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TOP STORY |
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| Resolution Calls on Congress to Choose e-Steward Recyclers |
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| No More Dumping e-Waste in Developing Countries!
20 November 2009 (Seattle, WA) - Representative Mike Thompson yesterday introduced a resolution that calls on Congress to craft a plan to deal with its own e-waste, only using recyclers certified to the new e-Stewards Standard – the highest in the industry.
Read the Media Release - 11-20-09
 Click here to view the resolution (H.Res. 938)
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| INDIAN GOVERNMENT BLOCKS TOXIC US SHIP |
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| Forged Ship Registration Documents Confirmed as Environmentalists Claim Victory
9 November 2009 (Seattle, WA) - Following the discovery by the Basel Action Network (BAN) that the national registry and flag had been falsified, the Indian government yesterday ruled against allowing an aged American cruise liner from being beached on the infamous shipbreaking beaches of Alang, India.
Read the Media Release - 11-9-09 |
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News Stories:
Gujarat maritime board to probe toxic US ship's ownership - 11-10-09
'Toxic' US ship banned in India - 11-10-09
Central team to inspect Platinum-II near Alang - 10-19-09
Toxic’ ship owner raises crack scare - Gov't to inspect vessel - 10-19-09
MoEF seeks details of ship in Alang from Guj authorities - 10-13-09
Toxic Ship Firm Fined $500k for Illegal Sale of Deadly PCBs - 1-30-09
Md. firms fined $518,000 in shipbreaking case - 1-29-09
Toxic Ship Dealer Caught, Fined for Export of PCBs - 1-29-09
The problem with ship scrapyards isn't what you think - 6-12-08
Global Marketing Systems responds to EPA investigation - 5-2-08
EPA alleges Md. firm illegally exported toxic ship for recycling - 3-25-08
Independence sails into a new set of problems - 3-21-08
Aged ships a toxic export - 3-19-08
Ocean Liner's Final Voyage to Asia under Scrutiny - 2-29-08
Last U.S. ocean liner heads into the unknown - 2-9-08
BAN Media Releases:
TOXIC U.S. SHIP LANDS IN INDIA - 10-22-09
Victory Declared as Major Toxic Ship Exporter Forced to Pay Penalties by EPA
- 1-29-09
EPA Sues US Ship Broker for Illegal Export but Allows 'Toxic Timebomb' to Sail Away - 3-20-08
Fugitive Toxic Ocean Liner Now Believed to be Nearing Guam – Mariners are Asked to Report Whereabouts and to Avoid Selling Ship Fuel - 3-6-08
EPA called on to Stop Illegal Departure of Toxic Ocean Liner – Historic SS Independence loaded with PCBs and asbestos to be scrapped - 2-20-08
Environmentalists Denounce Illegal Departure of Toxic Ship from San Francisco –
SS Independence with PCBs and Asbestos Slipped Away in the Fog - 2-12-08
EPA Press Release and Settlement - 1-29-09
U.S. EPA - In the Matter of: Global Shipping, LLC, and Global Marketing Systems, Inc. - Consent Agreement and Final Order - U.S. EPA / Docket No. TSCA-09-2008-0003 / Filed 28/01/2009
Global Marketing Systems, Inc. Answer to EPA Complaint - 4-30-08
Global Shipping LLC Answer to EPA Complaint - 4-30-08
EPA Press Release:
U.S. EPA files complaint against ship brokers for violations of Toxic Substances Control Act - 3-18-08
EPA Complaint: www.ban.org/library/Oceanic_complaint.pdf
EPA Cover Letter: www.ban.org/library/Oceanic_cover letter.pdf
Waste Stream Analysis for SS Independence, conducted by ship remediation expert Mr. Werner F. Hoyt - 2-14-08 |
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LATEST BAN RATIFICATIONS
Congratulations Chile and Kenya |
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| Sinking of John McCain's Old Aircraft Carrier Denounced |
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Navy’s Plan to Dump "USS Forrestal" Instead of Recycling Called "Irresponsible"
27 July 2009 (Seattle) - The toxic waste watchdog organization Basel Action Network (BAN) today slammed the government’s plans to scuttle the former aircraft carrier FORRESTAL in deep water as an “artificial reef” instead of having the ship safely recycled at one of the half-dozen active ship dismantling yards in the U.S.
