- Call for binding legislation to check environmental pollution by multinationals
By Gbenga Abulude
A global coalition of non-governmental organizations, has condemned the damage caused by an oil spillage on the coast of Mauritius Island in East Africa and authorities’ response to the clean-up.
The coalition said the spillage of over 1000 metric tons by a Japanese owned ship, MV Wakashio, on July 25, 2020 and the breaking apart of the oil tanker on August 15, 2020, had caused substantial damage to the Island’s ecosystem and local livelihoods.
It said the slow governmental response to the clean up is adding to the severity of the impact on the environment and urged the company, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd, to immediately take steps to contain, cleanup and remediate the devastated ecosystem in Mauritius.
In a statement by Friends of the Earth Africa, the African Climate Justice Group, and Friends of the Earth Japan, the groups also called for a compensation for the individuals and businesses that have lost income as a result of the incident, calling for support for a binding legislation to mitigate environmental pollution by multinationals at national, regional and international levels.
The statement reads in part: “We stand in solidarity with the people and Nature of Mauritius in their incredible collective efforts, passion and commitment towards containing the spill and its impacts.
“Nevertheless, we condemn in the strongest possible terms, the oil spill from a Japanese owned ship, MV Wakashio and the demonstrated incompetence of the incumbent authorities in preventing it, and in dealing with the spill’s aftermath.”
“The Japanese owned ship, MV Wakashio, carrying 4,000 metric tons of oil, ran aground just off the coast of the small island nation of Mauritius on July 25, 2020 and broke apart on Saturday August 15, 2020. Over 1000 metric tons of the oil in the ship has spilled into the surrounding waters and there are concerns that more oil will spill from the ship.
“Mauritius is a biodiversity hotspot and the spill occurred near two environmentally protected marine ecosystems and the Blue bay marine reserve park which is a wetland of immense international significance. Coral reefs, protected lagoons and the nation’s shorelines have already been impacted.
“Incidents like this clearly demonstrate why it is important to have strong laws and regulations in place to protect our ecosystems and local livelihoods. The pressure on African governments to relax the already ineffective environmental and social safeguards that exist in their energy, mining, transport, and agricultural sectors is enormous.
“We note that Africa is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, bludgeoned daily by the impacts of the crisis with minimal resources to confront and reduce the impacts.
“The intensification of the climate crises clearly indicates that we can no longer continue with a global economic and social system that is addicted to fossil energy and other extractive industries. This will invariably lead us to the destruction and desecration of our rivers, lands, air, our common heritage, our home – Planet Earth.
“In these uncertain times with the world confronting multiple crises: energy, biodiversity, hunger, indebtedness, unemployment, wars and manipulated extremism, deforestation, climate change, desertification as well as a decayed health infrastructure, to name a few.
“In the midst of a global COVID 19 pandemic whose roots are intrinsically linked to climate change, a disaster like this oil spill has a way of producing real change. Right now, plunged in this moment of crises, we apply our collective imagination to build the framework of a new, low pollution, low carbon economic and a social development system in harmony with the dictates of our ecosystem.
“The African Climate justice Group, Friends of the Earth Africa and Japan call on Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (of the Mitsui group), the Japanese company implicated in this unfortunate incident to immediately take steps to contain, cleanup and remediate the devastated ecosystem in Mauritius.”
