Indian authorities put Rainbow Warrior's programme in jeopardy

Again another day at sea. There's still no progress to get us back into the Bombay harbour. Yesterday the Indian Greenpeace office sent out a press release to the media, saying that the Indian authorities have put the Rainbow Warrior's Bombay programs in jeopardy.

We already have had to disappoint 3000 school children who would have visited us last weekend for environmental education. And now we're probably not able to participate in the 'Global Day of Action against Corporate Crime' on the 3rd of December 2003 to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster in Bombay as announced.

Let me explain something what happened nineteen years ago. During the night of the 2nd to the 3rd of December 1984 thousands of people were killed in Bhopal due to a toxic gas spill caused by the chemical factory Union Carbide. Still thousands are suffering. People are still living in this poisoned area and are surrounded by toxic chemicals. In 2000 the multinational company Dow Chemicals bought the chemical factory Union Carbide in Bhopal. It's really awful if you realise that thousands of people are drinking polluted water. Children are playing at toxic grounds. It's outrageous that this is possible! If a factory causes pollution, they should be obligated to clean up their mess instead of just running way to ensure that people can live a safe and healthy life. When Dow bought the Union Carbide factory, they not only bought the profits of this company but also the responsibility to end this corporate crime.

At the same time in London, the IMO meeting is continuing. India has officially requested the adoption of a global mandatory regime to make sure that ship owners make their ships toxic-free before sending them for scrap. The Greenpeace delegation gave a symbolic present to highlight this request. Small ships, made from scrap material of the exploded Greek ship Amina, were offered to all the IMO officials. Tomorrow is decision-making day. So let's keep our fingers crossed for a global mandatory regime!