Dow Chemicals Shareholders in Indaver

cork | environment | news report Sunday December 03, 2006 23:20 by Linda Fitzpatrick - CHASE

INCINERATOR ON SANTA'S NAUGHTY LIST

Today (Sun 3 Dec, 2006, 11.30am), in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork members of communities from around Cork Harbour were joined by public representatives on 22nd Anniversary of the Bhopal Disaster (India 1984), to highlight that Dow Chemicals incorporating Union Carbide Corporation, are shareholders of Indaver, the company that intends to unleash a cocktail of toxic chemicals on the Cork Harbour communities.

A short ceremony took place to remember the 20,000 victims of Bhopal as part of a Santa Scramble organised by CHASE to raise funds for the ongoing campaign to stop a 100,000 tonne hazardous waste incinerator and a 100,000 tonne municipal waste incinerator being built in Ringaskiddy.

A delegation of Santas delivered a clear message that the incinerator issue has put the Government and the incinerator firmly on Santa’s naughty list. Public representatives taking part included Dan Boyle TD (Green Party) and Cllr Ciaran Lynch deputising for the Lord Mayor, who started the event.

Speaking at the proposed Incinerator Site, Chairperson Mary O’Leary said “We are appalled that companies with a track record such as Dow Chemicals would have a say in key decisions in the future of Cork Harbour if this incinerator proceeds, it must not be allowed to happen. Dow Chemicals with an already shameful environmental track record, abdicated responsibility for the victims of the Bhopal Disaster. People are still suffering because of this. We will be making a donation to the Victims of Bhopal fund as a token of solidarity with these people.

This campaign is a campaign to protect Cork Harbour and our health, because An Bord Pleanala (against their Inspector's advice), the Irish Government, and the EPA have abdicated their responsibility to do so.”

The Flemish Government, employee shareholders and 23 Corporate Shareholders, one of whom is Dow Chemicals, own Indaver. The largest private shareholder (14.9 %) is Belgian energy giant Electrabel, which owns and operates power-generating stations across Europe, including Nuclear Power Stations in France and Belgium.