Read the Media Release - 7-27-09
BAN Submission:
FORRESTAL Class Aircraft Carrier Scrapping and Dismantling Request for Information- 7-27-09 |
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PBS Frontline features BAN and e-Stewards in
"Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground" – Watch the Video |
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| Stop Dumping Techno-Trash on Developing Countries! |
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Activists Urge Consumers, Manufacturers
and Retailers to Use Only Ethical "e-Steward" Recyclers
24 June 2009 (Seattle) - The Basel Action Network (BAN), a leading global advocate for responsible toxic management practices, today called on consumers, manufacturers and retailers of computers and electronics to make a commitment to never allow their old e-waste to go to recyclers that will simply export it to developing countries.
Read the Media Release - 6-24-09
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| EPA Files Legal Action against Exporter of e-Waste Following Toxic Trade Watchdog Investigation |
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Humane Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation warned that e-waste would be dumped in poor nations, decided to move forward anyway
10 June 2009 (Seattle, WA.) - The Environmental Protection Agency filed a legal Complaint and Compliance Order late last week against EarthEcycle, the electronic waste handler for several charity e-waste collection events held in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in recent days. The events include those run by two Humane Society branches, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Boy Scout Troop 30 will hold such a collection event tomorrow.
Read the Media Release - 6-10-09
EPA Legal Complaint:
U.S. EPA - In the Matter of: EarthEcycle, LLC., - Complaint, Compliance Order and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing - EPA Docket No. RCRA-HQ-2009-0001 / Filed 2009 Jun-5 |
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BAN Media Releases:
Fake Recycling Events in Pittsburgh Uncovered - 5-26-09
EarthECycle’s Statements to the Press Rebutted - 5-26-09
BAN & ETBC Research Report:
The EarthECycle Pittsburgh "Recycling" Scam
News Stories:
E-waste lessons learned - 10-15-09
Levin orders truck to leave Monroeville warehouse lot without cargo - 9-19-09
Controversial e-waste generates renewed complaints - 9-18-09
Stash of controversial e-waste to be hauled - 6-24-09
Workers say recycler dumped monitors - 6-12-09
EPA takes action against electronics recycler - 6-11-09
EPA files complaint against electronics recycling firm - 6-10-09
Electronic waste recycler to empty Monroeville warehouse - 6-8-09
New doubts raised over electronics recycling - 6-3-09
Toxic Fraud - 6-1-09
Few Rules for Recycling Electronics - 5-31-09
Don't Be Duped by E-Cycling Scams - 5-28-09 |
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| BAN Colleague Rizwana Hasan Wins Goldman Award for Courageous Work to End Unsustainable Shipbreaking |
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| Malaysia's Decision to Refuse CRT Glass from the US |
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3 April 2008 - Recently, the Malaysian government decided to no longer accept any CRT glass from the United States, as of December 31, 2008. There appears to be confusion about what role, if any, BAN played in this nation’s decision. Here are the facts:
Read the Information Bulletin - 4-3-09 |
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| Waste Management Recycle America Commits to e-Stewards Pledge: World's Most Rigorous Environmental and Social Criteria for Electronic Waste Management |
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| First solid waste management company to commit to responsible e-waste handling and environmental preservation
24 September 2008 - Waste Management Recycle America (WM Recycle America) today announced its commitment to adopt the Electronics Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship for the dismantling and recycling of electronics waste (e-waste).
Read the Press Release - 9-24-08 |
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| Environmental Victory for Proper Ship Scrapping! |
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| Finally Decontaminated, the "Otapan" leaves Amsterdam for Turkey
16 May 2008 (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - Environmentalists toasted a major victory today as the saga of the controversial ship Otapan finally appears to be coming to a happy ending as it sailed Thursday night cleaned and decontaminated from Amsterdam to the Turkish shipbreaking yards of Aliaga, Turkey near Izmir.
