KYOTO IN EFFECT The legal framework of the Kyoto Protocol has been formally adopted by the ongoing United Nations conference to determine the future of the environmental treaty. Elise Hugus reports from Montreal. The Kyoto protocol has now become legally binding after parties to the treaty formally approved the agreement yesterday in Montreal. The treaty aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels. Some environmentalists say that this target is too low to combat the effects of global warming, which could result in rising ocean levels, irregular weather, drought and famine. Ratified by 55% of the world's nations last February, many countries have been unable to meet their commitments without a legal mechanism to enforce the standards. As the UN negotiations continue until December 9th, environmental groups are holding parallel events in Montreal to highlight the responsibility of citizens in combating climate change. They say that poor people pay the highest cost of the effects of global warming, signalling the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes and last December's tsunami. For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Elise Hugus, in Montreal. CHEMICAL SPILL KEEPS MOVING Nearly three weeks after the explosion of a chemical plant that polluted a major river in Northern China, local authorities are asking for help to cope with the public health and environmental implications. Severine Bardon reports from Beijing. The fifty mile long slick of toxic benzene that polluted the Songhua River after the November 13th explosion of a petrochemical plant has now poured into the Heilong River and is expected to reach the Russian city of Khabarov in about 10 days. After a formal apology to Russia last weekend, Chinese authorities are now offering their neighbouring country monitoring equipment and help to train Russian personnel in dealing with the massive pollution. China has requested an international scientific team composed of World Health Organisation and United Nations Development Program members to evaluate the situation in Harbin. Their task will be to provide technical expertise in the area of water and chemical contamination, as well as to study the public health implications, according to a WHO spokesperson in Beijing. Scientists estimate that seventy more cities and about a million people will be affected by the toxic spill downstream in Russia. For Free Speech Radio News, I'm Severine Bardon in Beijing. COKE CONTROVERSY IN INDIA Two Coca-Cola bottling plants in India are facing stiff opposition from locals who say the company is depleting local water resources. Binu Alex has more from Ahmedabad. Hundreds marched yesterday in northern India to protest a local Coca-Cola bottling plant they say is damaging the local environment. This, as the Kerala government in southern India has ruled that a Coca-Cola plant plant in Plachimada must obtain special clearance to draw groundwater. Local campaigners say the Plachimada plant may well face a permanent closure after the government declared the area's water resources over-exploited. The plant ? India's largest ? has attracted widespread criticism after the local village governing council cancelled Coke's licence in response to complaints of depleting ground water resources. Even a legal battle could not revive the plant which has since been out of operation for over a year-and-a-half. Activists in Kerala are now planning to initiate criminal culpability and liability cases against Coca-Cola for the "destruction of lives, livelihood, public health and the environment". From Ahmedabad in India, I am Binu Alex for Free Speech Radio News. HOUSTON JANITORS UNIONIZE Thousands of janitors in Houston are celebrating their vote to fight for better wages and health care through a union contract. From KPFT, Renee Feltz has more. A mariachi band helped celebrate the vote by about 5,000 of 7,000 janitors to unionize. Most Houston janitors are Hispanic women who help support low to moderate income households: ( woman announces) The final votes to become members of the Service Employees Union ? or S

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