ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTSENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Mrs Alessandra Mrs Alessandra PudduPudduTeacher @ I.T.S. “ E. Mattei” Teacher @ I.T.S. “ E. Mattei”

Decimomannu- ITALYDecimomannu- ITALY

COMENIUS - HELP2012-1-RO1-COM06-22185 5

COMENIUS - HELP2012-1-RO1-COM06-22185 5

NIGER DELTA POLLUTIONNIGER DELTA POLLUTION

OIL EXTRACTIONOIL EXTRACTION

In the Niger Delta, a region rich of oil in the In the Niger Delta, a region rich of oil in the south-est of Nigeria, the activities of oil south-est of Nigeria, the activities of oil multinationals (Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron multinationals (Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron Texaco, Total Fina Elf, Eni/Agip) procured Texaco, Total Fina Elf, Eni/Agip) procured serious environmental, social and economic serious environmental, social and economic damagesdamages

The extraction of oil:The extraction of oil:

caused the pollution of water basins and of landscaused the pollution of water basins and of landsdestroyed the subsistence cultivations destroyed the subsistence cultivations required the expropriation of lands to population required the expropriation of lands to population contributed to the diffusion of many forms of contributed to the diffusion of many forms of cancercancerThe struggle for the economic gains created strong The struggle for the economic gains created strong contrasts between the different communitiescontrasts between the different communities of the country of the country

Social and environmental damages by the oil extraction haveSocial and environmental damages by the oil extraction havecaused:caused:

ExpropriationsExpropriations Progressive land and water contaminationsProgressive land and water contaminations Violences from transnational companies’security service Violences from transnational companies’security service

troopstroops

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTSENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Pollution of the water basins in the Niger Delta and Pollution of the water basins in the Niger Delta and

consequent loss of biodiversity: waterways and lagoons consequent loss of biodiversity: waterways and lagoons are invaded by a black and oily sludgeare invaded by a black and oily sludge

To refuel drinking water, the local populations are forced to To refuel drinking water, the local populations are forced to drill underground for 50 metres, creating problems in water drill underground for 50 metres, creating problems in water availability availability

It is at risk the survival of some species already in danger of It is at risk the survival of some species already in danger of extinction, including the elephant in the River and the white extinction, including the elephant in the River and the white monkey, hippos and crocodiles from the rivermonkey, hippos and crocodiles from the river

Deforestation of large areas for the construction Deforestation of large areas for the construction of mining infrastructuresof mining infrastructures

Drastic reduction of water animalsDrastic reduction of water animals Reduced fertility of arable lands, largely covered Reduced fertility of arable lands, largely covered

by sediments of petroleum by sediments of petroleum Emissions of pollutant toxins, methane and high Emissions of pollutant toxins, methane and high

levels of CO 2levels of CO 2Increment of acid rain which puts at direct risk the Increment of acid rain which puts at direct risk the

health of local communitieshealth of local communities

SOCIAL DAMAGESSOCIAL DAMAGESDependence from the purchase of oil, because Nigeria is Dependence from the purchase of oil, because Nigeria is

suffering from a chronic shortage of fuel suffering from a chronic shortage of fuel Loss of subsistence activities: the pollution of groundwater and Loss of subsistence activities: the pollution of groundwater and

soil has destroyed the main agricultural crops and soil has destroyed the main agricultural crops and has compromised the fishinghas compromised the fishing

Expropriation of land, migration and intra-community conflictsExpropriation of land, migration and intra-community conflictsUrbanization of the population, which has moved in mass to Urbanization of the population, which has moved in mass to

the metropolitan areas of the largest urban centresthe metropolitan areas of the largest urban centresDeterioration of the physical health status of the population: Deterioration of the physical health status of the population:

respiratory problems, coughing up blood, skin rashes and skin respiratory problems, coughing up blood, skin rashes and skin diseases, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, malnutritiondiseases, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, malnutrition