Read the Press Release - 5-16-08
The Otapan Principles - 5-12-08 |
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| Proposed waste law to officially turn India into global waste destination: Environmentalists |
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| Environmentalists Applaud Sony Recycling Announcement |
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| 16 August 2007 (San Jose, CA) -
Environmentalists today applauded Sony USA's announcement that they are launching an electronics takeback program across the United States next month. Sony has stated that they will take back any used product with Sony's name on it, at no cost to consumers, and will eventually reach a goal of recycling a pound of old electronics for every new pound of products sold. Sony, which has the largest market share of television sales in the US, is the first consumer electronics company to make such a commitment in this country.
Read the Press Release - 8-16-07 |
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| Research Identifies U.S. Electronic Waste as Likely Source of Toxic Jewelry Imports from China |
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| 11 July 2007 (Ashland, Ohio.) - For Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, a professor of chemistry at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, a trip to a local dollar store to buy jewelry samples for his class to analyze, turned into a year-long research project on the global trade in toxic products. The research, soon to be published in two papers in the journal Chemosphere, identifies electronic solders from electronic waste and old car batteries as likely sources for the lead that has been recently discovered in trinket and charm jewelry samples imported from China.
by Ashland University and Basel Action Network
Read the Press Release - 7-11-07
Images ©2007 Stuart Isett/www.isett.com |
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Additional Press:
Why Lead in Toy Paint? It's Cheaper - 9-7-07
Toxic-waste jewellery may be on sale in NZ - 8-8-07
Lead Toxins Take a Global Round Trip - 7-12-07
Articles:
Chemosphere Article (gally proofs) available at www.ashland.edu/~jweiden
Weidenhamer, J.D., Clement, M.L.
“Leaded Electronic Waste is a Possible Source Material for Lead-Contaminated Jewelry” Chemosphere (2007) doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.04.023
Weidenhamer, J.D., Clement, M.L.
“Evidence of Recycling Lead Battery Waste into Highly Leaded Jewelry” Chemosphere (2007) doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.06.005
Basel Action Network "Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia" |
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| Government of Chile Urged Not to Dump Warships |
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| 2 July 2007 (Brussels, Belgium.) - The NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, a coalition of human rights and environmental groups working to prevent environmentally damaging and exploitive shiprecycling, has discovered that two decommissioned Chilean frigates (former UK navy vessels) named the Almirante Cochrane (formerly the HMS Antrim) and the Capitan Prat (formerly the HMS Norfolk) are soon to be sold on the international ship scrap market.
Read the Press Release - 7-2-07 |
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| Study Reveals Ghost Fleet to be Constantly Discharging Toxins |
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| 19 June 2007 (Seattle, WA.) - In an article this Sunday, the California newspaper Contra Costa Times revealed that the "ghost fleet" ships have lost 25% of their toxic paints and that high levels of toxic heavy metal contamination of the waters and sediments have accumulated beneath and near the Suisun Bay ex-naval ship "parking lot" in Northern California.
Read the Press Release - 6-19-07
Click here to view the study (33MB)
Photo by Karl Mondon (Contra Costa Times) |
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| Toxic Ghost Fleet Ship Export to UK Stopped |
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| 31 May 2007 (Seattle, WA., Washington, DC) - The Bush Administration's plans to export nine ex-naval “Ghost Fleet” vessels from the James River in Virginia to Teesside, England for scrapping has itself been finally scrapped, according to the Able UK company.
Read the Press Release - 5-31-07 |
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Additional Press:
Revised deal ends one of fights over ghost fleet - 6-2-07
No more 'ghost fleet' ships to be sent to England for scrapping - 6-1-07
No more 'ghost fleet' ships will be sent to Britain for scrapping - 6-1-07
British firm loses contract to dismantle nine US 'ghost ships - 5-31-07
Export of Toxic Ghost Ships to UK Ended - 5-31-07 |
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Asia-Pacific Cautions Against Waste Dumping Through
Trade Pacts |
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| 24 May 2007 (Bangkok, Thailand) - Asia-Pacific countries yesterday stated that developing countries should not become dumping grounds for hazardous wastes, and that trade agreements in particular should not be used in such a way as to undermine existing environmental treaties, such as the Basel Convention on Hazardous Wastes.
