Here’s an article in the Georgia Straight by fellow Vancouver AI BHR volunteer Graham Allen: The Canadian government, in a March 2009 report, acknowledged it has a problem: “Within the wider community, increasing concerns have been raised about the human rights impacts of the activities of Canadian extractive companies with
Continue readingBusiness & Human Rights in Vancouver: AI Press Release: Cote d’Ivoire: Authorities must ensure toxic waste compensation reaches victims
From Amnesty International: Amnesty International today urged the authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure that $45 million compensation paid by the oil trading company Trafigura to victims of one of the worst toxic dumping scandals in recent years reaches the people to whom it is owed. The compensation was agreed
Continue readingBusiness & Human Rights in Vancouver: AI Press Release: Cote d’Ivoire: Authorities must ensure toxic waste compensation reaches victims
From Amnesty International:
Amnesty International today urged the authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure that $45 million compensation paid by the oil trading company Trafigura to victims of one of the worst toxic dumping scandals in recent years reaches the people to whom it is owed.
The compensation was agreed in the context of a court action brought by some 30,000 people against Trafigura in the High Court of England and Wales.
The organization has also written to UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw, urgently asking him to contact his counterpart in the Côte d’Ivoire and press for swift action to prevent a potentially massive fraud being perpetrated.
The call came as thousands of the victims of the illegal dumping of toxic waste in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire, wait anxiously to receive their money.
“There is a real risk that the victims of this waste dumping will never see the compensation they have been waiting so long to receive,” said Widney Brown, Senior Director at Amnesty International.
“The governments of Côte d’Ivoire and the UK must do everything in their power to ensure that this money is paid to the claimants listed in the court order – and prevent its misappropriation by corrupt figures.”
The $45 million compensation has been frozen in the bank account of the law firm representing the victims in the court case against Trafigura, the company accused of dumping the waste.
The freezing order was made after a man claiming his organization – the National Coordination of Toxic Waste Victims of Côte d’Ivoire (CNVDT-CI) – represents the “real victims” said the money should be transferred into that organization’s bank account instead. This claim appears entirely false and has been refuted by the victim’s UK lawyers, as well as in a petition that is before the Ivorian courts by the other representatives of claimants in the UK court case.
The CNVDT-CI appears nowhere in any court documents related to the case or the settlement.
On 23 September, the High Court of England and Wales approved a settlement agreement between the victims of the toxic waste dumping, UK law firm Leigh Day & Co, and Trafigura. The agreement was that $45 million would be distributed by Leigh Day to the nearly 30,000 victims who had agreed to the deal, with each receiving about $1,600. The funds were transferred to an account in Côte d’Ivoire set up by Leigh Day for distribution to the victims.
On 22 October, Claude Gohourou, who claims his organization represents the victims, applied to a court in Abidjan to have the funds in the Leigh Day account frozen, which the court agreed to. Soon after, on 27 October, he applied for the money to be transferred to an account held by his own association.
Tomorrow, the Abidjan court is due to rule on his application.
“If the court in Côte d’Ivoire transfers the money into Mr Gohourou’s account, there is a very good chance that it will never be seen again,” said Widney Brown.
“We need an urgent intervention to prevent the victims of this tragic case from a double disaster. To have fought for three years for some measure of compensation for the terrible events of 2006, and then to see it stolen would be a travesty.”
Note to editors:
In August 2006, toxic waste was brought to Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire on board the ship Probo Koala, which had been chartered by Trafigura. This waste was then dumped in various locations around the city, causing a human rights tragedy. More than 100,000 people sought medical attention for a range of health problems and there were 15 reported deaths.***************************
For further information, please contact:
Beth Berton-Hunter, Media Relations
416-363-9933, ext. 332***************************
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Business & Human Rights in Vancouver: AI Press Release: Cote d’Ivoire: Authorities must ensure toxic waste compensation reaches victims
From Amnesty International: Amnesty International today urged the authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure that $45 million compensation paid by the oil trading company Trafigura to victims of one of the worst toxic dumping scandals in recent years reaches the people to whom it is owed. The compensation was agreed
Continue readingThe Wheatsheaf: There is a tear in my beer because I am crying for you dear
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Continue readingezra winton: Links for 2009-10-29 [del.icio.us]
veronika drahotova
Continue readingSeeing Red in the Southwest: Humboldt County: Garbage or Gold?
Is it time to get involved?Poll: Do you believe Humboldt County should allow the proposed Jungo Road Landfill?The local group NevadansAgainstGarbage.com have an internet poll that you can participate in. Two years ago, Humboldt County changed its ordinances without any public consultation to allow garbage from outside its area to
Continue readingSeeing Red in the Southwest: Humboldt County: Garbage or Gold?
Is it time to get involved?Poll: Do you believe Humboldt County should allow the proposed Jungo Road Landfill?The local group NevadansAgainstGarbage.com have an internet poll that you can participate in. Two years ago, Humboldt County changed its ordinances without any public consultation to allow garbage from outside its area to
Continue readingSeeing Red in the Southwest: Humboldt County: Garbage or Gold?
Is it time to get involved?Poll: Do you believe Humboldt County should allow the proposed Jungo Road Landfill?The local group NevadansAgainstGarbage.com have an internet poll that you can participate in. Two years ago, Humboldt County changed its ordin…
Continue readingThe Wheatsheaf: Blame Management
10 months, 3 chiefs of staff. Michael Ignatieff is following the Mo Johnston play book. Mo helms Toronto FC in the MLS. Off the field, by all accounts they are a successful team. They have great attendance. Their fans are boisterous and loyal. And, on paper, they have the building
Continue readingezra winton: Links for 2009-10-27 [del.icio.us]
NO! The Rape Documentary|Violence Against Women|Sexual Assault Documentary Double Haul Productions Ltd. : Awakening The Skeena
Continue readingThe Wheatsheaf: Partisan to the bone
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Continue readingA Cheque for Canada on Fixed Election Day
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Continue readingRob Maguire: Marketing lies, beauty, and the Maple Leafs
YouTube is chock full of spoof ads, most of them awful. This morning I watched one that was surprisingly well made, if not particularly clever. The ad was a Toronto Maple Leafs-themed spoof on another Hogtown creation, the award-winning Dove Evolution video that drew attention to the deceptive beauty of the fashion industry. Around the […]
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