Greenpeace activists boarded a petrochemical ship off the coast of South Korea on Saturday, November 30, where negotiations on a global treaty against plastic pollution are taking place until Sunday. These activists “He boarded a tanker truck that was supposed to load toxic plastic chemicals from the South Korean Hanwha TotalEnergies complex”the environmental organization announced in a press release. This resort is located in Daesan, about 60 kilometers southwest of Seoul.
According to Greenpeace, the operation was carried out from the sailboat rainbow warriorthe main ship of the organization. Several activists boarded the ship in inflatable boats. Good-Dawnthat was anchored. Four of them climbed one of the poles and sat on top, unfurling a banner demanding a “strong treatment on plastic”.
Other activists who remained aboard an inflatable boat painted the slogan “Plastic kills” in large white letters on the ship’s hull, according to a video released by Greenpeace. Even according to the NGO, the Good Dawnwhich flies the Panamanian flag, was hoping to dock in Daesan to load propylene, a petrochemical used to make plastic.
“Pressure the negotiators”
“The activists boarded the ship peacefully and did not encounter any reaction from the crew”said Angélica Pago, spokesperson for Greenpeace. “The climbers managed to set up camp” at the top of the mast, he informed Agence France-Presse (AFP). “They intend to stay there to continue putting pressure on negotiators to resist interference from fossil fuels and the petrochemical industry in the discussions and reach a treaty that significantly reduces plastic production. »
South Korean authorities confirmed the facts. “Police officers have been deployed to the ship and we are issuing summonses to facilitate its safe disembarkation.”a spokesman for the South Korean coast guard told AFP. “We intend to conduct a thorough investigation to determine if any illegal acts were committed during this incident.”he added.
This Greenpeace action comes as more than 170 countries are negotiating a global treaty against plastic pollution in Pusan, southern South Korea. The talks are stalled due to opposition, so far irreconcilable, between a majority of countries that want an ambitious treaty that includes cuts in plastic production and a small group of states, mainly oil producers, that believe the treaty should refer only to waste treatment.
“A treaty that does not address plastic production would be a failure, and this should be a red line for all governments committed to ending the plastic pollution crisis.”Graham Forbes, head of the Greenpeace delegation in Pusan, wrote in the press release.
The environmental organization denounces the presence in Pusan of dozens of petrochemical industry lobbyists who “They are using their power, their money and their access to try to ensure that the treaty doesn’t do what it is supposed to do, which is turn off the tap on plastic production.”.
