Before using a new technology, process or chemical, or starting a new activity, people have an obligation to examine a full range of alternatives including the alternative of doing nothing. This in essence is the spirit of the precautionary principle that whenever there is suspicion that an action or substance is harmful to the environment, the burden of proof is on the proponent to prove it is harmless, rather than on victims to demonstrate its harm. We have learned many lessons in our campaign against incineration in the Philippines. One such lesson is that democracy and pollution are related. If citizens and civil society in general do not assert their rights to a clean and safe environment, pollution will tend to increase.
Pollution is caused by powerful polluters.
It is their power that makes their pollution possible. Pollution is also a sign that we are losing our democracy, especially when we realize that more often than not, government agencies that were set up to protect the environment only do their jobs if it does not conflict with corporate interests.