New anger over toxic Russian debris targeting the Arctic
File photo.
Digital Reporter
Friday, June 3, 2016, 12:56 PM - Parts of a Russian rocket that may be carrying highly-toxic chemicals are expected to land in the Canadian Arctic over the weekend, with anger rising over the fact it is a biodiverse area that's home to numerous animal and plankton species, the Canadian Press (CP) reports.
Friday, Okalik Eegeesiak, chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, told CBC that the move is "a slap in the face by Russia," noting the debris will land in an area her organization is working hard to protect.
"We don't know what the impact will be in the short term or long term on the animals that we depend on," she said.
"How will that impact us later on?"
"The idea of dropping a missile full of toxic chemicals in the Arctic waters off Baffin Island is just as preposterous as drilling for oil there," Greenpeace Arctic campaigner Alex Speers-Roesch told CP Tuesday.
"Dumping these chemicals from a ship would be a clear violation of international and Canadian law, and it is no more acceptable when it is dumped from the air."
The Canadian government has not commented.
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An international aviation authority has warned that debris from a Russian rocket launch is expected to fall into Baffin Bay Saturday. While that is outside Canada's territorial waters it is within an economic zone partially controlled by the country.
The area -- located in North Water Polyna -- is home to narwhal, beluga, walrus and bowhead whales. Numerous fish, seals, polar bears and birds also inhabit the region.
The debris will come from a rocket set off by Russia's Rokot program, a company that launches commercial satellites. According to Michael Byers, professor of international law at the University of British Columbia, Russia is following protocols by alerting aviation authorities about the debris.
The rocket uses intercontinental ballistic missiles re-purposed from the Cold War-era to launch satellites. Those missiles use hydrazine for fuel, a highly toxic chemical that has been phased out of use in other countries due to the damage it can inflict on the environment.
Experts say little is known about how hydrazine reacts in water, especially in the cold, icy conditions present in Baffin Island.
Source: The Canadian Press
(Editor's Note: An earlier headline on this article indicated the actual missile would be dropped, which was incorrect. We apologize for the error.)
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