GAIA is the culmination
of a series of gatherings about incineration and alternatives
held around the world in recent years. The Global Alliance
was initially conceived by participants from Africa,
Asia, North and South America and the Middle East at
an International Clean Production Training at the Lowell
Center for Sustainable Production in June 2000. Two
months later, a number of the Lowell participants joined
a larger group of civil society representatives in Bangkok
to launch Waste Not Asia, a platform linking incineration
to broader issues of material policy and citizen participation
in governance. In December 2000, over 75 individuals
from 23 countries met in South Africa to develop GAIA's
initial structure and goals.
GAIA members work both
through regional networks and through issue workgroups
which provide the opportunity to transcend national
and regional borders to collaborate with others around
the world. The initial three GAIA workgroups are focused
on specific waste streams: Municipal Discards/Zero Waste,
Hazardous Waste, and Medical Waste (GAIA's medical waste
work is implemented in conjunction with Health Care
Without Harm). Each workgroup undertakes projects to
prevent incineration and to promote alternatives. In
addition, GAIA has identified its first global campaign
goal to stop the World Bank from funding incinerators
around the world and to support local communities targeted
by the Bank for incineration to instead promote alternatives.
GAIA is co-coordinated
by a Northern and Southern coordinator and an international
Steering Committee.
To join any workgroup, or for more information, email:
gaia@no-burn.org
GAIA Secretariat
Unit 320, Eagle Court Condominium
26 Matalino Street,
Barangay Central
Quezon City
Philippines
Telefax: +632 - 436 4733
Telephone: +632 - 929 0376
GAIA
1442A Walnut St #20
Berkeley, CA 94709
USA
Phone: +1-510-883-9490
Fax: +1-510-883-9493
