Victory for Greenpeace as IMO Bows to Pressure: Greenpeace shall continue to Safeguard the Oceans.

London/New Delhi/Ahmedabad, 22 November 2003: The International Maritime Organisation, (IMO) which was considering expulsion of Greenpeace for "unsafe seamanship" at a meeting in London on 21st November , has accepted the importance of the watchdog organization and retained Greenpeace as observers to speak for the oceans in a body dominated by the interests of the oil and shipping industries.

"In a body dominated by special interests, we see it as our role to remind the IMO of their real constituents: the future generations who have a right to clean oceans," said Paul Horsman, campaigner for Greenpeace International. “Greenpeace
has survived the attempt by flag of convenience states and other targets of Greenpeace actions to evict us from the UN organisation charged with ensuring ‘cleaner seas’ and ‘safer shipping.” Ironically, Greenpeace was accused of recklessness at sea by a body which defends the interests of the industry responsible for the Exxon Valdez and Prestige oil spills. This IMO decision is seen as an international acknowledgement of the valuable role played by Greenpeace in speaking for the oceans.

For the crew of the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior, currently patrolling international waters near Alang, for toxic ships from OECD Counties, this is especially heartening news. In the very first week of its ‘Toxics Patrols’, the crew of the Rainbow Warrior reported the presence of UK-owned ship Genova Bridge at Alang, and called on V Ships Commercial, the owners of this ship, to submit a toxic inventory of the ship to Indian authorities immediately and make arrangements to remove and re- import the hazardous waste from the ship to United Kingdom.

“The scenario at the IMO is quite akin to the scenario here in India: at first we’re met with mixed reactions, even veiled hostility. Then as we continue to expose crimes against the environment, our role as protectors of the planet is acknowledged. And when it becomes clear that on behalf of the planet and the future generations , we’re rewarded with success when authorities are spurred into decisive action “ said Cosmo Wassenaar, skipper of the Rainbow Warrior.
“Now that IMO has acknowledged our role, it should respect our demand for mandatory global regime for shipbreaking, that will force the ship-owners to remove toxic substances from end-of-life vessels, a level playing field for all shipbreaking nations, and most importantly clean ship recyling practices in the world’s shipbreaking yards to protect the workers, the environment and the dignity and laws of the nations that are giving this valuable service to the shipping industry.” Said Ramapati Kumar, shipbreaking campaigner.

The Rainbow Warrior will continue its Corporate Accountability Tour of India, returning to Mumbai in time for the 19th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster.

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