[WaicurtaitfuT]

http://vcab.homeip.net:81/Mirrors/in...acy/index.html


Ould-

Since the containers came ashore, hundreds of residents have fallen ill, suffering from mouth and abdominal bleeding, skin infections and other ailments.

“We [the UNEP] had planned to do a proper, in-depth scientific assessment on the magnitude of the problem. But because of the high levels of insecurity onshore and off the Somali coast, we are unable to carry out an accurate assessment of the extent of the problem,” he said.

Ould-Abdallah claims the practice still continues. “What is most alarming here is that nuclear waste is being dumped. Radioactive uranium waste that is potentially killing Somalis and completely destroying the ocean,” he said.

There are apparently legal reasons for not naming the companies involved in waste dumping.The practice helps fuel the 18-year-old civil war in Somalia as companies are paying Somali government ministers to dump their waste, or to secure licenses and contracts.

“There is no government control … and there are few people with high moral ground … [and] yes, people in high positions are being paid off, but because of the fragility of the TFG [Transitional Federal Government], some of these companies now no longer ask the authorities – they simply dump their waste and leave.”

There are ethical questions to be considered because


“The Somali coastline has been destroyed, and we believe
this money is nothing compared to the devastation that we have seen on the seas.” he added.

The MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship carrying tanks and military hardware, off Somalia’s northern coast is being held for ransom.

The International Maritime Bureau states 61 attacks by pirates have been reported since the start of the year.

Money is the primary objective of the hijackings; however, claims of the continued environmental destruction off Somalia’s coast have been largely ignored by the region’s maritime authorities.
Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the UN envoy for Somalia said there is “reliable information” that European and Asian companies are dumping toxic waste, including nuclear waste, off the Somali coastline.
The above are some quotes from the linked article. (And if they are not in order, my apolgies.)

This is really a problem in which the person who is acting out (pirate) is only evidence of much deeper problems. (My apologies for throwing in a little Family Theory there.) There is not merely one cause here and to think that is reductionist. There are companies making huge profits, and governments selling out their own citizens. And in the mean time the poor/ordinary citizens there are suffering the consequences in terms of illness and death.

This type of waste has been a problem for years. We even had it to wash up in the Great Lakes. In reality, we don't know WHERE all this has been put. And 20 years ago, who would have anticipated a tsunami which would wash it all up on the shore.

Ould-Abdallah said. “The intentions of these pirates are not concerned with protecting their environment. What is ultimately needed is a functioning, effective government that will get its act together and take control of its affairs.” I think the above statement is what is needed. They need a functioning government. We have a tendency to think a third world country will never get its act together, but in my lifetime alone, I have seen it happen. And we need to hold our own people accountable for this as well. Where does a company get off doint this? I am far less concerned about global warming than I am about something like this. The waste is cranked out every day in industrialized nations. Dumping it on the shores of a poor nation is not the answer to the problem. I predict that those involved will be called to task and made to clean it up. We, of course, will pay for that while those companies have already pocketed the profits.