Protests Organised - Please come and join us!
Coalition against Methyl Bromide kicks off nationwide protests 2010
Where & when:
Picton, Friday April 23
Wellington, Monday April 26
Tauranga, Wednesday April 28
Protests
taking place at the ports of Picton, Wellington and Tauranga will
highlight the large amount of methyl bromide gas that is being used at
these ports, and the risk this poses to worker’s health and the ozone
layer..
The
Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) is currently reassessing
the use of Methyl Bromide, and deciding whether to allow the continued
use of the highly toxic gas which has already been banned in the EU. It
will begin hearings about the fumigant in May.
The
Coalition is made up of the Rail and Maritime Union, the Maritime
Union, the Council of Trade Unions, Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa
New Zealand, Soil and Health, the Safe Food Campaign, the Green Party,
the Alliance Party, Friends of Nelsonhaven and Tasman Bay, and the
Guardian of the Sounds.
The Coalition is calling on ERMA to phase out the use of the gas, or require it to be recaptured.
Coalition
spokesperson Steffan Browning said: “At present methyl bromide is used
in an extremely primitive way, and released directly in the environment
where it can drift to nearby port workers or residents living near
ports. The gas is squirted onto logs under a tarpaulin and then the
tarpaulin is removed allowing the gas to escape into the atmosphere and
surrounding environment.”
