Category Archives: Phosphate importation

Greens call on Australian companies to cut ties with occupiers of Western Sahara

Media Release, Senator Scott Ludlam, Wednesday May 18th, 2011

The Australian Greens have called on Australian companies to sever all ties with Moroccan firms involved in the occupation of Western Sahara.

The Greens justice spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the African Union and more than 80 governments around the world refuse to recognise the Moroccan conquest of Western Sahara and Australian companies should withdraw from deals with the occupation forces.
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Geelong Advertiser 10 May ‘Activist targets Incitec Pivot’

Activist targets Incitec Pivot
By: DANNY LANNEN
Geelong Advertiser (Regional Daily), Edition 1 – First  Edition
TUE 10 MAY 2011, Page 010
AICHA Dahane says people in her  native Western Sahara are hurting and Geelong’s  Incitec Pivot phosphate operation is multiplying the pain.
The human rights  activist visited Geelong yesterday, sharing a plea for awareness and action  over what she branded as illegal exporting of rich phosphate rock from  Moroccan-occupied West Sahara by Pivot and other  companies.
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NY City Bar Association report on legality of Moroccan natural resource use in Western Sahara

Committee on United Nations Report April 2011
The report concludes that by ” treating Morocco as an administering power in the territory – to the extent Morocco is using natural resources located within the territory of Western Sahara, unless such use is in consultation with and to the direct benefit of the people of Western Sahara, Morocco’s use of the natural resources of the territory constitutes a violation of international law”

Read full report >>

Mineral’s tricky route out of Africa, Brisbane Times, November 3, 2010

Brisbane Times, November 3, 2010 – 5:38AMAndrew Darby, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald Hobart correspondent writes:
“Every now and then we discover all is not as right with the world as we thought it was. Even so, who would think a wake-up call could come in the shape of phosphatic rock?
Recently, a harmless enough bulk carrier called the Christine O steamed up the Derwent to unload in Hobart.
It was a surprise to be told that its phosphatic rock cargo came not from the “usual” island sources close to Australia. It came all the way around Africa from the Atlantic coast of the Western Sahara……

“Every now and then we discover all is not as right with the world as we thought it was. Even so, who would think a wake-up call could come in the shape of phosphatic rock?Recently, a harmless enough bulk carrier called the Christine O steamed up the Derwent to unload in Hobart.It was a surprise to be told that its phosphatic rock cargo came not from the “usual” island sources close to Australia. It came all the way around Africa from the Atlantic coast of the Western Sahara……Read the Brisbane Times article >>

AWSA’s protest about the phosphate importations has gone international

AWSA’s protest about the phosphate importations has gone international with the latest shipment to Hobart aboard Christine O becoming news on
international websites, with links in Switzerland and now Germany.
See stories at these links below:
saharaoccidental.blogspot.com
wsrw1
wsrw2
wsrw3

Read ARSO letter >>
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8 Swiss parliamentarians protest ethics of Tasmanian company

Australia Western Sahara Association

Press release – for immediate release
10 September 2010

This afternoon, a bulk vessel is set to arrive port of Risdon, Hobart, Tasmania, with phosphate rock plundered from occupied Western Sahara.

The trade to Tasmania takes place in violation of international law, and contributes to prolong one of the longest running conflicts in Africa. The cargo will be on board the vessel ‘Christine O’.

Read rest of press release

BHP urged to dump unethical phosphate trade in its takeover of PotashCorp

Australia Western Sahara Association
Press Release, 25 August 2010

The Australia Western Sahara Association today urged BHP-Billiton to suspend PotashCorp’s trade in phosphate from Western Sahara if its takeover bid is successful.

President of AWSA, Lyn Allison, said “If BHP cares anything for business ethics, social responsibility and international law, it will not allow the Canadian fertiliser corporation to buy further Western Saharan phosphate from Morocco.”
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23 April. ACTU writes to His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General

Sharan Burrow, ACTU President, has written on behalf of the ACTU to His Excellency Mr Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, voicing concerns that the latest report  on Western Sahara S/ 2010/175  has failed to deliver on two crucial points: the referendum, and the implementation of mechanisms to monitor human rights in occupied Western Sahara and in the refugee camps in south west Algeria.

ACTU letter >>

IPL claims not responsible

WSRW – Reply to the Chairman’s statement in the AGM:
Australian phosphate importer Incitec Pivot said at its recent Annual General Meeting that the UN is responsible for the Western Sahara issue, not the company. Simultaneously, they defended their imports which are taking place in violation of the UN’s legal opinion and over 100 UN resolutions.

Read post at Western Sahara Resource Watch >>