China Pays Up In Eco Damage Claim

News from Mannin Branch Celtic League:

Coral reefs are crucially important ecosystems globally, often regarded as being the oceanic equivalent of peat lands and tropical rain forests in the amount of carbon that they absorb. The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia is the world's most extensive coral reef system and the largest World Heritage Area. As in so much about the natural world, there is a lot of ignorance about the importance of coral reefs. The state government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who was the Premier of Queensland in 1968-87, opposed the World Heritage designation of the Great Barrier Reef in 1981. Cabinet documents released 30 years later showed that Joh Bjelke-Petersen's government wanted to explore for oil in the Great Barrier Reef.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/…/story-fn7f6f9t-1225979646…

Over the years there have been proposals to construct channels through the Reef to allow the passage of large ships, especially those exporting Australia's mineral wealth, including coal to the Far East. The threat of accidental damage to parts of the Reef is a daily concern, as much of the coal exports are from Queensland ports. Indeed, there have recently been plans to open new ports for these exports closer to the Reef, although these plans have been fought by Greenpeace.

Unfortunately, these accidents do occur. In April 2010 a Chinese coal carrying ship ran aground on Douglas Shoal, part of the Great Barrier Reef east of the town of Rockhampton. The Australian government sued the owners of the ship, Shenzhen Energy Transport, to pay for environmental damage. Associated Press in Canberra reported yesterday that a 39.9 million AUD settlement has been reached.

http://www.dailysabah.com/…/australia-reaches-30-million-se…

Earlier this summer arbitration by the International Tribunal of the Hague made two rulings on the claims and behaviour of China in the South China Sea. The court rejected China's sovereignty claims to areas near the coast of the Philippines. It also found that China had violated its obligation under Articles 192 and 194 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by causing extensive damage to coral reefs there. Unfortunately, China is unlikely to be fined for destroying those coral reefs.

Link:

https://pca-cpa.org/…/PH-CN-20160712-Press-Release-No-11-En…

Related link;

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1057977124251048&id=805941286121301&substory_index=0
Article compiled by Allen Moore, Environmental Officer, Celtic League Mannin Branch

BERNARD MOFFATT
Public Relations Officer Mannin Branch

Issued by: The Mannin branch of the Celtic League.