Massive fish kills near the Vietnamese industrial port of Vung Ang have devastated the country’s central coast and led to a wave of protests. While demonstrators suspect pollution from a Taiwanese Formosa steel plant caused the kills, scientists say they know the cause, but it’s not up to them to reveal it.
According to a report by Radio Free Asia, Nguyen Tac An, the former director of Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, says scientists studied satellite photos from last month and “found out how much waste there was, and how toxic it was,” and that they all knew the source of the waste, and so did the government
The government, on the other hand, has not been forthright with the people about what An says it knows.
According to an earlier report by RFA, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha first said the government didn’t know the cause and then blamed it on red tide-a lame excuse. Ha did admit that Formosa had installed a mile-long waste pipeline that runs underwater from the steel plant, but Formosa claims it hasn’t violated any laws. However leading Vietnamese economist Le Dang Doanh told RFA that Ha Tinh environmental agency allowed Formosa to test its own wastewater.
While the government stalls on holding the polluter responsible, fishermen and their families are suffering and need suppot to get through this crisis.
Sign this petition to insist that Vietnam’s Environment Minister take decisive steps to address these disastrous fish kills, including disclosing what the government knows, shutting down the Formosa Plant if it’s responsible, providing support to affected communities and submitting recommendations on improved regulations on such facilities in the future.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/vietnam/vietnam-fish-04292016170303.html
To Vietnam Environment Minister Tran Hong Ha:
I am writing on behalf of the people of Vietnam and others who depend upon the fishing industy of the country's cental coast, asking that you immediately address the source and cause of these devastating fish kills and help the communities that are suffering get through this crisis.
[Your Comments}
According to what Nguyen Tac An told Radio Free Asia, the government is well aware of the cause and the source of the massive fish kills.
Therefore, the government should stop stalling on disclosing this information and hold the source responsible for the clean up and for supporting the affected communities and industries through the crisis.
It is also suggested that you take the following steps to address this serious pollution problem:
1. Conduct a comprehensive investigation on ties between the plant and fish kills - or else admit what the government already knows about the source of the pollution.
2. Commit to shut down the plant if an connection is known or established; and
3. Submit recommendations on improved regulation and permitting of such facilties.
Thanks for your time.
[Your Name]
