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Protest by BAN/Greenpeace in Botany Bay, Sydney on the "Encounter Bay" owned by Dutch/British firm P&O Nedlloyd on its final voyage to by dumped in South Asia. Significant quantities of asbestos are known to be on board. Photo: Copyright (c) Greenpeace.

TOXIC SHOCK: AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS THE DUMPING OF TOXIC WASTE IN ASIA

Greenpeace/Basel Action Network

PRESS RELEASE

Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia , December 17, 1998 --- Greenpeace and Basel Action Network (BAN) activists arrested P&O Nedlloyd's Encounter Bay before dawn at Botany Bay today, declaring the vessel an illegal visitor and part of an international conspiracy to dump toxic waste in Asia.

Activists placed banners reading 'P&O Nedlloyd, Stop Toxic Trade' across the ship's bow, confronted the captain with demands for the ship to abide by international law and chained themselves to the Encounter Bay's superstructure, preventing its departure to New Zealand.

This ship contains toxic waste including asbestos and heavy metals destined dumping during ship scrapping in Asia.

"The Encounter Bay is nothing but waste in disguise. All hazardous material should be removed from this ship before she leaves for Asia so that it will not be dumped on poor nations." says BAN campaigner Ravi Agarwal.

Greenpeace representatives from The Netherlands and Britain, as well as Indian toxic wastes campaigner, Ravi Argwal joined forces in Sydney against P&O Nedlloyd's plans to sell Encounter Bay for scrapping in Asia without removing her toxic contaminants.

"Old ships contain toxic materials," says Agarwal. "To sell them for demolition in developing countries is not only morally wrong, it is a blatant violation of international laws and agreements governing the treatment of toxic wastes across the world."

"Traffic in toxic wastes is illegal under the Basel Convention. By ignoring the passage of the Encounter Bay for scrapping in Asia, the Australian government is allowing P&O Nedlloyd to commit a criminal offence and is supporting the dumping of toxic waste in Asia."

Australian and overseas officials have been notified of the Australian Government's part in a conspiracy of silence allowing toxic shipping waste to be sold as scrap in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Greenpeace and BAN demand the Australian Government enforce existing laws preventing toxic trade and treat the passage of hazardous contaminants in the Encounter Bay as a criminal offence.

"This is a major world environment and public health issue. Greenpeace is stopping this ship because P&O Nedlloyd and the Australian government refuse to," says Greenpeace campaigner Matthew Ruchel.

The Encounter Bay was scheduled to leave Botany Bay for New Zealand this morning on its final working voyage before being sold to shipbreakers who, for $2 a day, will remove asbestos with their bare hands, be exposed to other poisons and carcinogens and risk death and injury in hazardous work conditions.

Today's action continues an international protest against toxic trade. Last month the Encounter Bay was boarded by toxic waste activists in Barcelona and has been the subject of an on-going campaign in the Netherlands.

 For information CONTACT:

Greenpeace media officers Rupert Posner on 0411 179 529 at Botany Bay, Louise Fraser at 9263 0343.

Basel Action Network campaigner, Ravi Agarwal on 0414357415 at Botany Bay

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