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Press Release --
Environmental Justice Networking Forum * Greenpeace * Basel
Action Network * Multinationals Resource Centre
On 9 August, Dr. Connett addressed a public gathering with over 30 representatives of the Matola community, non-governmental organizations and concerned individuals in Mozambique. Dr. Connett explained the severe public health risks associated with burning chlorinated wastes, such as pesticides, in cement kilns and pointed out many of the technical shortcomings of the environmental impact study of the DANIDA incineration proposal. "I'm appalled at the superficiality of the DANIDA environmental impact study," Dr. Connett said after reviewing the documents. "The study barely mentioned the extremely toxic pollution from incineration or the feasibility of non-incineration treatment. In addition, the DANIDA study didn't even acknowledge another Danish government report which recognized the well-documented dangers of cement kiln incineration." Dr. Connett's comments add to the growing international outrage against the toxic incinerator proposal. In July, a global alliance including South African EJNF, Greenpeace International and the Basel Action Network (BAN) wrote a letter to Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Poul Nielson, outlining concerns with the project. (This letter and subsequent correspondence is available on the world wide web at www.ban.org) The international alliance called on the Danish to immediately halt the project, pending a thorough review of all options in consultation with the local Matola community. Prior to yesterday's meeting, many people in Matola had not even been informed of the project. The Matola community, Maputo NGOs and the international visitors called for greater transparency in decision-making about such projects which pose serious environmental and health hazards for the local community and environment. Participants in the meeting called for the formation of an Action Group to work against the toxic incineration proposal; the details will be finalized in an upcoming meeting in Matola. "While the long overdue action to clean up the scattered pesticides is welcome, we can not support a haphazard plan to incinerate them in a cement kiln in Mozambique" explained Bobby Peek of EJNF. "The Danish Government has not fully investigated feasible alternatives, including return to European countries which are better equipped to handle this dangerous waste." The alliance is concerned that the establishment of an incineration facility in Mozambique could attract waste imports into the region. The South African company Enviroserve, who are contracted by DANIDA to work on the Mozambique project, have recently halted plans to import U.S. waste to Namibia after government and community opposition. The company is also currently under investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission for alleged human rights abuses and environmental injustices in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. At today's press conference in Maputo, Dr. Paul Connett challenged the Danish Government to a public debate on the poorly planned incineration project. "Based upon the documents, it appears to me that this project has more to do with promoting Danish incineration technology than it has to do with a solution to Mozambique's pesticide and hazardous waste problem. I very much doubt that DANIDA will be able to provide a coherent defense to this project in an open public forum." The alliance has recently learned that DANIDA is using the Mozambican example to propose similar incineration in India. After a press conference held on Monday, 10 August 1998, local citizens from Matola and Maputo met to start planning active engagement with the Mozambican and Danish government and networking with international, regional and local interested organizations.
S. (Bobby) Peek Tel: (0331) 94 9074/3
INTERNATIONAL +27-331-94 9074/3 More News |
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