The 'Le Clemenceau' Controversy*

Abstract:

This article discusses the legal controversy surrounding Le Clemenceau, the French warship aircraft carrier and the conflict between business management entities, and environment activist and non-government organizations. It also discusses the hazards workers in the ship breaking industry at Alang face like fire explosion and critical illnesses like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers caused by asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Introduction On February 15, 2006, the French President Mr. Jacques Chirac ordered 'Le Clemenceau', the decommissioned warship that was en route to India for dismantling, back to France. Environmental activists were jubilant as they hailed the French President's decision as evidence of the effectiveness of their campaign against the warship being brought to India. Le Clemenceau, once the pride of the French fleet, was retired from its services by the French government in the year 1997. Generally a sailing vessel used for any purpose, be it commercial or defense, offered a service life of approximately 23 years, after which it was considered unsafe for sailing purpose and was dismantled. Since 1997, Clemenceau lay anchored off the French coast, as the French authorities could not find a bidder to purchase and dismantle the carrier... Cases on Related Topic 1. The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill 2. Doing Business the Sustainable Way 3. Rio Tinto - The Mining Giant Pollutes Indonesia's Environment 4. Sustainable Development at British Petroleum 5. Combating the Global Environmental Pollution 6. Greenpeace: Working for a Green and Peaceful Future

Key words:
Le Clemenceau Controversy, Le Clemenceau, Controversy, French President, Jacques Chirac, french, decommissioned, warship, dismantling, france, Environmental activists, effectiveness, pride, services, sailing vessel, commercial, defense, toxic material, asbestos, Turkey, greece, PCB, polychlorinated biphenyls, Ship Decommissioning Industry Corporation, SDIC, Shriram Vessels, Scrap, Shriram Vessels and Scrap Pvt. Ltd, Alang, Gujarat, toxic asbestos, international environmental activist organization, activist, organization, international, environment, trade unions, protest, polychlorinated biphenyls, Le Clemenceau, French warship, aircraft, business management, environment activist, Alang, asbestosis, mesothelioma, asbestos

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