PEMEX IMPACTS THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LAGOON SYSTEM OF TABASCO

Tabasco, MEXICO 2 April 1997

Greenpeace activists today carried out a action inside the Dos Bocas petrochemical complex, to protest against an unfulfilled agreement between the Mexican government owned oil company PEMEX and the fishermen communities in the Lagoon of Mecoacan.

After an oil spill in 1991 in the Mecoacan lagoon, PEMEX agreed to remove gas burners that incinerate gas coming out of the company pipelines and stop the discharge of wastes into the lagoon. But instead of honouring their word, PEMEX have installed two additional burners in this environmentally sensitive area.

In spite of heavy security, Greenpeace managed to launch three zodiac inflatables from the Rainbow Warrior, carrying activists to the area of the PEMEX Burners in the Lagoon of Mecoacan.

Six Greenpeace activists, climbed over the main burner, a structure around 50 meters high, unfolding a banner which read "PEMEX DOES NOT FULFILL", while another group of activists headed for the beach unfolding a banner that read: "BURNER OUT. STABILIZE THE SANDBAR".

Greenpeace spokesperson, Alejandro Calvillo justifying the action said, "Tabasco has one of the most important and rich lagoon systems in the country, unfortunately the impact of the construction of PEMEX installations and their polluting emissions have taken the ecosystems to a crucial stage. It is still possible to save them, but PEMEX has to fulfill its obligations and also the environmental authorities have to do the same."

After the protest action, the members of Greenpeace met with the fishermen of the Boca de los Angeles Coop. Fishermen and environmentalists agreed about the need for a self governing agency with the capacity to assess independently the activities of PEMEX.

The OIL TRAIL tour will continue in Mexico until April the 7th.

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