Regressive Governments Urged: Ban Toxic Waste Trade Now

["Greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

REGRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS URGED: BAN TOXIC WASTE TRADE NOW

NEW DELHI, INDIA, Thursday 17, April 1997 -- Environmentalists
from more than ten countries today protested against the
international trade in toxic waste by holding a peaceful
solidarity demonstration out side the Indian Ministry of
Environment and Forests.

Greenpeace campaigners from around the world and activists from
local Indian groups deployed a large banner "BAN TOXIC WASTE
TRADE" in English and Hindi. A statement signed by international
groups from 18 countries was delivered from the Indian Ministry
of Environment, US, Australian, Brazilian and Singapore
Embassies demanded that they ban the movement of hazardous from
industrialised to developing countries by ratifying and
implementing the Basel Ban.

With less that eight months to go before the Basel Ban comes
into force in January 1998 hazardous waste trade continues
unabated. Pressured by a powerful waste trader lobby,
represented by the International Chamber of Commerce, some
Governments are vacillating in their support of the Ban

"We want countries like the US and Australia to know that we
will not tolerate their attempts to continue using developing
countries as a dustbin for their toxic waste" said Malini
Morzaria of Greenpeace International. "Countries like India and
Brazil are selling the health and future of their people and
environment to international waste traffickers. The only
solution is to ban this poisonous trade."

In a ten month period from April 1996 to January 1997, over
15,000 metric tonnes of lead and battery waste was exported to
India - 67% of that came fro OECD countries. In the same period
almost 12,000 metric tonnes of zinc waste came onto India.

In 1996 Australia alone exported at least 8569 tonnes of
hazardous waste and 1.3 million scrap batteries to non-OECD or
developing .countries. India was the leading destination for
waste exporters followed by Indonesia, the Philippines and
China.

Greenpeace research over the years in India  and South East Asia
has documented that the facilities which recover materials from
toxic waste trade are highly polluting and hazardous  to people
and the environment.  Such operations would not be tolerated in
rich OECD countries.

For more information, contact: Malini Morzaria on +91 11
460-3458, +91 11 460-3165

Spokespeople are available in English, Hindi, Dutch, German,
Filipino, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, French, Italian.

Editors: Footage available via Reuters/Asian News International
(ANI) Photos available via Agence France Press (AFP)

Notes: 
1) The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes was adopted in 1989 to prevent rich 
industrialised  (OECD) countries from dumping their hazardous
waste on poor (non OECD) countries. However a loophole remained
where waste traders could still dump their hazardous waste in
developing countries by claiming it was being recycled.

2) In March 1994 parties to the Basel Convention on the
Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes agreed to immediately
ban all exports from developed or OECD countries to developing
or non-OECD countries for final disposal and to close the
recycling loophole by January 1, 1998

ENDS

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The Basel Ban -- a Victory for the Environment and Justice Ban
waste trade and promote clean production

Clean air, clean water and a healthy environment are fundamental
rights of all living beings The international trade in toxic
wastes violates these fundamental rights by permitting hazardous
waste to be exported to developing countries. This allows waste
generators to wash their hands of the responsibility of proper
handling and minimising the generation of their own hazardous
wastes.

In 1994, the governments of the world which were party to the
Basel Convention resolved to ban the export of hazardous wastes
from industrialised to less industrialised countries for "final
disposal" (effective immediately) and "recycling"  (effective
January 1, 1998). In 1995, this decision was reaffirmed in the
form of an amendment to the Basel Convention.

The implementation and enforcement of the Basel Ban by all
nations will discourage the generation and trade in hazardous
wastes world-wide  and therefore propel industry to move towards
clean production by eliminating hazardous inputs.

In the 3 years, since the ban was signed, international waste
traffickers and certain countries, including  the governments of
the USA, Australia, Canada, India  and Brazil, have been
attempting to undermine the Basel Ban.

The Statement:

We, the undersigned, are individuals and organisations from
around the world working to ensure a clean,  healthy and toxic
free environment for all living beings and further the cause of
environmental justice.

To this end, we urge the governments of the world to ratify the
Basel Ban before the Fourth Conference of the Parties of the
Basel Convention  to be held in Kuala Lumpur in October 1997. We
also demand that governments respect and enforce the ban.

We remind the parties of the Basel Convention of the promise
made to the international community to ban the trade in
hazardous wastes from OECD to non-OECD countries. We express our
strong support for the Basel Ban and for the people and the
organisations that are striving to make it a reality. We have
resolved to collectively resist any attempts to dilute the
essence of the Ban and undermine the ratification process.

Making the Basel Ban a reality is a step forward to the
detoxification of the planet.

SIGNED BY 60 NAMES FROM 18 COUNTRIES, WE ARE STILL UPDATING THIS
SO REQUEST THE LIST IF NEEDED