Delegates attending a plenary session on Primary Prevention at the World Conference on Breast Cancer 2002 called for governments of the world to comply with and implement the Precautionary Principle.
The conference held on June 4th - 9th in Victoria, BC was attended by 1,000 delegates from 80 countries around the world, representing governments, the medical and scientific community, women's health organisations, advocacy and environmental groups, and international agencies.
Scientists reported that there are:
Most cancers are made, not born, and researchers are finding that most cancers cannot be easily "cured," but can potentially be prevented by reducing risk factors and by eliminating people's exposure to carcinogenic substances, including environmental toxins in our air, soil, water, and food supply.
We call upon governments worldwide to comply with and implement the binding agreements they have signed in connection with the Precautionary Principle, which states:
When an activity raises the threat of harm to human health and the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not established with absolute scientific certainty.
A shift is needed away from demanding scientific proof of human harm. Instead we need to rely on the weight of evidence that exposure to toxic substances can and has harmed human health. Our reliance on scientific certainty of harm has prevented action to reduce the incidence of cancer.
Following the precautionary principle, industry must prove that their manufacturing process, products, and disposal do no harm. Governments must hold industry accountable.
We call upon medical and scientific communities worldwide to support the implementation of the Precautionary Principle.
The Peoples of the world have a right to a healthy and safe environment, which is a fundamental human right.
Stop cancer before it starts!