JAPAN FREES GREENPEACE VOLUNTEERS

29 March 1999

Tokyo/Amsterdam, -- Three Greenpeace volunteers held by Japanese authorities for 11 days for staging a protest against the use of soft PVC in children's toys were released Monday afternoon local time. Kirsty Hamilton and Richard Pearson from Australia and Mark Watson from New Zealand walked free after pleading guilty to the minor charge of trespass. The prosecution dropped the charge of obstruction of business and the volunteers were fined 100,000 Yen (USD 840, UK Pounds 500) each.

"It is a tremendous relief to see the three volunteers walk free and to be able to get back home," said Kelly Rigg, the campaign director of Greenpeace International. "We are grateful to all who supported us during the past days, particularly Amnesty International, Japanese NGOs and Greenpeace national offices which staged protests in 20 countries."

The three volunteers hung a banner saying "Play Safe, Buy PVC Free" at the Tokyo Toy Fair on 18th March protesting the use of potentially toxic children's toys. The soft PVC can contain 10 to 40 per cent by weight of toxic additives, known as phthalates. These additives have been linked to cancers, and liver and kidney damage in laboratory animals.

An increasing number of Japanese NGOs petitioned for the release of the Tokyo three. The Japanese Environmental Lawyers League adopted a statement calling for the immediate release of the Greenpeace volunteers. On Sunday an appeal for the release of the three was adopted at an international toy industry conference on PVC and children's toys held in Tokyo.

While the three are finally free the affair is not yet finished. The police continue their investigation of Greenpeace Japan's executive director, Sanae Shida and have yet to return the material confiscated in the raid on the Greenpeace Tokyo office on 23rd March. Greenpeace has not been informed of the precise nature of the offences for which Sanae Shida is being investigated.

"Progress on the substitution of PVC in children's toys is far too slow," said Shida. "The Japanese government has not banned PVC toys or required retailers to remove them from shop shelves, as several countries in Europe and North America have. Greenpeace will continue its campaign in Japan and elsewhere to raise the awareness and to protect children's health."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- Noriko Oyama, Press Officer, Greenpeace Japan, + 81 3 5351 5409
- Kelly Rigg, Campaign Director, Greenpeace International, +31 6 53662 953
- Mika Railo, Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 20 5249 548

Greenpeace would also especially like to thank the 400 or so visitors to our website who mailed their protests on behalf of the three Greenpeace activists to Japanese Embassies around the world, the Japanese Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and the Chief of the Japanese Environment Agency.