By Najib Saab, Issue 20, September-October 1999

"Save the Waves" reads the slogan on buttons displayed by the crew and hostesses working on the cruise ships of a multinational tourism company. Over the years, the ships of this company carried tourists around the Caribbean islands under the slogan "Save the Waves".

Few weeks ago, a court in the United States imposed a fine of US$ 12 million on the company, after being convicted of polluting the sea. Investigations found that the cruise ships of this company were secretly discharging their toxic wastes and other garbage in the sea, without treatment and through secret pipes, in order to save time and cut expenses. As the verdict was announced, the US Attorney General Janet Reno noted that the company had deceived the authorities, and concealed its polluting activities under the cover of misleading slogans pretending to protect the environment.

While accepting the court ruling and acknowledging the damage, the president of this company apologized for the harm caused to the marine environment by his ships, claiming that it was the result of individual actions that do not represent the company's policy. The court did not accept this justification, confirming publicly that the discharge of wastewater and toxic pollutants in the sea was the established and approved policy followed on the ships' mechanical rooms behind locks, while the employees on board and in the luxurious halls of the ships displayed "Save the Waves" buttons. The court also threatened the company with further investigations and penalties. Thus, the deceiving company got what it deserved: tangible penalties and public denunciation.

Following the developments and the outcome of this case, we wished that the strict manner in dealing with those who pollute and destroy the environment be practiced in our Arab countries. For unless the general talk about protecting the environment is transformed into laws and legislation that are strictly implemented, environmental issues will remain mere fruitless slogans and vain wishes.

The interesting element in this story is that although the company against which the verdict was passed is a big one, and serves the rich through splendid recreational tours, it was not above the law. Whereas some people in our society believe that big companies and influential persons can always be above the law, especially if the effects of their activities are of environmental nature with no direct economic impact.

How many companies in the oil industry are polluting nature by discharging untreated oil wastes and sludge, to the extent that many countries now have polluted "oil lakes" extending over thousands of square kilometers. How many industrial companies are discharging their liquid and solid wastes in the sea and emitting polluting gases from their stacks into the atmosphere, in order to cut the cost of production and double their profits at the expense of the environment and public health. How many quarries are grinding away nature in environmentally sensitive locations, under the protection of influential politicians. And how many fishing fleets are dredging the seabed in violation of all environmental considerations? While such activities are conducted under the pretext of supporting the national economy, the real motive is mere greed.

The main step towards a solution begins with establishing laws and legislation which set clear norms to protect the environment. This is a pre-requisite to impose severe penalties on guilty parties and denouncing them, no matter how influential they might be. It is unacceptable for some big companies to stay above environmental accountability, under the pretext of protecting the national economy, as much as it is deplorable that powerful politicians use their clout to protect private ventures that trespass environmental rules, be it a violating fishing fleet, a chemical factory, or a rock quarry.

The US court's ruling has heavily penalized a company which is destroying the environment in order to expand its illegal profits, while it displayed the slogan "Save the Waves". How many companies in the Arab countries deserve to be exposed, libeled and penalized for using environmental slogans in their promotional campaigns, while they practice the most damaging environmental actions in their activities every day. How many officials and influential figures should be imprisoned for deceitfully sweet talking the public about protecting the environment, while secretly working to protect the polluters and smashers of nature? How many high-ranking officials and socialite industrialists and businessmen will lose face if environmental crimes in our region are unearthed?