[] TL: LONDON DUMPING CONVENTION '93
SO: INTERNATIONAL OCEANS NEWSLETTER Greenpeace International (GP)
DT: October 26, 1993
Keywords: environment oceans fisheries greenpeace gp ocean
dumping algae coral marine mammals /


HISTORIC LONDON CONVENTION MEETING SET FOR NOVEMBER
At their 16th Consultative Meeting, November 8-12, the
Contracting Parties to the London Convention (LC) will take
action on proposals to prohibit permanently ocean incineration
and the dumping of radioactive and industrial wastes at sea.
Earlier this year, Denmark Spain and Nauru took the lead at a
special LC "Amendment Group" meeting to adopt a "fast track"
approach, whereby final decisions will be made on three
annexrelated amendments. Their proposals, which most governments
are supporting, would

*prohibit radioactive waste dumping at sea
*prohibit industrial waste dumping at sea, and
*prohibit ocean incineration

These decisions are needed now, in order to put the London
Convention's house in order with respect to outdated,
environmentally unacceptable dumping practices that have been the
subject of extensive LC consideration over the past decade.

Most of the regional agreements pertaining to waste disposal at
sea, signed after the LC came into existence, go far beyond the
LC in so far as the prohibition of ocean dumping of industrial
and radioactive wastes is concerned. Within the LC, a growing
number of governments are of the view that, unless the Convention
is brought into line with current environmental, ocial, political
and legal realities by making the above kinds of changes, the old
LC runs the risk of becoming obsolete.

Dumpers' Club?

Too often over the years, the LC has conveyed the image of a
"dumpers' club", rather than that of an organisation truly
dedicated and committed to ocean protection and pollution
prevention. Although this perception may have been unfair in some
instances, it is a well known fact, and also has resulted in lack
of interest in attending or joing the LC by many countries not
directly concerned with ocean dumping techniques.

Given this concern over the negative image of the Convention, the
Contracting Parties of what was until then known as the London
Dumping Convention decided by consensus, at their Fifteenth
Consultative Meeting last year, to change the name, dropping the
word "dumping". That decision was widely welcomed. Everyone
agreed that it made a lot of sense to move away from the
"dumpers' club" perception that has existed throughout the
Convention's history. 

However, unless the Consultative Meeting adopts the proposals to
ban ocean incineration and the dumping of industrial and
radioactive wastes, Contracting Parties risk being accused of
hypocricy and inconsistency, of wanting cosmetic change only.

 
It is widely believed that the prohibition of radioactive and
industrial waste dumping and incineration will definitely modify
the "dumpers' club" image. In fact, no other measure could
reinforce a "new" or "updated" focus and image for the
Convention, while also serving as an excellent advertisement to
non-member countries to join and participate in the LC efforts to
solve cutting edge marine pollution problems in the 1990s and
beyond.