LIFE fights to end pollution in Nogales.

Nearly two years ago I wrote about pollution and illness in Nogales, Ariz., a city of 20,000 that shares its southern border with Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, population 250,000 (NCR, Jan. 7, 1994).

The article told of effects, now legendary, of poisoned air and water in the region.

Among the most telling signs: filters that turn pitch-black after one day perched atop the downtown post office in Nogales, Ariz. The filters, modeled after a design by health officials, show what human lungs are absorbing from the air.

And there's the story of the Nogales wash, which once became so polluted a portion of its water burst into flames.

Where does the pollution come from?

Poor people in impoverished colonias south of the border often burn trash to stay warm or dump sewage in the wash due to lack of adequate facilities. The area's topography causes water and air currents to flow north from the more highly elevated Nogales, Sonora, through downtown Nogales, Ariz.

For years a landfill south of the border burned around the clock; its toxins followed the same route north.

Then there are the U.S.-owned maquiladoras.

In 1967 the first of more than 90 border factories began trickling into Nogales, Sonora. Many are electronics and plastics plants that produce toxic wastes. Although the maquiladora industry claims it has managed its wastes properly, many questions remain as to how toxins have been disposed of over the past quarter century.

In 1993 a group of Nogales, Ariz., residents joined together and formed LIFE, Living is for Everyone.

Often in the face of ridicule, LIFE sounded the alarm about high rates of illness in the city, insisting that pollution was the obvious cause.

Nogales, Ariz., has the highest documented rate of lupus - an autoimmune disorder with potentially crippling or fatal results - recorded anywhere in the world. Cases of multiple myeloma, the rare bone cancer, are 2.4 times the expected number. The disease killed LIFE's founding president, Jimmy Teyechea.

Early scientific studies, begun as a result of LIFE's tireless advocacy over the past three years, strongly suggest a correlation between pollution and illness. Now LIFE is waiting for scientist to prove the link. The organization hopes a massive cleanup of the border will follow.

Funding for such a cleanup, however, depends upon politicians - whose talk about how the North American Free Trade Agreement would benefit our border's ecology has yet to amount to anything.

Meanwhile, I am pleased to report that in a few short years LIFE's persistence has altered the landscape in ways that should inspire activists the world over.

"When we first started we were called troublemakers," LIFE President Ana Acuna told me in a recent interview.

Since then, thanks to LIFE's consciousness-raising efforts, residents' attitudes have shifted from denial to a desire to document the extent of the community's problems and find ways to promote health.

Called to action by LIFE's extensive lobbying - and embarrassed by international media coverage - political leaders have allotted funds for testing air and water on both sides of the border; for health surveys and environmental awareness programs; and for an office for LIFE. The office will allow LIFE to maintain a strong community presence.

Also, the burning landfill across the border was shutdown.

Meanwhile, Acuna's organization has become a lifeline for ordinary folks, often uninsured, struggling with day-to-day health issues. Besides lobbying for measures that would help the uninsured here, LIFE offers group and individual counseling sessions on chronic disease management.

Assisted by the Franciscan order's Southwest Environmental Equity project, LIFE has been able to get cash to people in need of emergency medication. This effort has expanded to include help with everything from hearing aids to rent. An equipment loan program, cosponsored by the American Cancer Society, gets such equipment as wheelchairs and walkers to those who need them.

Acuna is helping to develop a workshop to educate small businesses about the removal and alternative uses of toxic wastes.

The group's cross-border efforts have been fruitful as well.

LIFE has distributed 1,000 fliers in Nogales, Sonora, with information about cancer and lupus. LIFE also worked with a Mexican television station developing a documentary about lupus.

Activists are working hard at building bridges with their counterparts south of the border.

As Acuna has said over and over again, "Pollution carries no passport."

And neither does passion for justice.

Here's to LIFE!