Author:
richard - environmentalist
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Date Posted: Wed, Jan 30 2008, 08:53:16am
I was doing some research on waste management and came across this article. Its really sad how our grand somare can be ignorant to entertain self interest! what a pity for pngeans.
I have also posted this article in pngscape for national discussion, if ur interested!!
whats your say on this!!
richard
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PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Jan. 14) - Almost 1.2 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea have petitioned the Somare Government to seriously look at thd environmental impact of the Ramu nickel mine.
The action was taken after Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare rejected three attempts by church head Bishop Dr. Wesley Kigasung to receive an environmental study report compiled by the church.
Kigasung has now written to Sir Michael, his deputy and Mining Minister Dr. Puka Temu, and Environment and Conservation Minister Benny Allen to accept the report and seriously consider the mine’s pollution impact to the sea.
Former health minister Sir Peter Barter has also joined Kigasung and petitioned the leader of the National Alliance party to "personally" meet Kigasung and immediately conduct another environmental study.
A copy of Kigasung’s letter obtained by the Post-Courier, which was sent last month, stated Sir Michael declined to accept the report which showed that any discharging of waste materials in the sea would greatly affect the environment and tourism.
"I write on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG as custodian of the people living in and around the Basamuk Bay where a major township is proposed to be built," Kigasung said in the letter.
"Our major concern for the inhabitants of the Basamuk Bay and the surrounding Astrolabe Bay is the effect of the proposed Submarine Tailings Disposal of the Ramu Nickel Mine of approx. 5 million (tons) in the Bay."
An extensive study done by an independent scientific research group engaged by the church through the support of its Lutheran overseas partner churches has finalized its report but Kigasung said Sir Michael did not want to receive the report from the church.
"Attempt was made on three different occasions to have an audience with the prime minister of this country to officially present the report and address our concern as a church, but it was not successful," he said. "I want to raise the alarm again about the possible environmental damage that could destroy the livelihood of my people living in and around the Basamuk Bay and whole area of the Astrolabe Bay. This is a serious matter and I speak on behalf of the 1.2 million members of the Lutheran Church who are very concerned, about their members living in the Rai Coast area and the whole of Madang Province," he said.
Sir Peter told Sir Michael in a letter last Thursday to consider ELCPNG’s petition before the situation was regrettable.
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