Brussels, 29 January 2015 – In November last year
Platform founder and policy advisor Ingvild Jenssen visited Yamaguchi
Prefecture based community network Ikki-Ikki Asia Japan. The volunteer-based
network, first established 25 years ago, works on a multitude of
community-building, environmental and solidarity projects. For more than a
decade Ikki-Ikki has had a partnership with Platform member organisation YPSA
in Bangladesh. It was during one of Ikki-Ikki’s annual visits to Chittagong
that Chief Executive Mori first learned about the human rights abuses and
environmental pollution related to shipbreaking activities in Bangladesh.
Ikki-Ikki has since then translated the Platform reports "The Human Cost
of Breaking Ships"[1] and "Child Breaking Yards"[2] to Japanese
and raised awareness of the issue in Japan.
“Japan is a major ship owning country and has a
responsibility to ensure that its end-of-life fleet is dismantled under
conditions that can ensure safe working conditions without devastation of
sensitive coastal environments. Raised awareness in Japan of the disastrous
conditions at the South Asian shipbreaking beaches is crucial and we are
therefore glad to welcome Ikki-Ikki onboard”, said Ingvild Jenssen, “their work
is encouraging and a true inspiration.”
Whilst Japanese ship owners have traditionally opted
for recycling at modern ship recycling facilities in China, in 2014 most
Japanese-owned vessels hit the beaches of South Asia for breaking. Only the
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Limited (MOL)-owned ship "Global Spirit" was
dismantled under conditions that meet international standards in Turkey after
the ship was arrested in the port of Antwerp for an attempt to illegally send
the ship for breaking in India.
Meanwhile, the Japanese International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) has recently expressed their willingness to support the upgrading
of Indian ship recycling yards with a USD 180 million loan. The upgrading would
include the building of a dry-dock to remove hazardous wastes from ships;
expanding waste treatment and disposal capacity at Alang; the building of
accommodation for 1.000 workers; as well as a school.
“We welcome the Japanese efforts to improve the
conditions in Alang. A dry-dock will address concerns related to pollution in
the intertidal zone. One dry-dock will however only be able to accommodate a
minor fraction of the Japanese - and world - fleet. Japan needs also to look
beyond South Asia and draw experiences from, as well as synergies with, its own
shipbuilding industry,” said Ingvild Jenssen.
Ikki-Ikki Asia Japan thus joins the list of partner
organisations that support the Platform’s work, which includes the ECCJ, EEB,
EJOLT, Human Rights at Sea, Mediterranean SOS Network and Surfrider Foundation.
NOTES
[1] You can access the Japanese version of "The
Human Cost of Breaking Ships" here
[2] You can access the Japanese version of "Child
Breaking Yards" here
Source: NGO shipbreaking platform
