Hundreds of rice paper doves, bearing women's visions for a healthier planet, were let fly outside the Earth Summit venue, The Sandton Centre, Johannesburg, SA, at 1.30pm today (Fri 30/802).
They filled the sky with their collective message to the world's governments to stand firm in the face of self-interest and corporate lobbying and agree clear measures to protect the planet and human health. The women's visions the doves carried were collected by Women's Environmental Network (WEN) and are contained in a booklet, 'Visions for a Healthier Planet' which was distributed to government delegates and the media. They expressed women's priorities for future life on Earth: a desire for clean air; respect for the earth and all forms of life; a desire for safe, healthy, organic and locally grown food; and most crucially, recognition that all things are inter-connected. The event was one of the most visible representations of women's views during the 10-day event.

Helen Lynn, Health Coordinator of WEN said: "Women have deep hope for the future and strong visions of what's needed for the world. We want to be equal partners in sustainable development with active and meaningful participation not only in the final negotiations in this conference but in all future international agreements affecting our health and the health of the planet. Our hopes are real, our visions are powerful and we will not rest until our dreams for our families, our communities and the world are realised."

She and representatives from some of the other women's groups attending the summit, issued statements identifying health as a major concern.

Helen stated: "We demand that the precautionary principle is upheld in the negotiation document. It has been a watershed principle of Rio and we will do everything to make sure it won't be buried. The precautionary principle means that where there is suspicion of harm the product or technology should not be used until it has been proven safe. It is not anti-technology, on the contrary, it is an incentive to develop safe technologies."

Sascha Gabizon, Director of Women in Europe for a Common Future, based in Germany and the Netherlands, added: "Women and children have been the first to feel the effects of unsafe technologies and the thousands of chemicals on the market that are dangerous for our health. Everybody should have the right to live and work in a healthy environment. There is significant evidence linking the ill-health of women such as breast cancer and endometriosis to the toxic chemicals in our air, food and water."

"We are here with women who are suffering from the consequences of irresponsible activities by corporations and governments," said Nadejda Koutepova, President of the Planet of Hopes from the nuclear-contaminated Chelyabinsk region of Russia. "We have testified about the high cancer levels and mutations of chromosomes in the children and grandchildren caused by 50 years of exposure to so-called 'low-level' radioactive waste.

"Nuclear energy is and will always continue to be an extreme danger for women's children's and planetary health. None of the multi-billion dollars already spent by governments have succeeded in finding a solution for nuclear waste. We demand that nuclear energy is phased out and that this goal is stated in the negotiations documents."

ENDS
For further information please contact: Liz Sutton, Press & Information Co-ordinator in the UK on (00 44) (0)20 7481 9004.

Notes to editors:
1. WEN is a national UK charity and membership organisation that campaigns on environmental and health issues from a women's perspective. It educates, informs and empowers women and men who care about the environment.
2. 'Visions for a Healthier Planet', (ISBN 1-874137-09-9) is available, price £1.50 where sold, from WEN. Copies were given to UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett, Environment Minister, Michael Meacher and Development Secretary Clare Short.
3. The visions were collected from women - and a few men and children - at community events around the UK and via e-mail between March and August 2002, as part of WEN's health project, Women Taking Action for a Healthier Planet. The three-year project is funded by the Community Fund to set up a network of local groups and empower women to take action on links between the environment and health.
4. The dove was chosen to carry the visions, as an internationally recognised symbol of hope and peace. Rice paper was used because it is edible and biodegradable and therefore poses no threat to health or the environment.