Posted
19th September 2001
Beehive Detox
18 September 2001: Wellington - People from dioxin contaminated
communities converge on the Beehive to present their testimonies
to Members of Parliament tomorrow. Dioxin affected communities
in Whakatane, Kawerau, Matata and New Plymouth will tell their
stories about living with dioxin contamination at the opening
of the Face of Dioxins exhibition in the Beehive. ěAll Members
of Parliament have been invited, however only a handful have
indicated that they will take the time to come and listen to
New Zealanders tell their real stories about dioxins,î said
Greenpeace campaigner, Sue Connor.
The exhibition includes gripping video testimonies from community
members, photographs and written stories. ěThe communities and
Greenpeace have bought this exhibition to the nationís decision
makers so they can see the chilling effects of dioxins. This
exhibition must drive politicians to protect New Zealanders
health and environment from deadly dioxins. ěThe only way to
achieve this is to outlaw and eliminate dioxins. This means
identifying sources of dioxins, outlawing and systematically
eliminating them from our country,î said Sue Connor.
Dioxin
sources include incineration of waste, especially waste containing
chlorine such as PVC plastics and chlorine bleached paper, chlorine
bleaching of paper, secondary steel smelters, and contaminated
sites from the former use of dioxin contaminated chemicals such
as 245-T and pentachlorophenol. New Zealand signed the Stockholm
Convention in May this year, which aims to eliminate dioxins
and as a result the government is on the brink of releasing
a policy and action plan on dioxins. ěThis policy and action
plan must have as its central tenet the goal to outlaw and eliminate
dioxins, and to address the health needs of communities living
with dioxin contamination,î said Connor...
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