GREENPEACE LAUNCHES MOBY DICK GREAT LAKES TOUR
AT AKWESASNE RESERVE
AKWESASNE, QUEBEC July 14, 1991 (GP) -- Celebrating the beginning of the
Greenpeace Zero Discharge tour today, the Greenpeace vessel the Moby Dick
and its crew are being welcomed into the Great Lakes by members of the
Mohawk Nation and other First Nations. Most of the day-long event will be
given over to a welcoming ceremony and celebration of the environment, with
speeches and presentations by representatives of Canada's native communities
and Greenpeace. Native speakers will include representatives of the Mohawk
Nation of Chiefs, the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, the Mohawk Tribal
Council, the Assembly of First Nations, and the James Bay Cree.
At 3:00 p.m., a joint news conference will draw the links between PCB and
dioxin problems in the St. Lawrence River and their effects on Akwesasne and
its people.
Traditional dances and drumming will take place later in the evening.
"We are honoured that the Mohawk people have invited us into their community
and share our commitment to a clean environment," said Michael Manolson,
Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada.
Manolson, who will be speaking at the welcoming ceremony, said, "The
environment is an important part of native culture and we welcome the chance
to celebrate the bonds that connect Greenpeace to the people of Akwesasne."
Akwesasne is currently experiencing the negative environmental and health
impacts of persistent toxic pollution. The community has been forced to
change their lifestyle because species which have been a traditional part of
their diet are contaminated with high levels of toxins.
Today's ceremony at Akwesasne is the first stop on a 75-day Zero Discharge
tour, during which time Greenpeace activists will visit 40 Great Lakes
communities. The tour is intended to draw attention to the need for zero
discharge, in the weeks leading up to the sixth biennial meeting of the
International Joint Commission (IJC). The IJC is the bi-national body
responsible for monitoring pollution in the Great Lakes, the largest body of
fresh water in the world which provides drinking water for more than
20-million people.
At its last meeting, the IJC reaffirmed the principle of zero discharge of
toxic chemicals into the Great Lakes. However, since then, legislation which
would effectively eliminate discharges of persistent toxic pollution in the
Lakes has not been implemented.
Some of the major sources of persistent toxic pollution are the pulp and
paper industry which create organochlorines by using chlorine compounds to
bleach paper white, incinerators which release toxics into the atmosphere
and create toxic ash, and the manufacturing processes of chemical producers
and users.
"At this meeting of the IJC, we're asking politicians who attend to take
three basic steps," said Christine Houghton, Greenpeace Great Lakes
Campaigner. "If they won't take these steps, it's obvious they're not
serious about pollution prevention."
The three basic demands put forth by Greenpeace's Zero Discharge campaign
are:
1) End chlorine-based bleaching in the pulp and paper industry;
2) Ban new incinerators in or near the Great Lakes basin;
and
3) Institute sunset permits for industrial processes which use
or produce persistent toxic substances.
Over the next two weeks, Greenpeace activists will be travelling to
Cornwall, Ottawa, Toronto, Orillia, Hamilton, London and Niagara Falls as
part of the Zero Discharge tour.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
On July 14th and 15th, Tamara Stark or Andrea Imada at the Greenpeace Media
cellular phone -- dial Ottawa/Cornwall roam number, (613) 936-3000, wait
for the dial tone, then dial (202) 215-3939.
Or call Greenpeace, (416) 345-8408, press 3 to reach the Toronto Media
Department and leave a message.
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