GREENPEACE CONFRONTS MEDITERRANEAN MINISTERS AT BARCELONA CONVENTION MEETING – ACTIVISTS ARRESTED

28 October 1999

MALTA -- Greenpeace activists were today arrested as they hung a banner on the outer wall of the conference room where the Barcelona Convention Ministerial Meeting is ongoing. Greenpeace criticised regional governments on the lack of action taken to effectively protect the region's major economic and environmental resources.

As the activists from Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand absailed down the sid of the building, security personnel immediately went on the roof threatening to cut the ropes holding activists as they hung a massive banner reading "EMPTY TALK, EMPTY SEAS - RATIFY THE BARCELONA CONVENTION".

Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warrior sailed towards Bugibba where inflatables were launched carrying activists to shore. The activisits then headed towards the conference doors holding a huge banner, painted by children from various Mediterranean countries, carrying their message to regional governments to protect the marine environment. As soon as they tried to enter they were pushed and handled aggressively by the police and security. A member of the security tore at the children's banner. The activists were pulled and dragged away from the main door. The activists, determined to rehang the banners carrying the demand to the ministers were continuously shoved away by policemen.

"All Mediterranean governments share the guilt of contributing to the sea's destruction and all must carry the responsibility of reviving the Mediterranean by committing themselves to eliminating all the hazardous pollutants in the environment," said Mario Damato, the Executive Director for Greenpeace in the Mediterranean.

Over two decades of discussion have led to no concrete action being taken by governments to protect the most important economic and environmental resource in the region, whilst pollution drowns the marine ecosystem daily. The Barcelona Convention now incorporates a framework that can serve as an effective tool towards regional protection of the marine environment. This can only be achieved, however, if governments throughout the region can take action now. Our politicians must replace rhetoric with effective measures that will safeguard the Mediterranean legacy.

"The degradation of the Mediterranean Sea has reached such an extent that measures to protect this resource must be taken immediately by governments throughout the region if the sea is to survive," continued Damato.

Greenpeace demands that ratification must come early enough in the year 2000 to allow the countries to formulate the phase out schedules they themselves agreed to create. Lack of ratification will necessitate a restructuring of the schedules, which willlead to more time elapsing before any action can be taken towards the protection of the marine environment and coastal region of the Mediterranean. Ratification must be followed by measures to adopt the necessary legislation that will allow this commitment to translate into effective action that will terminate the abuse of the marine environment and eliminate the associated risks to human health.

The Rainbow Warrior Mediterranean toxic tour has already visited Spain, Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus and Greece, as well as Malta. Its crew and local activists focussed on industrial outfalls of toxic effluents into the sea, oil platforms in the Mediterranean, dumping of toxic sludge into Mediterranean waters and the dangers of dioxin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Dr. Mario Damato, Executive Director of Greenpeace Mediterranean, +356-490784/5 or Caroline Muscat, Media Director, on mobile +356-944 0776.

Please go here for further information: www.greenpeacemed.org.mt

PLEASE CALL THE GREENPEACE MEDITERRANEAN OFFICE FOR FOOTAGE AND STILLS.