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IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare

After 5 Year Battle Mitsubishi Ends Baja Mexico Salt Plant Project
IFAW and NRDC Herald Banner Day for Baja\047s Wildlife and the World\047s Environment

YARMOUTH PORT, Mass. (ots-PRNewswire) -

The following release was
issued today by the International Fund for Animal Welfare:
In a joint statement, Ernest Zedillo, President of Mexico, and
James Brumm, V.P. of North American Operations for the Mitsubishi
Corporation, announced today at a press conference in Mexico City
that their longstanding plans to build the world's largest salt plant
at Laguna San Ignacio, in Baja California Sur, Mexico, are cancelled.
Laguna San Ignacio is the last pristine breeding ground of the
California Gray Whale and home to numerous other endangered plant and
animal species.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and its nearly 2
million supporters worldwide feels proud and elated that we were able
to protect this magical nature reserve forever. "IFAW applauds
Mitsubishi's turnaround from environmental outlaw to environmental
champion," says Jared Blumenfeld, IFAW's Director of Habitat.
"I have taken the decision to instruct the Mexican government
representatives on the Board of ESSA to propose the definitive
cancellation of the project," said President Zedillo earlier today.
Says Blumenfeld, "This decision by President Zedillo highlights
Mexico's longstanding commitment to the protection of whales and
wildlife in Mexico."  According to Herminio Blanco, Mexico's Minister
of Trade and Industry and Chairman of the Board of ESSA, "Mitsubishi
totally supports the decision of the government of Mexico."
IFAW's Blumenfeld credited this victory as people power at work.
More than a million people wrote to Mitsubishi to protest the salt
plant. More than 40 California cities passed resolutions against the
proposed project and fifteen mutual funds played a critical role in
persuading Mitsubishi to cancel the plant.  More than 30 leading
scientists and a coalition of environmental organizations, including
more than 50 in Mexico, have shown that a united effort can produce
this sort of landmark result. Mitsubishi, is the world's largest
corporation, with more than $230-billion in revenues annually. IFAW
has now called an end to its "Mitsubishi: Don't Buy It" campaign. "At
the end of the day, the campaign was successful because it had an
impact on Mitsubishi's bottom line and reputation," says Blumenfeld.
A more than 3500-page Environmental Impact Statement was released
today, and, while Mitsubishi claimed the report would have paved the
way for them to proceed, the company admitted global pressure led
them to decide to cancel plans for the project. All the environmental
groups involved are committed to ensuring the economic sustainability
of the local people living in and around Laguna San Ignacio.
Joel Reynolds, Senior Attorney with the Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), says, "This is a major victory for IFAW, NRDC and our
millions of supporters around the world and shows what motivated
people can do in the face of an horrendous environmental threat. It
also shows that new models of activism -- using the internet -- to
get the unfiltered truth to environmentally concerned citizens can
work."
There will be a press conference with IFAW representatives
tomorrow, Friday, March 3 at 9:00 am eastern PST, in San Diego at the
Holiday Inn, Old Town, located at 2345 Jefferson Street,
619-725-4220.
ots Original Text Service: International Fund for Animal Welfare
Internet: http://recherche.newsaktuell.de

Contact:

Susan Bennett or Ellen Beard, both of IFAW, 703-518-5170

Web site: http://www.ifaw.org

Original content of: IFAW - International Fund for Animal Welfare, transmitted by news aktuell