TOXIC FREE ASIA TOUR

TOUR LOGBOOK

December 8 - Alang, India

Greenpeace today highlighted the continuing dangerous practice of sending Western-owned or operated "toxic"ships to developing countries such as India for dismantling. Workers in developing countries are being exposed to asbestos and other poisons from ships broken up in unsound labor and environmental conditions in yards in India, Bangladesh, China, Philippines and Pakistan.

This morning, at Alang - the world's largest shipbreaking yard in West India - activists from the Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior painted warning signs on the hull of the Global Sao Paulo, a Greek operated vessel waiting to be dismantled. Another six vessels were in the area ready to be scrapped. Greenpeace displayed a banner in an inflatable boat in front of the yard to highlight the danger to workers caused by scrapping of toxics ships. Of the 14 vessels already beached and being scrapped at Alang, some were run by Greek, UK and German operators.

The exports of toxic ships-for-scrap from rich nations to developing world is a toxic waste dumping practice under the guise of recycling. This trade is a violation of the international Basel Convention Ban and of the India laws. The parties to the Basel Convention meeting in Switzerland this week have decided to request immediate action in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to address the issue.

"Every toxic ship that comes to Asian shores claims its cost in terms of destroyed environment and poisoned lives. Greenpeace is here in solidarity with the workers in the yards to ensure their safety is not compromised and that environmental movement and trade unions are working together towards that", said Nityanand Jayaraman, Asia Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace International on board the Rainbow Warrior.

More Info Toxic Trade - Basel Ban and Shipbreaking in Asia Corporate Watch Shipbreaking in India

Greenpeace demands that:
1) Shipowners or operators remove the hazardous material from the ship prior to sending it for scrapping;
2) Shipowners or operators present a complete inventory of all the hazardous materials and constituents on board of the vessel.

"Greenpeace is not opposed to the scrapping of vessels. However, we want to ensure that the export of ships-for-scrap are not used as an excuse to dump hazardous wastes, such as asbestos, PCBs and heavy metals, on Asian shores. The ships that are sent to Asia must be decontaminated," said Marcelo Furtado, Greenpeace International Toxic Trade Campaigner.