Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Greenpeace Welcomes Agreement to Eliminate Poisons
Greenpeace Welcomes International Agreement to
Eliminate Poisons
Auckland - Last night's announcement by the Minister for the Environment that the Stockholm Convention on deadly poisons will come into force in May is welcomed by Greenpeace New Zealand.
"If implemented properly, the Stockholm Convention - which aims to eliminate poisons that lead to cancers and reproductive disorders - will have a beneficial impact on our environment and everybody living in New Zealand", said Greenpeace toxics campaigner, Mere Takoko.
New Zealand was notably absent from the first fifty parties to the Convention however, they intend to ratify before May. While New Zealand has appropriate bans on many of the 12 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), they are yet to put in place a plan for the elimination of dioxins.
"Greenpeace welcomes the New Zealand Government's imminent ratification of the Stockholm Convention. However the Government must not sidestep the Convention's ultimate aim of eliminating dioxins. There is no proven safe level of dioxins", said Ms Takoko.
"The entry into force of the Stockholm Convention is a testimony to decades of pressure by environmental, indigenous and health organizations to ensure governments and chemical industries address these deadly chemicals."
Dioxins are extremely toxic chemicals that persist in our bodies and the environment for long periods of time. They are known to cause cancer, birth defects and endometriosis.
The treaty
has the ultimate aim of elimination of 12 of the worst POPs.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
Business Canterbury: Urges Council To Cut Costs, Not Ambition For City
Wellington Airport: On Track For Net Zero Emissions By 2028
Landcare Research: ANZAC Gall Fly Release Promises Natural Solution To Weed Threat
NZ Anti-Vivisection Society: Auckland Rat Lovers Unite!
University of Canterbury: $1.35 Million Grant To Study Lion-like Jumping Spiders
Federated Farmers: Government Ends War On Farming
