Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-06-13-Speech-2-226"
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"en.20000613.16.2-226"2
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"It is astonishing that the Commission did not accept Parliaments' amendments at first reading.
We must insist that the build-up of hazardous wastes is put high on the OSPAR agenda. Hazardous substances are dangerously toxic, the contamination persisting and building up in rivers, lakes and seas. I urge the governments involved to push for a halt on the release of new substances and to continue the phase-out of existing hazardous substances, putting in place a substitutes plan.
Chemicals which potentially disrupt the endocrine, or hormonal system must be completely banned. Governments have already taken steps to ban some "endocrine disrupters". OSPAR provides another opportunity for governments to operate the precautionary principle based on the known problems of letting industry rush ahead with the use of "dirty" chemicals.
In the case of the weapons industry, I am astonished at the continuing refusal of European Ministers to consider discussions on how to deal with the 1 million tonnes of hazardous chemical and radioactive munitions dumped in the Beaufort Dyke. The Irish Minister for the Marine, Frank Fahey, must place this topic on the OSPAR agenda as a matter of extreme importance. The dumping of toxic used weapons is seriously dangerous and should be taken up at OSPAR.
Minister Fahey must also produce a report on the munitions dumps around the Irish coast. This report can be used at OSPAR as a platform for discussing hazardous waste of all types. The Irish Government must now prove its commitment to protection of the Irish people and the marine environment.
We need to demand answers from BNFL on the high level of technetium-99 lobster samples. A lobster sample taken in May 1997 measured an alarming 52 000 Bq/kg of Tc-99 which was then hidden within the reported average radiation levels of 18 500 Bq/kg. These concerns were raised during the OSPAR convention in July 1998 and were buried with bland assurances.
The UK Environment Minister, Mr Michael Meacher, has clearly stated that "BNFL is unable to explain the high measurement" of Tc-99. Levels of radioactive contamination from Sellafield in the Irish Sea are continually increasing. What will it take to stop the poisoning of the seas by Sellafield? How long will the health of Irish and UK people remain in the hands of BNFL?
Results from vegetable plots near Sellafield where seaweed is used as fertiliser have been published in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency report: "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment 1997". The results show spinach has been found with a staggering 8 400 Bq/kg which is almost 7 times higher than the EU intervention level following a nuclear accident.
Levels of radiation are measured in Bq/kg. The EU intervention level for food following a nuclear accident is 1 250 Bq/kg."@en1
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