Feature story - September 27, 2006
After three days of blockading the toxic tanker Probo Koala, we were pleased to hear that the Government of Estonia is investigating the ship, which is responsible for the deaths of at least 8 people in the Ivory Coast -- and the illnesses of thousands more, due to irresponsible dumping of toxic waste.
The "toxic tanker" Probo Koala, blockaded for three days by the Arctic Sunrise.
Our Toxics Campaigner Helen Perivier explains, "The Probo Koala
is an international toxic crime scene and needs to be fully
investigated to establish the full chain of culpability which led
to the tragic deadly events in the Ivory Coast," she said. "Only
through such an investigation can the guilty be brought to justice
and the lessons learned in order to prevent this from happening
again." We were delighted to hear that the Estonian Authorities
are now taking such action.
Dumping the West's waste ... in Africa
The scandal of the toxic waste dumped in the Ivory Coast first
came to light on September 6 when the first casualties were
reported and protests broke out on the streets of Abidjan against
the government, which was blamed for allowing the dumping. Despite
this, the Korean-built, Greek-managed, Panamanian-flagged and
Dutch-chartered tanker was allowed to sail freely …until we blocked
it from leaving Estonia.
On the basis of preliminary results it would appear that
contamination found on the Probo Koala by the Estonian Environment
Ministry is similar to that which poisoned the Ivory Coast.
Hopefully, Estonia will agree with the request of the Ivory Coast
to continue to detain the Probo Koala as part of the ongoing
Ivorian criminal investigation.
From one crime scene to another
The Arctic Sunrise, which took up position in Paldiski on Monday
to prevent the imminent departure of the Probo Koala and branded it
an "EU TOXIC CRIME SCENE" will now return to the Baltic to continue
its work against pirate fishing, overfishing and for the
establishment of marine reserves.
Latest upates
Check the weblog for the latest updates from the Arctic Sunrise