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 n a joint statement, Ernest Zedillo, President of
Mexico, and James Brumm, VP of North American Operations for
the Mitsubishi Corporation, announced this month at a press conference
in Mexico City that their long-standing 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 they 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
long-standing 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, "Mit-subishi
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 Mit-subishi 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.'' 
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