2. TOXIC TRADE CAMPAIGN
About Toxic Trade
ozlogo Australia remains one of the few developed countries in the world
that still dumps its hazardous waste in developing countries because Australian industry does not want to pay the cost of disposal in Australia. Greenpeace has been actively involved for over 10 years in exposing toxic trade scandels.
We are campaigning for a worldwide ban on the dumping of hazardous waste from rich to poor countries.Toxic trade simply transfers the problem onto those who can least afford to deal with it. It contaminates the environment, and effects the health of the people in developing countries.
In 1989 the worlds nations came together at the Basel Convention in an effort to stop developed nations from dumping hazardous waste onto developing countries. It’s purpose is to Control the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste for Final Disposal.
In 1994 the parties to the Basel Convention agreed to a ban on the export of hazardous waste from developed to developing countries for final disposal immediately and a ban on waste exported for recovery operations by December 31st 1997. Known as a the Basel Ban it was formally adopted into the Convention as an amendment in 1995.
Australia and a small number of developed countries still refuse to ratify the Basel Ban in national legislation despite their committments made at the Basel Convention Conferences in 1994 & 1995.
In Febraury 1998 the worlds nations meet in Malaysia for the Fourth Conference of Parties of the Basel Convention. Despite the spoiling efforts of Australia and a few rogue waste trader nations the parties agreed by consensus to:-
Adopt new annexes of hazardous waste for parties to control
enforce the Basel Ban before there are any further amendments to the convention.
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