CURRENT CAMPAIGNS:

•    Help save the last primeval forest in Europe

• Wokol Rospudy (in Polish only)

 OUR MISSION:

Many American Immigrants from Poland, our families and our organizations share mutual CONCERN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE of the United States. Like many others Americans we are joining in building a better and cleaner America, a country where our children can grow without fear of air pollution, radiation, or the contamination of water and food. We would like to preserve and improve the environmental quality of our lives. The goal of this Alliance is to foster and express this environmental commitment among all immigrants from Poland. As the citizens and legal residents of the United States we have to voice our opinion that effect our own health, the health of our own communities, and the well-being and future of our children. We want them to grow in an economically sustainable society that respects the environment and promotes the values of biological and cultural diversity. We want to contribute the richness of our Polish environmental heritage - its values, philosophy, history, and culture to environmental debate in the United States. Our environmental concerns are also directed into Poland - country of our ancestry.

Environmental Issues in Poland

Poland used to be one of the greenest and sustainable countries in Europe. Yet in the last century it became one of the most polluted country on Earth. Although some work was done to alleviate these problems after gaining freedom in 1981, the truth is that Poland remains the most polluted country of Europe. It is an unsafe place to visit due to the environmental contamination of air, water and food. Current governments in Poland, unlike in the US, give a lip service to the environment. Investments in environmental improvements in Poland remain the lowest in Europe. Last two governments dropped the environment from the list of national priorities. In addition, the Polish government does not have a system of environmental warnings to insure the safety of citizens, tourists and traveling visitors. This makes living and visiting there hazardous to your health. No investments are directed towards environmental education in Polish schools and libraries, and government policy encouraging investments in chemicals in agriculture is designed to uproot the traditional sustainable organic farming - the only source of unpolluted food in Poland. Ironically, you can read in the Polish Constitution Point, Article 74 : Civic authorities carry out policies aimed at environmental security of the present and future generations. There are most troubling reports from the non governmental organizations, which indicate that environmental activists are beaten, harassed and put in jails. The police during environmental protests sexually molested female activists. Polish government does nothing to prevent these violations. Devastation of nature reserve around spiritual shrine continues.
 

We believe that environmental security of Polish Americans in the United States and Polish citizens in Poland is similarly important and therefore it should constitute an integral part of all multilateral agreements between the United States and Poland, including recently signed NATO agreement, and any investment agreements made in the past, present or future by US firms in Poland. A significant portion of these investments should be directed for the environmental improvements, and all should be subject to strict environmental controls and assessments, similar to those existing in the United States. Also, Polish products especially foods should be carefully scrutinized for their environmental safety. Both governments should devote a substantially higher share of their overseas development budgets, such as AID, towards environmental exchanges and educational programs.
      
  PAEA ARCHIVES:

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