Controversy arose in Brazil over the decision to sink a decommissioned aircraft carrier, despite protests from environmentalists denouncing how the former French ship was filled with toxic substances. “The planned and controlled sinking occurred on Friday afternoon”, in an area about 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) deep, 350 km off the coast of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean, the Navy said. The decision to sink San Paolo, built more than 60 years ago, came after Brazilian authorities tried in vain to find a port willing to welcome it.
While defense officials said they would sink the ship in a “safer zone”, environmentalists criticized the decision, saying the aircraft carrier contained tons of asbestos, heavy metals and other toxic substances that could contaminate the marine food chain. Yesterday, environmental group Basel Action Network released a joint statement with Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, accusing Brazil of violating “three international agreements” on the environment by sinking the ship. to coastal communities
“Other environmentally sound measures could have been taken, but once again the importance of protecting the oceans, which is vital to the life of the planet, has been overlooked,” said Leandro Ramos, program director for Greenpeace Brazil. Brazilian officials insisted that it was better to deliberately sink the ship than to let it sink on its own.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
