[PAA-Discuss] FW: this too the face and fact of war

[donald cook]

>Environmental 'crisis' in LebanonBy Richard Black
>Environment correspondent, BBC News website
>      The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) has expressed its 
>"grave concern" about oil pollution in Lebanese coastal waters.   An oil 
>slick caused by Israeli bombing of the Jiyyeh power station now covers 80km 
>(50 miles) of coast.   Local environmental groups describe the slick as an 
>"environmental disaster".   Almost as much oil may have entered the water 
>as during the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker incident in Alaska, which led to 
>widespread ecological damage.   The UN and other international 
>organisations are assisting the Lebanese government as it attempts to 
>contain thousands of tonnes of oil.     "What we have here is equivalent to 
>a tanker sinking"
>Berj Hatjian, Lebanese environment ministry
>
>  "The Lebanese government has requested international assistance from the 
>UN, and we stand ready to do all we can," said Unep Executive Director 
>Achim Steiner.   A number of Mediterranean countries are contributing 
>equipment and personnel.   But according to the Lebanese environment 
>ministry, "minimal amounts of dispersants, booms, adsorbents, and skimmers 
>are readily available".   The incident began with Israeli raids on the 
>Jiyyeh power utility 30km (19 miles) south of Beirut between 13 and 15 
>July.   Initial reports indicated that 10,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil had 
>escaped from damaged tanks, but the eventual total could be 35,000 tonnes.  
>  By comparison, spillage from the Exxon Valdez accident totalled just 
>under 40,000 tonnes of crude oil.   Fishing and tourism   "What we have 
>here is equivalent to a tanker sinking, and 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes 
>reaching the shoreline," said Berj Hatjian from the Lebanese environment 
>ministry.   "We've had it immediately rushing into
>  the sea from the beach line," he told BBC News.    The Malta-based 
>Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre (Rempec) for the 
>Mediterranean, which is advising the Lebanese government, says "a small 
>quantity of tar balls" also reached the Syrian coast further north.   A 
>coalition of environmental groups declared the Jiyyeh spill "one of the 
>worst environmental crises in Lebanese history".   The group Green Line 
>says that some of the oil has settled on the sea floor, threatening areas 
>where tuna spawn.   It also says that slicks on beaches will prevent baby 
>turtles from reaching the sea after they hatch.   The green turtle, whose 
>eggs hatch in July, is an endangered species.   Unep agrees that the oil is 
>a significant threat to some Mediterranean wildlife, but also says the 
>slick could compromise livelihoods when the current conflict ends.   
>"Firstly our thoughts are with the suffering of the civilian population," 
>said Mr Steiner.   "But we must be concerned about
>  the short and long term impacts on the marine environment, including the 
>biodiversity upon which so many people depend for their livelihoods and 
>living via tourism and fishing."   Richard.Black-INTERNET at bbc.co.uk
>
>
>
>A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
>
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