Symbols of shame for national delegates at UN Basel Convention

Greenpeace wants the Basel Convention to apply its existing rules for trade in hazardous waste to end-of-life-ships. These ships contain toxic chemicals like asbestos, PCB and oil. During breaking these toxics enter the environment and threaten the health of workers at shipbreaking yards. The export of these toxics substances is forbidden under the Basel Convention. But up until today the international community failed to regulate the international trade in toxic end-of -of-life vessels. Without decisions now this illegal form of waste trade will continue to pollute the environment in Asian countries.

The symbol of shame is a ship-shaped piece of metal sheet that was taken from a recently scrapped ship in Alang, India. This ship "Amina" was sent by its Greek owners for breaking without properly removing the toxic substances on board of the vessel. In addition the shipowner failed to make the ship properly "gas free for hot works". The result was an explosion that instantly killed workers at the shipbreaking yard.

Asian countries import end-of-life-ships as a means to obtain steel. Every year around 600 ships are sent to breaking yards. However, with the steel the risks of pollution and explosion is also exported. The trade under this form of waste needs to follow the rules set out under the Basel Convention. But ship owners try various ways to escape from the responsibility to remove the toxic substances from ships prior to export for breaking.

This week the Open Ended Working Group of the Basel Convention is scheduled to discuss this issue. By presenting the symbols of shame to delegates Greenpeace wanted to make it very clear that they, and the Convention itself, have a crucial role to play in preventing the ongoing export of toxic substances.

For more information:Ramapati Kumar, Ship-Breaking Campaigner - 080 51154860

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For more information:Namrata Chowdhary, Media Officer - 9810850092

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