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The New Zealand company Ballance Agri-Nutrients has again bought phosphate rock from a Moroccan state phosphate company in occupied Western Sahara. The shipment arrived 3 December 2008, on the Israeli managed vessel 'White Diamond'.

Published 28 December 2008
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Madeira has constructed a second artificial beach. Just as before, the sand is originating from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 26 December 2008
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24th of December 2008, the oil reconnaissance contract held by the Irish oil company Island Oil & Gas for oil exploration in occupied Western Sahara expired. Today WSRW sent the company a letter demanding them to not renew their engagement.
Published 24 December 2008
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The Swedish Trade Council has withdrawn a map from its homepages, showing Western Sahara as part of Morocco. The step was taken after correction from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Published 23 December 2008
Sent 13 December 2006, the day after Island Oil & Gas announced its contract with Moroccan authorities on occupied land in Western Sahara.
Published 23 December 2008
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Published 21 December 2008
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Incitec Pivot is receiving one more controversial phosphate shipment from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 21 December 2008
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The Australian fertiliser company Incitec Pivot keeps maintaining its unethical practice of supporting the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. The imports were questioned during the company\'s Annual General Meeting on December 19th 2008.

Read also: New vessel heading for IPL
Published 21 December 2008
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One giant vessel has just offloaded its cargo in the United States, and is now passing this river bend along the Mississippi.
Published 19 December 2008

Vessel Yasa Gulten to arrive New Zealand in Christmas week.

Published 19 December 2008
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The Swedish Green Party signs the international appeal from Western Sahara Resource Watch, WSRW, which demands that Western Sahara should be explicitly excluded if the EU and Morocco agrees on deepened cooperation.

Published 19 December 2008
Two documents of the Pan-African Parliament, advisory organ of the African Union.
Published 14 December 2008
Read here the presentation of Former Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and the Legal Counsel of the United Nations, at conference in South Africa.
Published 12 December 2008
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Communiqué on the Conference on Multilateralism and International Law with Western Sahara as case study Hosted by the South African Department of Foreign Affairs and the University of Pretoria, 4 and 5 December 2008.

See more details about the conference itself here.

Published 07 December 2008
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The vessel Sea Lavender is here loading phosphates in occupied Western Sahara, destined for Mexican imports.

Published 07 December 2008
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The former UN Legal Counsel, Ambassador Hans Corell, calls the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) illegal. Western Sahara Resource Watch demands immediate halt of European plundering of occupied Western Sahara. PRESS RELEASE from WSRW.

Published 07 December 2008
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No less than 426 organisations signed a petition letter, demanding from the EU Commission that occupied Western Sahara be kept clearly outside of the so- called Advanced Status cooperation that Morocco currently is being granted. The petition was sent to the EU Commission this morning. PRESS RELEASE.

Published 05 December 2008
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South Africa to host the Conference on Multilateralism and International Law with Western Sahara as a Case Study, 4th to 5th of December 2008. One of the sessions will be on the role of natural resources in Western Sahara.
Published 01 December 2008
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Two vessels are arriving New Zealand with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara first week of December.

Update: ....and here is one for Christmas.

Published 30 November 2008

The Swiss flagged and managed vessel Celerina in November carried out a highly unethical phosphates transport from occupied Western Sahara to Louisiana, USA.

Published 30 November 2008
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Shortly before the Government of New Zealand changed, the former Minister of Trade, Hon Phil Goff, wrote two letters regarding the natural resource exploitation. Read them here.

Published 30 November 2008
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On December 5th 2008, a petition letter signed by 426 organisations was sent to the EU commission demanding that occupied Western Sahara be kept outside of the Morocco-EU socalled Advanced Status cooperation. Do you wish your organisation had signed, but did not make the deadline?

Published 30 November 2008
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Two so-called reefers, or refrigerated ships, have recently visited El Aaiun harbour in occupied Western Sahara, for transport of frozen fish to Russia and China.

Published 30 November 2008
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WSRW section Louisiana in October sent a letter to the US-Canadian fertiliser producer, PCS, demanding that they terminate its imports from Western Sahara. Two months later, WSRW still awaits a reply.
Published 30 November 2008
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The bulk vessel Furness Karumba arrived this port in Perth, Australia, in August.

