Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRASILIA451
2005-02-22 12:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE ON MERCURY ISSUE AT UNEP

Tags:  SENV AORC ETRD PREL BR 
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UNCLAS BRASILIA 000451 

SIPDIS

STATE PASS EPA FOR CAM HILL-MACON AND S.HOFFMAN
STATE FOR OES/ENV JOHN THOMPSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AORC ETRD PREL BR
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON MERCURY ISSUE AT UNEP

REF: (A) STATE 01897, (B) EMAIL: FEB 10, 2005

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000451

SIPDIS

STATE PASS EPA FOR CAM HILL-MACON AND S.HOFFMAN
STATE FOR OES/ENV JOHN THOMPSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AORC ETRD PREL BR
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON MERCURY ISSUE AT UNEP

REF: (A) STATE 01897, (B) EMAIL: FEB 10, 2005


1. EST Counselor provided REFTEL demarche points to Andre
Correa do Lago, Head of the Division of Environmental Policy
and Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on Feb. 10. As outlined in email, Correa do Lago
said the GOB would like to consider the opinions of other
countries which will be expressed during the debate on this
issue at the upcoming UNEP GC meeting in Nairobi. After that
meeting, and further internal debate within the GOB, a
decision will be made.


2. If you believe the old saying that "actions speak louder
than words," then chances are Brazil will eventually support
the U.S. proposal, since it is actively supporting the
development of a voluntary action plan to control mercury
contamination in waters along with other Amazon Basin
countries. At two meetings entitled "Regional Cooperation on
Mercury Contamination in the Amazon Basin" that have already
been held, co-sponsored by the South American Environmental
HUB, Brazil's Ministry of the Environment officials have
taken a leadership role in efforts to develop an action
plan.


3. Although Brazilian law expressly forbids the use of
mercury in gold mining, mercury contamination from that
source is prevalent. According to the expert Fausto Azevedo,
current data indicates that atmospheric mercury emission in
gold mining activities in Brazil are 77.9 tons per year,
representing 67.3% of total mercury emissions in the
country. Several studies have shown that levels of mercury
in riverside populations are much higher than accepted by
WHO standards.


4. A recent environmental magazine reported that Brazil's
Minister for the Environment, Marina Silva, still suffers
from the effects of mercury poisoning from her youth.

DANILOVICH