Witness History11 Juli 2024

Italy's 'poison ships'

In September 1988, protests broke out in Manfredonia, Italy, after the arrival of a large ship carrying toxic waste of Italian origin. The Deep Sea Carrier had arrived from Nigeria, after a protracted diplomatic dispute between Italy and Nigeria.

For four days, the town was completely shut down and by the end of the protests, an environmental movement was born.

The Deep Sea Carrier and another ship, the Karin B, became known as the ‘navi dei veleni’, or poison ships.

Jill Achineku speaks to Rosa Porcu, a teacher and one of the protesters. A Whistledown production for the BBC World Service.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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(Photo: Rusty barrrels of toxic waste. Credit: iznashih)

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