Published 27 November 2008

New Zealand firm Ballance Agri-Nutrients is importing phosphates from Western Sahara, contributing in the financing and legitimation of the illegal occupation from the territory. Here is correspondence between the NZ firm and the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara.

Published 27 November 2008
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In an extraordinary show of arrogance and disdain for representatives of civil society organizations, the Washington based law firm Covington & Burling flatly refuses to engage with the global solidarity network Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) and this year's Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Human Rights Award laureate, Mrs. Aminatou Haidar. The US law firm is, because of a legal analysis it provided, the source the world phosphate industry refers to when they claim the phosphate trade from Western Sahara to be legal.

Published 24 November 2008
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The US fertilizer producer will make a decision on continued imports from the occupied territories in 2009.
Published 20 November 2008
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Several Swedish parliamentarians from one of the parties in the Swedish government, have motioned that the Swedish Government should work to prevent the EU from signing any new agreements or agreements of advanced status with Morocco "as long as the country occupies Western Sahara".

Published 19 November 2008
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BASF, the German chemical company who imported Western Saharan phosphates early October, wrote that they "are fully confident that the operations of OCP at Boucraa and the purchase of the replacement delivery were consistent with international law". But after request from WSRW, they refuse to publish their “expert opinion” upon which their conclusion is based. To clarify further aspects of the unpublished report, they refer to a US law firm.

Published 19 November 2008
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A global protest campaign, contesting occupied Western Sahara\'s inclusion in a Morocco-European Union (EU) free trade deal is gaining momentum. Today, South Africa\'s dominant labour union COSATU told the EU it was breaking international law by its planned inclusion of the territory. Afrol News, 17 November 2008.
Published 18 November 2008
Shareholders question Wesfarmers over divestment by ethical fund-holders. Phosphate importations from Western Sahara to blame. Press release, 14 November 2008
Published 14 November 2008
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The fertilizer company Yara remains under investigation by Norwegian police after having purchased a shipload of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 12 November 2008
Zakhar Sorokin, November 2008.
Published 10 November 2008
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The Executive Board of The Liberal Party of Norway demands that Western Sahara be excluded from EU\'s cooperation with Morocco.
Published 09 November 2008

Read the report on the international trade union delegation to occupied Western Sahara from 17th to 22nd of February 2008.

Published 09 November 2008
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And it includes occupied Western Sahara as part of its own territory.
Published 05 November 2008
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Western Sahara Resource Watch has received more photos documenting the vessel that arrived Tasmania, Australia, end of October, carrying phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 05 November 2008

The talks of granting a so-called Advanced Status to Morocco are getting ever more concrete. But to this day, the EU and Morocco have still avoided stating whether or not occupied Western Sahara should be involved in the cooperation. “There is an elephant walking around in the negotiations room, which no one wants to see or mention”, said WSRW in press release today. Read press release and letter to the EU here.

Published 04 November 2008

J. Lauritzen, the Danish shipping conglomerate, has been accused of plundering natural resources from the occupied Western Sahara, a report said.

Published 02 November 2008
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The Belgian branch of German chemical company BASF is not planning further imports from occupied Western Sahara.
Published 31 October 2008
16.000 tonnes were received in October.
Published 25 October 2008

Two bulk vessels filled with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara are within the next weeks arriving New Zealand.

Published 25 October 2008
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She arrived Tasmania this week. Photo is from 23rd of October 2008.

Published 25 October 2008

Florida fertilizer company Mosaic Co. has received another vessel of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara, in violation of international law. Western Sahara Resource Watch section Florida has urged the company to stop its imports. Read letter here.

Published 25 October 2008

German former MEP, and former leader of the Western Sahara solidarity network at the European Parliament, Margot Keßler, has this week sent a letter to the Belgian branch of the German chemical company BASF. In the letter, Mrs. Keßler asks for a clarification on a series of questions regarding BASF's imports of phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.

