Greenpeace warns Bangkok gov't against Japanese 'toxic trap'

Asian Political News, March 12, 2001

BANGKOK, March 8 Kyodo

Greenpeace warned the Bangkok government Thursday against construction of an incinerator using loans from the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The construction would mire Bangkok in massive debt repayments and costly operating costs as well as producing cancer-causing toxic emissions, said Greenpeace Southeast Asia anti-toxic gas campaigner Tara Buakamsri.

''The huge loan being dangled by the JBIC is nothing but a ploy intended to trap the city into accepting dirty Japanese technology, which is facing increasing opposition in its own country,'' Tara said.

Tara said some Japanese companies such as Hitachi Zosen Corp. and NKK Corp. have been aggressively promoting waste incineration in Thailand.

Greenpeace urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) to rethink its plan to use incineration as a cornerstone of the region's waste management system.

It suggests alternatives of recycling and composting would be safer environment, boost the local economy and create more jobs.

According to independent studies, incineration is a primary source of dioxin, a toxic chemical proven to cause cancers and other heath problems such as immune system disorders, birth defects and liver damage.

According to the U.N. Environment Program, Japanese incinerators account for almost 40% of the global emissions of dioxins as the country operates the most waste incinerators in the world.

Independent studies said communities living around incinerators in Japan have been documented having higher rates of cancer and other health problems.

''Bangkok shouldn't repeat the costly mistakes of Japan. We shouldn't pay for dirty projects that will end up poisoning our people and our environment,'' Tara said.