From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: GREENPEACE BLOCKS DuPONT PLANT TO PROTEST OZONE DESTRUCTION
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 22:49:31 GMT

/** gn.peacemedia: 122.0 **/
** Topic: DuPont Protest in Holland **
** Written 10:28 am  Apr  6, 1992 by gn:peacemedia in cdp:gn.peacemedia **
GREENPEACE BLOCKS DuPONT PLANT TO PROTEST OZONE DESTRUCTION

[Peace Media Service] Greenpeace activists blockaded the rail line
to the DuPont plant in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, for more than
seven hours April 1, shutting down shipments of chemicals that
destroy the Earth's protective ozone layer and contribute to
global warming.

The 40 protesters--from the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and the
USA--chained the train to the tracks and hung banners on rail cars
that read: ``Skin Cancer Has A Name: DuPont'' and ``Stop Ozone
Destruction, Stop DuPont.'' Approximately 40 police cut the
protestors from the train tracks. Willem-Jan Goosen , Ozone
Campaigner for Greenpeace Netherlands, said he was shocked at the
rough manner in which the police treated the protestors. He said
the Greenpeace protest was, as always, nonviolent.

Goosen said that during the day Greenpeace continually requested
the DuPont executive to talk to them but there was no response.
There was also no response to the Greenpeace demands that DuPont
immediately stop the production the ozone-depleting chemicals, to
save the ozone layer.

``Du Pont said on the radio today that it was able to stop
production immediately but that society was not ready. We say that
if it is able to stop, it should, and now. Society is not ready
for the environmental destruction which sustained ozone
depletion will bring,'' said Goosen.

The activists plans further blockades until DuPont halts its
production of ozone destroying chemicals. DuPont, a United States
controlled transnational corporation, is the largest producer of
ozone destroying CFCs in the world.

Greenpeace also demands that DuPont halt its production of HCFCs
and HFCs, chemicals promoted as CFC substitutes. Greenpeace find
them unacceptable because they will continue to destroy the ozone
layer.

``We have found numerous safe alternatives to CFCs that are
already in use and have been brought into production rapidly
despite DuPont's claims that it is not possible,'' said Goossen.

It is the chlorine CFCs and HCFCs which destroys the ozone. Ozone
destruction will be directly felt by millions of people who will
suffer from impaired immune systems, damaged eyesight, and skin
cancer as dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation reach the
Earth.

``DuPont's board of directors must be held accountable for their
ozone destroying policies,'' said Melanie Duchin, Ozone Campaigner
for Greenpeace USA. ``How many skin cancers and cataracts will it
take before DuPont's board in the United States finally places
protection of the ozone layer above profits?.'' (Greenpeace
Netherlands +31.20: 626.1877)

The same day 50 Greenpeace protesters in Mississauga, Canada,
welcomed Arthur Sawchuk to his new position as Chief Executive
Officer of DuPont Canada and appealed to him to ban production of
all ozone-destroying chemicals. While some protesters entered the
Canadian head office to present Mr. Sawchuk with a job
description, other activists dressed as suntanners of the future
lay in lawn chairs under a banner which read: ``DuPont--#1 Ozone
Destroyer.'' The futuristic tanners wore white protective suits
and high-intensity sunscreen to ward off skin cancer and
cataracts, which can be caused by excessive ultraviolet radiation.
(Greenpeace Toronto +1.416: 345.8408)


** End of text from cdp:gn.peacemedia **

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