Published 25 October 2008
Trade unions from 16 countries attended the 4th congress of the Sahrawi trade union UGTSARIO in the refugee camps in Algeria, 19th to 21st of October 2008. Read the statement from the unions here, supporting the Sahrawi peoples\' right to self-determination over their country and natural resources.
Published 25 October 2008
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The issue of the plundering of Western Sahara was a recurring topic, as the UN\'s committee for decolonisation issues this week has gathered to debate the decolonisation process in Western Sahara. Companies from various countries were critizised for illegal phosphate exports, including for shipments to Ghent (Belgium), Varna (Bulgaria) and Tampa (USA) this week. Read the intervention from the petitioner of the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara here.
Published 09 October 2008

These last days, a vessel has been unloading phosphates from the occupied Western Sahara at the harbour of Ghent (Belgium). The importer of these phosphates is believed to be chemical giant BASF.

Published 09 October 2008
The vessel Burhan Dizman 1 in the early hours of this morning arrived the Bulgarian city of Varna.
Published 07 October 2008
This letter was sent on 7th of October 2008 to the Bulgarian phosphate importer, Agropolychim.
Published 06 October 2008
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The Bulgarian fertiliser producer Agropolychim is in two days expecting a vessel with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. The vessel could contain around 7.000 tonnes of phosphates. "Agropolychim must stop such imports and return the vessel to where it came from", demands Javier García Lachica, international coordinator of Western Sahara Resource Watch.
Read also: Letter from WSRW to Agropolychim, sent 7th of October 2008.
Update: The vessel has arrived Varna

Published 04 October 2008
The Louisiana based phosphate importer PCS Nitrogen has yet again imported phosphates from occupied Western Sahara.
Published 27 September 2008

 

Representatives of the Australian Western Sahara Association protested at the fertiliser company Incitec Pivot's Extraordinary General Assembly. See photos here of former democrat Senator, Lyn Allison, asking questions at the assembly. 

 

Published 06 September 2008
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"There's no such country called Western Sahara," Incitec Pivot said to Australian Associated Press today. The statement follows intervention by former Australian senator in the company's general assembly, protesting the trade. 

Read also press release: Australian Superphosphate not so super

Published 05 September 2008
Press release issued by the Australian Western Sahara Association, 5 September 2008.
Published 05 September 2008

A Western Saharan diplomat has condemned New Zealand’s purchases of the territory’s fertilisers from Morocco.
 

Published 23 August 2008

Written by Spanish Jesús Madre Casorrán, formerly employed in the mine.

Published 23 August 2008

What role does human rights play in the European Neighbourhood Policy? A thesis by Linde Lindqvist Gustavsson at Lund University, Sweden (2007), suggests that human rights issues might fall short when in dispute with Europe\'s self interest. The author compares the cases of Morocco and Turkey.

Published 19 August 2008
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And who will receive 3,7 tonnes of frozen fish?

Published 13 August 2008
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The Turkish shipping company Yasa Shipping is doing it again.

Published 11 August 2008
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In 2005, the bulk vessel Furness Karumba got known in Australia, when she shipped phosphates - and 2 dead Moroccan stowaways - from occupied Western Sahara to Australia. Now the vessel is on its way again.
Published 10 August 2008
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A Hong Kong company is linked to Morocco\'s brutal exploitation of Western Sahara. South China Morning Post, 10 August 2008.

Published 10 August 2008
A new vessel has just discharged phosphates from occupied Western Sahara in Colombia. The country has so far this year imported illegally mined phosphates for 29 million USD.
Published 10 August 2008
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On the top left corner of this Florida harbour, a vessel unloaded phosphate from occupied Western Sahara in July.
Published 04 August 2008
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The large Russian fishing vessel Zakhar Sorokin has spent a week trawling occupied waters.
Published 04 August 2008
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A report published earlier this year on ONHYM's homepages reveals that Morocco is looking for iron in the southern parts of occupied Western Sahara. The report suggests that iron could be found in the territory.

Published 01 August 2008
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Moroccan weekly newspaper Aujourd'hui le Maroc speculates that the Danish clarification on Western Sahara policy is due to energy cooperation with Algeria. A Moroccan government appointed institution demands boycott of Danish businesses in entire Morocco.

Published 30 July 2008
The activities of a South African-Namibian fishing company in occupied Western Sahara have been covered on SABC\'s radio news programme Tam Tam Express. Hear their programme \"A fishy business\" here.
Published 30 July 2008

Statement made by the Fertiliser Industry Federation of Australia (FIFA) regarding Western Sahara phosphate imports, 2008.

