TOXIC FREE ASIA TOUR
The SV Rainbow Warrior Tour in Asia

TOUR LOGBOOK

22 - February 2000 - Rainbow Warrior welcomed in Manila Harbour

 The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior today arrived in Manila escorted by a flotilla led by the Philippine Dragon Boats. The Warrior, Greenpeace’s messenger of peace and environmental harmony, will kick off the Philippines leg of its Toxic Free Asia Tour by participating with local citizens’ groups in the 14th anniversary celebrations of the 1986 People’s (Edsa) Revolution for the restoration of democracy.

 

The ship under sail was escorted in to dock by three dragon boats and greeted at the dock with a display of traditional dancing and high energy drumming from a local dance group. Quite a loud and colourful occasion. Arrival greeting party

Ironically, a US war ship was also undertaking its official welcome ceremonies in the next dock. Sounds of a fairly thin brass band were drowned out by the booming rhythms of the Philippine dance group at the Warrior arrival. Even the US sailors seemed more interested in our vibrant welcome than their official affair.

“We’re honoured to be here for the anniversary activities of Philippines first non-violent assertion of people power against dictatorial rule. The obvious dictators may be gone, but throughout our tour we have seen a whole new breed of toxic imperialists - mostly Western governments and their corporations, that continue to use Asia as the dumping ground for their hazardous wastes or dirty technologies,” said Peter Willcox, captain of the Rainbow Warrior.


Lauding the vibrancy of the Philippine democracy, Greenpeace commended Filipino leaders for listening to the people’s aspirations in passing the Clean Air Act which, among other things, banned the incineration of wastes. Incineration is an obsolete and hazardous technology that burns garbage and converts it into poisonous air and land emissions. “We hope the Government takes the Clean Air Act to its logical conclusion and puts in place a comprehensive system to allow communities to segregate, recycle, reuse and compost their own garbage,” said Willcox.

The environmental organisation today reaffirmed its intention to work with Asian people to challenge the toxic imperialism practiced by the United States. The evacuation of the US military bases from the Philippines was a direct result of the People’s Revolution and an assertion of People Power. However, the US military, in a characteristic show of environmental bigotry, has left behind tons of toxic wastes in its bases in the Philippines.

“Polluter Pays is not merely a catchphrase. In the case of the contaminated US bases, the US military, which has polluted the Filipino land and poisoned its citizens, is the polluter. We appeal to the Filipino government to uphold the people’s confidence in the Government by making the US military pay for the damages caused by the toxic legacy it left behind in the bases in the Philippines,” said Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Asia Toxic Campaigner.

During its tour of the Philippines, the Rainbow Warrior will work with local groups to highlight problems and solutions to a number of toxic issues in the country.



Feb 23 - Next time - Try Recycling, Quezon City