Concerned community members have gathered on Mount Main Beach today to show their opposition to the use of Corexit dispersant used during the Rena oil spill.
Rally organiser Dominico Zapata is pleased with the turn out.
People formed a line in front of the sea to show their opposition to the use of Corexit. Photos: Tracy Hardy.
Mayor Stuart Crosby signing the petition on Mount Main Beach this morning.
'Great turn out from the locals here, it's really awesome to see people come down and take the opportunity to have their say.
'The amount of people here shows there is a real deep concern within the local community about the use of Corexit and the fact that local people here want it banned from New Zealand.”
Tauranga City Council Mayor Stuart Crosby also took the time to attend the rally and sign the petition calling for a ban on Corexit.
When he spoke to SunLive earlier in the week, Stuart said he has publicly raised his concerns about the oil dispersant agent and wants the Corexit stored here to be removed safely out of the country.
'In my experience when it was used on the Rena it didn't work. There are better alternatives to use.”
Dominico says after a couple of speeches people lined up on the beach and joined hands to show their object to the use of Corexit.
The keen surfer says he decided to plan the protest after seeing the recently aired 60minutes investigation into the chemical.
Read more about the investigation and Dominico's thoughts here.
7 comments
used on Exxon Valdez
Posted on 28-09-2013 13:14 | By Captain Sensible
Isn't it funny how it took a programme on TV last week ("60 Minutes") which showed the deadly toxicity of Corexit and then suddenly there's a protest. The 'Rena' has been there for two years and suddenly these experts are now real experts thanks to '60 Minutes'. They would have more credibility if this protest happened two years ago. I hope the protest works. It was bad news when used in 1989 on the 'Exxon Valdez' and nearly 25 years later we are still using it!!
overnite experts!!
Posted on 28-09-2013 14:21 | By vinniz
Not to sure what thats meant to mean but after 300 plus hours on the cleanup, countless public meetings and initiation of some volunteer programs , i take offence to that. So some people have been re educated about new zealands low standards on some procedures, at least we are out there trying to push for change. Lets hope the message although small may get thru to the powers that be, seems our local MP Bridges may have a say in the banning of this product. Some of us were against its use from the start and 2 years on here we are still talking about it.
Ban Corexit Rally
Posted on 28-09-2013 16:02 | By Buddy Mikaere
Big ups to all the people who turned up for this rally this morning. If it takes something like the 60 Minutes programme to galvanize people into action - so what? We didn't have the same information about CoRexit two years ago that we have now, in fact at the time Minister Smith said it was no more harmful than dish wash solution - exactly one of the terms used to describe it in the 60 minute programme. If you two know-alls knew all about it then why didn't you kick up a fuss? People being critical of others should have the courage to voice their criticisms without hiding behind a pseudonym Mr Vinniz and Mr Captain Sensible?
buddy
Posted on 28-09-2013 18:26 | By vinniz
you should read my post before slagging me off, i was at the rally this morning, and yes we did make a fuss 2 years ago. i aint hiding behind any pseudonym mate. Any way your missing the point this stuff is toxic lets get rid of it.
@ Buddy
Posted on 28-09-2013 20:13 | By Captain Sensible
It was well documented in 1989 after the 'Exxon Valdez' disaster. Yeah, good on you for protesting but I just find it strange how it took a TV programme a week ago, to get people to take notice of this dispersant. I personally have known about it for over twenty years, and complained to several MPs about it last century.
Good Turnout
Posted on 29-09-2013 11:53 | By Richard Moore
It was a very good turnout in pretty ordinary weather. A lot of people, myself included have been against Corexit since its use on the Rena. I just want to point out there were a number of candidates at the meeting, but we were not there to politicise the occasion. They included Rusty Kane, Fleur Harawira, Awanui Black, Michael O'Neill and myself. All present are concerned about our environment and the use of toxic chemicals in our area. I'm sure we will all turn out again to protest against deep-sea oil drilling.
when Rena happened
Posted on 29-09-2013 14:07 | By Blessed
There was petitions, flyers being sent out, anger at public meetings and letters sent to a number of officials in regards to the use of Corexit, there is even a Facebook page ban Corexit in NZ..... We know it is MORE Toxic then Oil, we knew all this when the Rena went down. So why does NZ continue to use such toxic substances...? Ban it i say
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