In June 1997, Dow Chemical Co. offered a US
$22 million out of court settlement to thousands of banana workers in Latin
America and Asia for sterility and other health problems caused by the pesticide
DBCP used as a nematicide on bananas.
In 1993, about 1,600 banana workers from 12 countries filed a
suit in a Texas district court against the chemical companies, the plantation
owners and the fruit companies.
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On 13 August a tonne of banana skins was dumped by WDM at Del Monte Fresh Produce's office in Kent, England, in protest at the company's alleged treatment of banana plantation workers. |
The British-based World Development Movement (WDM) is calling
on banana companies Del Monte, Chiquita and Dole to:
Reduce the use of chemicals, and stop
using pesticides classed by the World Health Organisation as extremely or
highly dangerous.
Ensure stricter controls over pesticide
use, with all equipment adapted for the hot climate and workers having full
information and training and receiving regular health checks.
WDM press release, August 1997.
[This
article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 37,
September 1997, page 7]