Cross Border Toxins  
UPdate Summer 2002

A special United Nations human rights investigator has condemned the U.S. practice of exporting banned chemicals, pesticides and waste to developing countries. "Just because something is not illegal, it may still be immoral," said Fatma Zora Ouhachi Vesely . 

"Allowing the export of products recognized to be harmful is immoral." Ouhachi Vesely's job as Special Rapporteur on Toxics is to address the traffic in toxic and dangerous products and wastes and its impact on human rights.

Between 1996 and 2000, the United States exported nearly 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides that have been identified as known or suspected carcinogens, an average rate of almost 16 tons per hour.  Most of these exports are sent to the developing world and used in agriculture.