Solving Pollution Problems, Saving Lives

  
       
       
       
 
     
 

September 2011

  
 

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Blacksmith Institute works in some of the world's worst polluted places to solve pollution problems and clean up contaminated sites in order to save lives. Blacksmith is currently engaged in over 40 projects in 19 countries.

  
 

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KEY PROGRAMS

  
 

Health and Pollution Fund

Global Inventory Project - Database of Polluted Places

  
 

World's Worst Pollution Problems

  
 

ENDING POLLUTION

  
 

"This is a finite problem. There are a finite number of toxic hotspots around the world. We just have to find them and clean them. We can end life-threatening pollution in our lifetime."

Richard Fuller, founder, Blacksmith Institute.

Life-threatening pollution has already been eliminated in many wealthier nations.  Now Blacksmith is leading the fight to end it in low and middle income countries.

  • Identify: Blacksmith is building the world's first comprehensive global inventory of polluted sites, where lives are at risk. Once identified, these hotspots will be ranked in order of priority for cleanup. Blacksmith investigators are crisscrossing the globe and have already identified 2100 polluted sites in more than 40 countries.
  • Implement: Blacksmith is working to create the Health and Pollution Fund - a proposed $500 million public health fund to support the cleanup of the world's worst polluted places identified by the global inventory project.
 
 

 2010 REPORT

  
 

 

Download Blacksmith's 2010 Pollution Report:  World's Worst Pollution Problems: Top Six Toxic Threats. 

  
 

NOMINATE

  
 

Nominate a Polluted Site

  
     
 

 

In This Issue:

What is Pollution? - Talking Down a Deadly Killer

What is is pollution? This month, the Pollution Blog lays out the bare facts about pollution to get the conversation going about this vastly underreported topic.

Take the recent Pollution Prevention Week for example.  It came and went, mostly unnoticed. 

Ignorance about the true extent of pollution's toll is deadly. Today, pollution is one of the world's biggest killers.

So talking about pollution is critical.  

This month, Blacksmith President Richard Fuller brought the conversation about pollution and the brown agenda to the American Australian Association in New York City.  Next year, Blacksmith will head to the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy for the 3rd time to address a key group of influencers. 

From U.N.-level meetings to professional conferences to village gatherings, Blacksmith experts address audiences worldwide on a regular basis because talking about pollution can save lives.

So get some facts about pollution and join the conversation. 

 

Tee Off For A Good Cause - October 3

Reminder - the annual Blacksmith golf benefit will take place on October 3 at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in New York. The event raises thousands of dollars each year to fund crucial cleanup projects in some of the world's worst polluted places.  Register to tee off for a good cause today.

  

Looking Ahead: China 2011-2014

By 2015, China is expected to have a complete heavy metals pollution control system in place.

As reported in the last newsletter, Blacksmith is working closely with China to put in action the country's master plan for heavy metals pollution prevention and remediation. 

Between 2011 and 2014, Blacksmith will launch a number of field pilot projects, provide advisory and analytical support, and assist in capacity building, experience sharing and communications. Projects include the assembling of systems for emergency response and environmental and health risk assessment. 

Blacksmith will also continue to build local and international partnerships to support work in China and encourage inter-country exchanges to promote the latest developments in technologies and methodologies.

Read the report on Blacksmith's strategy in China.