Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Ship Breakers: The Dirtiest Job

We all know how ships are born, but few of us know how they die, and hundreds of ships meet their deaths every year, from five-star ocean liners to grubby freighters. The ships are literally dumped with all their steel, their asbestos and their toxins on the beaches of poor countries like Bangladesh. It's dirty, backbreaking work. Join correspondent Bob Simon for a journey into the world of the ship breakers.

Ship Breakers: The Dirtiest Job
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Poll:

Should rich countries be allowed to send their trash to poor countries like Bangladesh?

Yes
No

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WORKING FOR CHANGE

Is A Cleanup Possible?

The ship breakers claim environmentalism is a luxury. >> Watch Clip

Dream Or Nightmare?

Comments

Sound off on this segment. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
Lets just send them money for free like the mexicans here in America! Why work?
Posted by arytech2003 on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 7:51 PM ET
2
I hate watching a 60 second ad for 30 seconds of video.
Posted by danielwright8 on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 7:54 PM ET
3
the greater tragedy (and misery) is that rich countries use poor countries as their garbage dump by taking advantage of the latter's poverty and misfortune. rich countries should dispose of their garbage in their own backyards. On the moral point of view, rich countries are blackmailing poor countries.
Posted by williebobis on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 7:54 PM ET
4
Is that poll question meant to be rhetorical? Because if it's not, then that is the dumbest question i've ever heard.
Posted by tommyleucd on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 7:57 PM ET
5
If it wasn't profitable for them, they wouldn't do it...so in effect we subsidize these countries and give them work...no one in the US would do the work, so why not?
Posted by marty_wangberg on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 8:00 PM ET
6
Ok...scrap metal....can be recycled....and I am sure the other crap can be disposed of PROPERLY!!! Morons.
Posted by gundam_fighter01 on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 8:04 PM ET
7
It creates jobs and much needed steel which again creates jobs. Environmental degradation is least of their problems. They are dying of hunger and disease in Banladesh. nanda kumar
Posted by kumar3341 on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 8:05 PM ET
8
The poor need the money but we can do much better
Posted by dhhdallas on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 8:06 PM ET
9
no way, not even close to real Dirty jobs in 3rd world countries!! shipwrecking yard is very profitable business! Korea, Taiwan, China did it last thirty years and it has always been moving to new poorer countries. Lots of recycled materials from those ships are actually making way back to products we import these days. Dirty! is hardly to correct word for it! they are cleaning up our @#$% S!
Posted by yingster90640 on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 8:06 PM ET
10
you have to watch a commercial for a minute and then it takes for ever to have the clip come on-----this sucks
Posted by handmeabud on Wed, Feb 27, 2008 8:07 PM ET

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