'Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.'

-- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis

'Secrecy is the badge of fraud'

-- Sir John Chadwick (b. 1941), British judge

'Every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show how it can bear discussion and publicity.'

-- Lord Acton (1834-1902), English historian

'The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum.'

--Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965), American statesman

'Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.'

--John Milton (1608-74), English poet

This page is dedicated to the honorable public servants and corporate employees that have served the the human species and environment by releasing information which otherwise would remain hidden from public view. This page serves as a public bulletin board for documents which should, for the greater good, see the light of day.

Unfortunately, in the negotiations within the Basel Convention and in particular the struggle to win a ban on international hazardous waste dumping from the OECD to non-OECD countries, several governments have operated in bad faith as they have attempted behind-the-scenes to undermine agreements which they supported or voted for, in public.

Likewise, certain business organizations have betrayed consumers and the public trust by advocating immoral, environmentally destructive practices for the sake of profits. We urge those of you in a position to know, to serve your conscience and our collective health and environment by "blowing the whistle" on irresponsible, or immoral behavior.

Documents can be anonymously posted or faxed (using a commercial fax service) to the Basel Action Network. Names, addresses or phone numbers which make the document leak attributable can be blacked out. However it is necessary to show letterhead or otherwise give us some proof of the validity of the source of the document. Upon receipt of these documents, we may inform the press and/or publish them on this site.

Send to:
Basel Action Network
206 First Ave. S., Suite 410
Seattle, WA 98104
USA

Leaked Documents

• Sony Company strategy to deal with environmentalists, June 2000
• Lawrence Summer's 1991 World Bank Memo which states "I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable..."
• U.S. State Department communique sent to all EU countries urging non-acceptance of Danish Proposal to amend the Basel Convention to formally transpose ban decision. -- March 8, 1995
• Internal U.S. State Department memo to Interagency Committee on the Basel Convention, regarding action plan to defeat the ban decision. -- October 17, 1994
• Internal U.S. State Department memo to Interagency Committee on options for U.S. position following Basel Second Conference of the Parties. -- June 1994
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce strategy to defeat the Basel ban, sent to U.S. government. -- May 18, 1994
• International Chamber of Commerce options paper to undermine the Basel Ban. -- December 1994