Read the Press Release - 5-24-07
Photo by Gigie Cruz (GAIA) |
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Coalition Press Release:
Citizen Groups Flag 3R Initiative Concerns to ADB - 5-7-07
Asian Groups Slam Japan's Waste Colonialism- 5-2-07 |
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| Greens react to Steve Job's Statement on Apple's Environmental Commitments |
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| 2 May 2007 (Cupertino) - Just a week before Apple's annual meeting - where shareholders will vote on two shareholder-sponsored resolutions pushing Apple to do better on e-waste recycling and green product design - Steve Jobs issued a statement today about Apple's environmental record and future plans.
Read the Press Release - 5-2-07
Image ©2007 Stuart Isett/www.isett.com |
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Unheard Voices of Alang Workers & their Families:
Blue Lady does not profit the people & should be recalled
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15 March 2007 (Delhi) - The updated version of the report entitled "End of Life Ships - the human cost of breaking ships" was released today in Hindi (Majdhar Me Jeevan) by the Platform on Shipbreaking, a global coalition of environmental, human and labour rights organisations.
Click here to read the press release - 3-15-07 |
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| BAN Statement on StEP Program's Lack of Transparency and Refusal to Denounce E-Waste Trafficking |
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NO TOXICS! IN INDIA-JAPAN TRADE PACT:
Demand Elimination of "Toxic" Elements in the Agreement |
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February 19, 2007 (New Delhi, Tokyo, Manila) - Environmental, public health, human rights, economic justice, and farmer groups from around the world collectively submitted before Japanese and Indian foreign affairs and environmental officials a letter demanding, among others, the exclusion of toxic technologies and internationally controlled or banned wastes and substances from the negotiations on the new India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), whose negotiations began last Feb. 1, 2007.
Click here to read the press release - 2-19-07
Additional Press:
No tax breaks for toxics urge NGOs - 2-22-07
Free Trade Cannot Include Toxic Waste - 2-16-07 |
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Welcome. This is the Internet home of the Basel Action Network (BAN),
a non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to prevent the globalization of the toxic chemical crisis. BAN is a tax exempt charitable (IRS 501(c)3) organization based in Seattle, Washington, USA.
BAN conducts both domestic (US) and international programs to halt toxic trade – this ugly, costly and harmful trade moves toxic wastes, toxic products and toxic technologies from rich to poorer developing countries. This trade is bankrupt from both a moral and economic standpoint. Alternatively BAN's programs point to another way forward – real development and economic progress, proactively working in the United States and around the world, to shift to clean production and national self-sufficiency in waste management and toxics use reductions. This advances the principle of global environmental justice – where no peoples or environments in the present or future are disproportionately poisoned and polluted due to the dictates of unbridled market forces and trade in bads. We serve as a campaigning organization, an investigative and research body, a political advocacy group, and as the definitive clearing house for information on toxic trade. A quick review of our activities on a month to month basis can be found in the Highlights section.
The name Basel Action Network refers to an international treaty known as the Basel Convention which was created in 1989 to ensure that waste would be considered apart from the normal rules of free trade -- as a 'bad' instead of a 'good.' In 1994, a unique coalition of developing countries, environmental groups and European countries succeeded in achieving within that Convention, the Basel Ban – a decision to end the most abusive forms of hazardous waste trade. In 1995, the Basel Ban was turned into a proposed amendment which when ratified by the requisite number of Parties (see Deposit Box) will enter into force and will become international law.
Unfortunately, very powerful governments and business organizations are still trying to overturn, circumvent or undermine the full ratification and implementation of the Basel Ban and in general seek to reverse the gains achieved by the Basel Convention and instead reinstate a "free trade" in toxic wastes. The countries and organizations that pose the greatest threat to the Basel Ban are listed in our Hall of Shame. Because the United States is the only developed country in the world that fails to in any way, control or prohibit toxic trade and has failed to ratify the Basel Convention and the Basel Ban Amendment, our work in the United States is very important.
BAN works to counter the regressive efforts of these few countries and to instead promote green and democratic design, sustainable consumption, economic progress and environmental justice for all. In fulfillment of these goals, BAN seeks your activist (Join Us) and economic support (Support Us). |
