A Sunshine Coast resident says the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan was dumping rubbish off Queensland's coast before it docked in Brisbane last week.US Warship Dumped Rubbish, Says Resident
There has been widespread criticism of the US Navy after rubbish, believed to be from the ship, washed up on the state's beaches this week.
The ship's Lieutenant Commander Gary Ross says the allegations are being investigated.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says warships do not have to abide by laws that prohibit the dumping of rubbish while at sea.
Mooloolaba's John Wynne says he saw lines of rubbish behind the ship last week.
"We would have been probably 15 to 20 kilometres offshore - there was a line of rubbish bags," he said.
"They were every 200 or 300 yards apart but they were in a distinct line so it just appeared that they were throwing them over as they were travelling."
Several bags of rubbish have been collected; the latest washed ashore at Mudjimba on the Sunshine Coast yesterday.
Lieutenant Commander Ross says the American Navy has strict guidelines for the disposal of rubbish aboard ships at sea.
"By all indications it is an accidental dumping because our policies and procedures are very strict with regards to the disposal of plastics and in no way do we dispose of plastics out here at sea," he said.
"We have methods to store them on board and properly dispose of them when we pull into port."
31 January 2006
Thanks, Yanks
If there's a better metaphor for our relationship with the US, it's not readily coming to mind.
from ABC News Online
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5 comments:
"By all indications it is an accidental dumping because our policies and procedures are very strict with regards to the disposal of plastics and in no way do we dispose of plastics out here at sea," he said.
Lt. Cdr. Ross seems confused. He is assuming that the policies and procedures are actually physical barriers to the prohibited behaviour. "That couldn't happen; It's against the policy" is the signal utterance of a hidebound bureaucrat. Or a very bad liar. How exactly do you accidentally dump a bunch of garbage? One bag after the next, in a long line, evenly spaced?
That's so pathetic. Makes me all grumpy and angry for about 90 seconds then I sigh, "Well, that's America for you." Sad, really.
Also, Tim, I totally agree with your summary of the "it's against policy so it couldn't happen" bureaucratic soundbite. It's a good thing cops aren't so sure of that fact (It's against the law to murder/etc; so it just couldn't happen!) Idiots.
The garbage isn't the only thing on the nose in this story.
It's not just the dumping of rubbish into the ocean that's given me the irrits, or the blatant lying about it, but the fact that it was:
a) on the shores of not only another country
b) the shores of a supposed "close friend"
c) just a few k's from the city that was hosting you for the next few days.
No freakin' manners.
Oh man. This story needs the title:
"Ronald Reagan Dumps On Local Residents"
I forgot that there was a "USS Ronald Reagan." In a bizarre way-- with American soldiers shooting at Canadians in Iraq; and pilots murdering Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan-- it's refreshing to know that the Americans are screwing everyone. It's like thinking you might be the victim of a guy with grudge, but actually you're the target of a voracious serial killer.
I think you can be assured, Mike, that you'll not find a nation less prone to favouritism. All are treated equally shabbily by our hot dog-eating friends.
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