tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12755264.post7277225533657792759..comments2008-02-21T23:15:41.140-08:00Gopal Krishnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17801809794795753601krishnagreen@gmail.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12755264.post-74554018290403485482008-02-21T23:15:00.000-08:002008-02-21T23:15:00.000-08:00SHIP RECYCLING CONVENTION UNDER NEGOTIATION<BR/><BR/>At the meeting of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), held from 9-13 October, participants continued their work on a draft ship recycling treaty. A number of civil society organisations representing labour, environment and human rights have come out strongly against the draft, however. According to the groups, "the convention will, as it stands now, come in violation of major international norms and standards protecting Human Rights and the environment."<BR/><BR/>The IMO adopted voluntary guidelines on ship recycling in 2003. Parties agreed in 2005 to begin negotiations on a legally-binding instrument, which would also provide regulations for ship-building, so as to facilitate recycling. The Joint International Labour Organisation (ILO)/IMO/Basel Convention Working Group on Ship Scrapping also provides input to the process. The treaty is set to be completed and adopted in 2008-2009.<BR/><BR/>However, the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, Greenpeace and the Basel Action Network, among others, stressed that the treaty is inadequate. According to these groups, it disrespects the polluter pays principle, with recipient (mainly developing) countries ending up carrying the entire financial burden of the ship-breaking activities. For example, there is no requirement that owners pre-clean ships of toxic material before they are sent away, or make them liable for past contamination. As it stands, the treaty would violate "in particular UN and ILO conventions protecting the right to a safe and healthy working environment and the Basel convention's control and even prohibition of certain toxic/ hazardous waste transfers."<BR/><BR/>"Currently about 95% of the world's asbestos and PCB laden ships are scrapped by the world's poorest, most unprotected, and desperate workforce," commented Jim Puckett of the Basel Action Network. Governments and companies send ships to developing countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China to be dismantled because these countries have less stringent environmental regulations concerning the disposal of toxic substances. This often enables pollutants to escape into the environment and negatively affect both ship breaking workers and local communities. However, it also provides sorely needed local jobs. The French ship Clemenceau, sent to be dismantled in India and then recalled, provides a recent example of problems related to ship breaking and overlapping jurisdictions between the IMO, Basel Convention and International Labour Organisation in this regard (ILO; see Bridges Trade BioRes, 17 February 2006).<BR/><BR/>"Draft IMO Treaty on Ship Scrapping Called Immoral," NGO FORUM ON SHIPBREAKING PRESS RELEASE, 13 October 2006.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com