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Last Updated: Oct 11, 2008 - 8:36:23 AM |
Two years after the scandal of uncontrolled dumping of hazardous wastes
in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, which killed 17 people and affected more than
100,000, the “Probo Koala” trial has just opened - without the presence
of either of the main responsible parties: the Dutch enterprise
Trafigura (which chartered the ship) and the Abidjan Port Authority.
The facts: On 19th August 2006 a ship (the Probo Koala) chartered by a
Dutch company offloaded 400 tons of gasoline, water and caustic
washings used to clean oil drums. The cargo was dumped at Akouedo and
at least 10 other sites around the city, including in a channel leading
to a lake, roadsides and open grounds. Seventeen people died and close
to 100,000 others sought treatment since the toxic wastes were dumped
on open-air sites around Abidjan.
These wastes are regulated by the Basel Convention, which engages its
signatories to treat wastes as close as possible from the production
site, and in appropriate installations. Unfortunately the Convention
does not have a compliance mechanism, so it can be ignored by
irresponsible enterprises in order to send toxic waste to developing
countries.
The International Trade Union Confederation calls for those responsible
for this human and environmental catastrophe be brought to account, and
demands the urgent decontamination of the sites, which continue to
endanger their surrounding communities.
In addition, the ITUC is calling for a two-pronged approach in the
international governance of hazardous wastes. First, there is a need to
strengthen the Basel Convention and to close the legal loopholes that
allow hazardous wastes to be transferred to developing countries.
Secondly there is a need for improving developing countries’ capacities
to implement relevant Instruments and Conventions, so as to enable
effective responses to emergencies and protect the health and
environment of workers and inhabitants.
Source:Ocnus.net 2008
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