in our network have had to deal with the issues of risk assessment, perception and communication in many arenas ranging from contaminated land, species protection to the siting of industrial facilities. This paper is presented from an unashamedly community perspective.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND INDUSTRY by Mariann Lloyd Smith
Children's Environmental Health
The unique vulnerability of children to hazardous chemicals is now well recognised by both the United Nations and the World Health Organisations and international programs are now trying to address this problem. NTN would like to see Australia develop and implement similar policy relating to the environmental rights of children. Protecting the health of vulnerable sub-populations, and intergenerational equity, need to be built in to the 'day to day' core environment business.
Intergenerational Equity in Action - NTN briefing paper (Word 108k) July 2004
PREVIOUS ISSUE PAPERS
Chemical Residues in NSW Wildlife
Chemical Residues in Children's Blood
Australian Chemical Trauma Alliance
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