Deterioration in the psychological health of the population Deterioration in the psychological health of the population because of the alteration of the traditional supply system of because of the alteration of the traditional supply system of rural communities that today are often unable and live from rural communities that today are often unable and live from fishing and farmingfishing and farming

Loss of social structure and the role of the individual, because of frustration, depression and violence at especially women. Generalization of the violence: several times the rural

communities from the Niger Delta have mobilized to claim their rights

and in Italy…

SEVESOSEVESO

It was 10 July 1976 It was 10 July 1976 when Italy when Italy lost its innocence lost its innocence and discovered and discovered that we can die that we can die of pollutionof pollution

The place was the ICMESA a chemical plant in The place was the ICMESA a chemical plant in Meda, near Seveso; what happened was the Meda, near Seveso; what happened was the sudden spillage of a toxic cloud containing sudden spillage of a toxic cloud containing dioxindioxin

Eleven communities in the area Eleven communities in the area between Milan and Lake Como between Milan and Lake Como were directly affected by the toxic were directly affected by the toxic cloud. cloud. The four most affected towns, The four most affected towns,

besides Seveso, were those of besides Seveso, were those of Meda, Desio and Cesano MadernoMeda, Desio and Cesano Maderno

After some days from After some days from the incident, when the the incident, when the damages were damages were evident, the evident, the inhabitantsinhabitantswere evacuatedwere evacuated

Hundred people had already Hundred people had already been exposed to negative consequences been exposed to negative consequences like the chloracne (a disease that creates like the chloracne (a disease that creates

pustules difficult to cure) and pustules difficult to cure) and a number out of percentage a number out of percentage

of spontaneous abortionsof spontaneous abortions

Although there were not any immediate deaths after the explosion, Although there were not any immediate deaths after the explosion, there were cases of poisoning and of chloracne. The intoxication affected there were cases of poisoning and of chloracne. The intoxication affected also the animals which were slaughtered in thousands and all vegetation also the animals which were slaughtered in thousands and all vegetation dried up. People were warned about the gravity only after 8 daysdried up. People were warned about the gravity only after 8 days

In 1983, the Bosco delle querce was created, an area where a waterproofed basin was built. The basin contains all the contaminated

materials, including the land taken from the most polluted areas

On 27th February 2014 The Chamber of Deputies approved a bill which establishes

4 new environmental crimes:

1. Environmental disaster;2. Pollution;3. Traffic and abandonment of high radioactivity material; 4. Impediment of the control.

On 27th February 2014 The Chamber of Deputies approved a bill which establishes

4 new environmental crimes:

1. Environmental disaster;2. Pollution;3. Traffic and abandonment of high radioactivity material; 4. Impediment of the control.

NEW ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMESNEW ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMESNEW ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMESNEW ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES

Environmental disaster:

Now those who seriously or irreversibly alter the ecosystem or jeopardize the public safety will be punished with imprisonment from 5 to 15 years

Environmental disaster:

Now those who seriously or irreversibly alter the ecosystem or jeopardize the public safety will be punished with imprisonment from 5 to 15 years

Environmental pollution:

Those who significantly deteriorate the biodiversity or the ecosystem, or the state of the ground water, or air will be punished with imprisonment from 2 to 6 years

Environmental pollution:

Those who significantly deteriorate the biodiversity or the ecosystem, or the state of the ground water, or air will be punished with imprisonment from 2 to 6 years

Traffic and jeopardy of high radioactivity material:

Those who trade or transport high radioactivity material or who discard it illegally are punished with prison from 2 to 6 years

Traffic and jeopardy of high radioactivity material:

Those who trade or transport high radioactivity material or who discard it illegally are punished with prison from 2 to 6 years

Impediment of the control:

those who deny or obstruct or hinder access to environmental controls risk imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years

Impediment of the control:

those who deny or obstruct or hinder access to environmental controls risk imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years