Grassroots activists from 25 countries and people from across the United States attended and planned action strategies to stop industry from emitting dioxin into our environment. Activists heard from leading government and non-governmental scientific experts on the latest studies on dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known. Attendees participated in workshops, strategy and plenary sessions to develop action plans to stop industrial dioxin pollution while protecting jobs and the health of the community.
Many participants live in communities heavily impacted by dioxin pollution from industries.
The international People's Dioxin Action Summit was held in the Bay Area due to the major battles against dioxin pollution being waged in this region that have attracted national attention. African-American and Laotian residents living near Chevron who breathe the polluted air and eat contaminated fish from the Bay demanded zero dioxin emissions and environmental justice. Greenaction, Communities for a Better Environment, the Center on Health, Environment and Justice and others also spoke out in support of the communities fighting for zero dioxin. We are demanding I.E.S. shut the incinerators and replace them with safer non-incineration technologies that will protect the jobs at the plant while better protecting the health and environment of the community. This was the largest protest ever at I.E.S., and the largest environmental justice protest in the history of northern California.