Dioxin Action in Denmark ends Friday Morning

[Neil Tangri <ntangri@essential.org>]

Dear All:

This morning, the Greenpeace direct action protesting dioxin
emissions in Denmark ended. I am forwarding both the press release 
issued and also yesterday's ENS story on the protest.

I think this will help all of us call attention to dioxin issues at 
POP INC3.

Jack

---------------

Police Ends Greenpeace Blockade of Denmark's Largest Dioxin 
Source

Frederiksvaerk, Denmark, 27 August 1999 

The Greenpeace blockade of Danish steels works DDS ended today in
the early morning hours when a large police continent including SWAT
forces boarded the ship MV Greenpeace and arrested 22 crew members
and activists. The MV Greenpeace was then towed away from its
position, which prevented ships from delivering polluted scrap metal
to the steel smelter. 

Greenpeace activists from 17 countries had been blocking the harbor
of the steel works for 44 hours since early Wednesday morning to
demand an action plan to reduce dangerous dioxin emissions from the
plant. On two occasions, Greenpeace activists had also occupied the
crane used for moving scrap into the large furnaces. Danish police
has arrested a total of 44 environmentalists since the action
started. Some of the  activists may be charged with disrupting
public services, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in
jail.

The steel smelter company DDS is the largest single dioxin emitter
in Denmark, and Greenpeace has been campaigning to end dioxin
emissions from the plant. During the two day long blockade DDS
refused to enter into a dialogue with Greenpeace, and turned to the
police to stifle the protest. Under current environmental
legislation, the plant is not even required to measure emission
levels for the super-poison dioxin. Dioxin is known to cause cancer,
birth defects and other health problems.

"It's completely unacceptable that the company which is responsible
for the largest dioxin emissions in Denmark still refuses to present
an action plan to stop their dioxin emissions," says Greenpeace
Nordic toxic campaigner Jan Soendergaard. 

Some 25% of the scrap metal used in the production of new steel
plates and merchant bars at DDS originates from used cars containing
PVC and other chlorinated substances which produces dioxins as an
unwanted by- product.

Regional Danish authorities have now indicated that they want to
include requirements for the plant to measure their dioxin emissions
on a regular basis in a new environmental permit, which is currently
under review. "Measuring is not enough. We want the Danish
Environmental Protection Agency to interfere and begin the complete
phase-out of dioxin emissions in Denmark," says Soendergaard. 

Dioxin is among the 'dirty dozen' of Persistent Organic Pollutants
targeted for global action at the United Nations Environmental
Program (UNEP) talks in Geneva 6-11 September. These 12 hazardous
substances all bioaccumulate in humans and wildlife and can travel
long distances. Dioxin is arguably the one we know most about - and
is most toxic to humans and the environment. Only recently Danish
authorities released alarming figures on the levels of dioxins in
the breast milk of Danish women, indicating the widespread dioxin
pollution. 

"We hope to see Denmark take the lead in these negotiations on
eliminating persistent poisons," says Soendergaard. "But if Denmark
wants to continue its progressive role in international
environmental negotiations we have seen in recent years, the Danish
government has to stop their own dioxin sources now."

Note to the editor: The arrested activists are from the following
countries: Argentina, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana,
Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, UK, USA, and Yugoslavia.

Stills and video material of the action are available from
Greenpeace Intl on +31 20 5249-580 (stills) or -543 (video)

For more information, please check our WebPages at { HYPERLINK
http://www.greenpeace.org }http://www.greenpeace.org or contact: Dan
Hindsgaul Press Officer, Greenpeace Nordic/Copenhagen on mobile:
(+45) 28 10 90 21 Holger Roenitz, Greenpeace International press
desk on +31 20 5249 545 


======#======

GREENPEACERS ARRESTED AT DANISH STEEL SMELTER  

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, August 25, 1999 (ENS) - Three Greenpeace
activists were arrested today after chaining themselves to a crane on
the Danish Steelworks' wharf to protest the company's emission of
toxic dioxins. The environmental group says the metal recycling plant
is the biggest dioxin emitter in Denmark. Dioxin is linked to higher
risk of cancer and birth defects. Those arrested at the Danske
Stalvalsevaerk (DDS) facility in Frederiksvaerk, 55 kilometers (34
miles) northwest of Copenhagen, were among 25 activists from 16
countries who used the ship MV Greenpeace to block the steelworks'
harbour. They were attempting to prevent new supplies of scrap metal
from entering the plant. The Danish Steelworks recycles scrap metal
into steel plates and bars.

Twelve activists from Sweden, Germany, Turkey and Denmark climbed the
crane and displayed a banner reading "dioxin-free future." Then they
chained themselves to the machine.

Police ordered the demonstrators to leave. They cut free and arrested
three who would not leave voluntarily. No names have been released,
and no charges have yet been filed.

"DDS must stop their dioxin emissions," said Greenpeace Nordic toxic
campaigner Jacob Hartmann.  The group says the steel smelter has taken
no effective steps to prevent dioxin emissions. "Greenpeace demands
that DDS presents a convincing action plan before the year on 2000 how
the company intends to prevent their dioxin emissions," Hartmann said.

Dioxin emissions are an unwanted by-product when scrap metal from
discarded cars containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other
chlorinated substances are used in the production of new steel plates
and bars. Greenpeace says 25 percent of the scrap metal used at DDS
originates from discarded cars.

According to a new PVC strategy presented by the Danish government in
June, PVC must not be incinerated in Danish municipal waste
facilities. Greenpeace demands that PVC also be kept away from the
DDS furnaces.

"It's obvious that using non-contaminated scrap metal at DDS is the
only way of preventing the high dioxin emissions from the plant" said
Hartmann. "DDS appears to believe that they can solve their dioxin
problems by extending the height of the stack. Greenpeace believes
that pollution must be stopped at the source."

Greenpeace has attempted to discuss the issue with the company, but
two letters from Greenpeace to DDS have so far been ignored.

Dioxin is among the dozen persistent organic pollutants on the table
at the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) talks in Geneva
September 6 to 11. These hazardous substances all bioaccumulate in
humans and wildlife and can travel long distances.

The MV Greenpeace arrived in Denmark from an expedition to Svalbard
in the Arctic during which Greenpeace and Swedish scientists took
samples to ascertain to what extent hazardous persistent organic
pollutants such as dioxin have travelled to the Arctic.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 1999

For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/aug99/1999L-08-25-0 4.html

Jack Weinberg
Greenpeace
417 S. Dearborn, Suite 420
Chicago, IL 60605
phone 1-312-554-1030
fax   1-312-554-1224
jack.weinberg@dialb.greenpeace.org