My name is Evelyn Elaine Yates and I am from the community of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Three years ago while in Anniston for a Chemical Weapons meeting.

My 14-year-old son Earl became ill and was hovering at death's door. God and this community stood by me and today he is healthy and alive. I want to take this time to thank each of you for your prayers love and all kind deeds.

Here I am back, but this time I want to paint a picture that can be clearly seen and ask the question of why not Alabama, Arkansas and Oregon and Utah.

Environmental Injustice is occurring in the Chemical Weapons incineration program it is taking place when minorities and poor people's rights to equal treatment are denied. Here is the picture of the injustice of incineration.

Let's look closely at the demographics of chemical weapons communities. Alabama, Arkansas, Oregon, Utah have high numbers of people of color, low income and indigenous peoples, in contrast to the predominantly white sites which are to receive advance nonincineration technologies.

Another paint brush strokes results in showing that in Maryland neutralization will be used for mustard compared to my home state where 84% of our stockpile is mustard and we get an incinerator. Why not neutralization for us and for Alabama, Oregon and Utah who also have large amounts of mustard?

Why not us? Why is that communities that look like the one I come from have to be treated in a matter that does not protect our public health and the environment in which our families live?

Anniston is already suffering exposure to PCBs, Lead, and Mercury. Why is this disproportionately impacted community being force to suffer more toxic exposures?

Why not Alabama, Arkansas and Oregon? Our communities have a right to safer technologies. Our children have a right to live productive lives.

There are non-incineration technologies, which better protects the environments and our health.

We have been preaching this for years and now others are joining our call. Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The National Environmental Justice Committee, the African American Environmental Justice Network have adopted resolutions that support our right to safe disposal technologies.

In 1994 the Presidential Executive Order was issued calling for Environment Justice the Environment Justice Executive Order. I am calling for President Bush to take action for environment justice by the creation of a task force panel to fix this out of control, over spent incineration program. Here is a picture of my son Earl and he and all children have a right to a safe and healthy environments.

Look at the picture I have painted for you, and join me in asking why not us It is time for justice and I end by saying "No justice, no peace."

No Justice, No Peace ... No Justice, No Peace!