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- HAIFA, ISRAEL -- Eight Greenpeace
activists were arrested today while taking action to stop industries from
pumping tonnes of toxic waste into the Kishon River, the dirtiest in Israel,
which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The river has become so polluted
with the toxic waste that it poses a severe environmental hazard and has
been linked to the development of cancers in at least twenty marine commando
soldiers who used to dive in its waters as part of their routine training
<#one(1).
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- Greenpeace activists constructed a dam to block one of
the industrial effluent pipes that flow into the Kishon River. The activists
stopped the pollution reaching the river by redirecting the effluent pipe
and returning the waste to the Gadot Biochemicals factory, one of the seven
companies responsible for discharging toxic waste <#two(2).
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- "Human health and environmental death is the cost
being paid to preserve the commercial interests of these companies. The
Israeli public is being denied the right to safe environment by being exposed
to these toxic chemicals. By not addressing Israel's pollution problems
effectively, the government continues to prioritise industrial interests
over those of the public," said Liad Ortar, Greenpeace campaigner
in Israel.
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- Samples taken last year by Greenpeace directly from the
seven effluent pipes, including one from the US owned Haifa Chemicals,
revealed high levels of toxic heavy metals and other hazardous substances.
<#three(3)
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- Greenpeace warned that the marine commandos' cases are
the only ones under investigation and is concerned that other people who
regularly spend time in the Kishon - fishermen, divers, sailing clubs and
other youth clubs - may also have been affected by the poisons. Currently,
the Israeli authorities are suggesting that a five- kilometre by-pass pipe
is constructed to redirect the toxic effluent that has killed the Kishon
River to the Mediterranean Sea.
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- "This would result in carcinogenic and other hazardous
pollutants being dumped into the Mediterranean Sea instead. The Government
cannot continue avoiding its responsibility by suggesting ineffectual compromises
- it must accept that the only solution is to force these industries to
stop creating this toxic pollution," added Ortar.
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- Greenpeace demanded that the Government of Israel follows
up on its commitment to ratify the Land-Based Sources Protocol in the Barcelona
Convention as the first step towards the formulation of a policy that will
effectively stop toxic discharges to sea. The lack of action continues
to endorse the environmental degradation and health hazards posed by industry
in Israel.
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- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
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- - Liad Ortar , Greenpeace Mediterranean campaigner in
Israel, Mobile +972 583 87705, Tel - Haifa headquarters +972 4 825
1564, Tel-Aviv Office +972 3 510 2079
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- - Caroline Muscat, Greenpeace Mediterranean Campaign
and Media Director. Mobile +356 9429964
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- For interviews with Yuval Tamir, marine commando, please
call +972 54 816 588
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- Visit <link
- A detailed press briefing on the Barcelona Convention
is available at the Greenpeace Mediterranean website: <link
- Photos of the marine commandos and today's action are
available from the Greenpeace International picture desk +31 20 524 9580
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- Notes to Editors:
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- (1) Research linking cancers in marine commandos to the
toxic pollution in the Kishon was conducted by Professor Eli Richter from
the University of Jerusalem. As a result of his research, a national inquiry
committee is currently investigating the case.
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- (2) The companies are: US-owned Haifa Chemicals, Carmel
Ulipinim, Gadot Biochemicals, Gadiv, the oil refineries and the municipal
sewage treatment plant.
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- (3) The scientific analysis was conducted at the Greenpeace
International Laboratories at Exeter University in the United Kingdom.
The Haifa Chemicals discharge pipe revealed elevated levels of the heavy
metals chromium, copper and cadmium, as well as tribromomethane and several
other brominated and chlorinated organic compounds. Chlorinated benzenes
were found in the municipal waste sewerage treatment plant effluent, suggesting
a significant additional input of industrial effluent to the municipal
sewers. Elevated concentrations of chromium were also found in the effluents
of Carmel Ulipinim. Gadiv plant was shown to be a significant contributor
of complex hydrocarbon mixtures into the Kishon River. Benzene and chlorinated
organic compounds were also found in Gadot Biochemicals effluents.
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