Action Alert: Stop Massive World Bank (IFC) Supported Expansion of Pacific Industrial Tuna Fish Harvest
By Asples PNG (People of Papua New Guinea), a project of Ecological Internet
Over-fishing [search] comes to Madang, Papua New Guinea, as local peoples prepare to resist 10 tuna canneries. Support indigenous South Pacific coastal peoples as they are peacefully protesting right now!
In the peaceful South Pacific town of Madang, Papua New Guinea (PNG), the local indigenous people are being inundated with foreign industrial "development" projects -- mines, logging and fisheries -- for which they have not been properly consulted, have not given their informed consent, and from which they are unlikely to meaningfully benefit. This includes the PNG government's and World Bank/IFC's plans with China and Japan's governments to facilitate and invest in the construction of ten new tuna fish canneries and a large central warehouse and worker settlement along Madang's beautiful coconut lined north coast. A tranquil village culture -- living simply but well from small-scale fishing -- will be decimated.
A US$300 million (K990m) Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) is planned that will greatly increase industrial harvest of Madang, PNG and the Pacific Islands' rich tuna resources. Canneries and dock and storage facilities are to be constructed to service foreign fishing vessels that would dump their tuna catch. It will bring tens of thousands of unskilled Asians into Papua New Guinea when local unemployment is high. And it most certainly will lead to fishery depletion and collapse. Unless this expansion of an already socially and ecologically failed industrial tuna industry is resisted, overfishing and piracy will destroy PNG and most of the world's remaining tuna and other fisheries.
Comments
Another of the worlds beautiful places about to be ruined by greed. I will be there next year on a tourism holiday. Hope it will be worth the trip.
Posted by: Christian Fletcher | October 15, 2009 7:40 PM
From what I can see from your and other ecological web sites , big business and Money markets and groups like the IFC are going to do to the environment what they did to the financial sector and world economies . These people are a danger to this world using so called aid and development for their own gain at the expense of ecology and the world and its population.
In my opinion there needs to be a list of these types of organisations made and circulated worldwide , nothing better than name and shame , we should also be pushing for laws to punish these people and groups who push consumption etc , and that world wide
CONSUMPTION IS OLD HAT AND FINISHED , DURABLE PRODUCTS AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING SHOULD BE THE MOTO NOW
I am European but live in South East Asia , and am disgusted by the local governments and their so called knowledge and arrogance . And the big countries and companies trying to make use of and control resources of countries .
Posted by: Paul | October 15, 2009 8:14 PM
Now you're talking Glen.... When banks can be directly linked to negative environmental schemes the game is on... Count me in on this one !!
Jean-Louis
Posted by: Jean-Louis | October 15, 2009 8:15 PM
What has Sir Arnold the Governor said with respect to this matter?
As the CEO to the province I am sure he has the wisdom and experience to consider this matter and return the position of the province taking into consideration all interested persons concerns.
Regards.
Clivson.
Posted by: Clivson | October 15, 2009 8:16 PM