Greenpeace Highlights Chemicals In Toxics-Map

Greenpeace Highlights Killer Chemicals In Toxics-Map Website

1 June 2001, Auckland

Greenpeace’s updated and revamped toxics map is up and running. Hot on the heels of the New Zealand Government signing the Stockholm Convention, an international treaty which aims to eliminate deadly dioxins, Greenpeace has launched its toxics-map spotlighting dioxins. The toxic-map can be viewed on:
www.greenpeace.org.nz/toxics-map

“The toxics map shows that dioxins are being pumped into peoples’ environments”, said Sue Connor, Greenpeace New Zealand Campaigner. “The toxics-map provides information and suggests action for people to take to urge the Government to outlaw dioxins.”

A Government report released earlier this year showed that the dioxin contamination of New Zealanders was unacceptably high and that more than one in 1000 New Zealanders may be dying of cancer because of dioxins.

Dioxins are some of the most dangerous chemicals known to humans, causing cancer, birth defects, developmental problems in children and endometriosis.

“Dioxins are so incredibly dangerous that the government’s aim to simply reduce them is not enough, said Connor. The Labour Government has signed an international treaty which requires them to aim to eliminate dioxins”.

“Greenpeace believes that the Government must outlaw dioxins. This means that dirty practices, production processes and products, such as using dioxin contaminated 24D, chlorine bleaching pulp for paper production and the use of PVC plastics must be banned, said Connor. The only way to protect human health and the environment from these killers chemicals, is to outlaw them”.

The Government is scheduled to launch a public discussion document on dioxins and undertake public consultation in September this year.

New Zealanders can join the Outlaw Dioxins Network to have their say during the public consultation period. People can join by going to www.outlawdioxinsnz@egroup.com
or phone 0800 22 33 44 or write to Outlaws Dioxins Network, Private Bag 92507, Wellesley Street, Auckland.

For more information contact Sue Connor on 025 272 4044.