Published 29 July 2008
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Not even two weeks after a Moroccan police intervention brutally ended a Saharawi fishermen\'s demonstration, Dakhla is once again the scene for a horrific attack against Saharawi citizens.
Published 24 July 2008
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In approximately 30 years, as production from the world’s phosphate rock reserves reaches a maximum, Western Sahara’s geopolitical importance will become even more important. Australian researcher Dana Cordell investigates ‘peak phosphorus’.
Published 22 July 2008
The Namibian- South African company, Etosha Fishing Corp (Pty) Ltd, has been active in the occupied Western Saharan waters for nearly a year. Today, Western Sahara Resource Watch and the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara sent Etosha a letter asking them to reconsider their engagement in the area.
Published 21 July 2008
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According to recent articles in African Energy and the Moroccan newspaper L\'Economiste, there\'s a realistic chance that Morocco might start drilling for oil in the occupied Western Sahara in the nearby future.
Published 21 July 2008
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Not many years ago, Namibia was occupied by neighbouring South Africa. At the time, the Security Council imposed legal sanctions on foreign investments and trade in occupied Namibia. On Thursday, South African SABC TV revealed that Namibians and South Africans are fishing in occupied Western Sahara.
Published 17 July 2008
Letters sent to the Members of European Parliaement from civil society.
Published 17 July 2008

When representatives of the New Zealand government visited Morocco in January, Western Sahara Resource Watch sent 5 questions to the New Zealand government regarding how the government views trade with occupied Western Sahara. 5 months later, we are still waiting for an answer.

Published 17 July 2008
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Copenhagen (DanWatch) - Denmark is joining an increasing number of governments with official policies against trade in non-renewable resources from Western Sahara. The Danish position echoes the non-trade policies of fellow Scandinavian governments Sweden and Norway. Danwatch, 17 July 2008.

Published 17 July 2008
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The details behind the energy project in occupied Western Sahara are public. Check them out here.

Published 15 July 2008

If the Western Sahara waters are considered high seas, why does the EU spend European taxpayers' money on paying Morocco to fish there? A group of MEPs this week asked a series of questions in the European Parliament.

Published 15 July 2008
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The last 3 years, Western Sahara Resource Watch has documented 6 shipments from occupied Western Sahara to the Australian Island island of Tasmania.
Published 15 July 2008
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Up to 6,000 people are employed in the tomato industry in the region of Dakhla, in occupied Western Sahara. Most of the employees are of Moroccan origin.
Published 14 July 2008
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9 Sahrawis injured after intervention from Moroccan police.
Published 13 July 2008

The EU is about to grant a so-called ‘advanced status’ for Morocco . The move will be made now under the French presidency. “No one seems to mind that Morocco is an illegal occupying power violating the most fundamental human rights”, said WSRW international coordinator.

Published 13 July 2008
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This fake beach on Madeira is made of sand from occupied Western Sahara. In May/June, the beach was fortified with another 2800 tonnes. Portuguese bloggers wonder why.
Published 12 July 2008
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Colombia has received 4 vessels with phosphates from occupied Western Sahara this year. The last one end of June 2008. This time, the vessel was Greek.
Published 11 July 2008
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Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin TD, hopes the Irish oil company Island Oil and Gas would respect international law. Island operates in Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco.
Published 10 July 2008
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The Spanish Boluda Group is looking to Dakhla and El Aaiun in occupied Western Sahara.

Published 10 July 2008
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The business magazine Petroleum Africa seems to have missed a central point.
Published 10 July 2008
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Moroccan national authorities wishes to build electricity infrastructure in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara.

Published 09 July 2008
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The South African bank RMB has written to WSRW that they do no longer finance the operations of Island Oil and Gas. The Irish oil company Island has an agreement for oil exploration in occupied Western Sahara in violation of international law.
Published 09 July 2008
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One of the 2 importers of Western Sahara phosphates to New Zealand, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, have taken a political position in the question of Western Sahara. To the contrary of all states in the world, Ballance believes that Western Sahara is part of Morocco.
Published 03 July 2008
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The EU Commission has admitted that EU vessels fish in Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco. Western Sahara Resource Watch demands an immediate halt to the fishing, until the agreement has been corrected to clearly exclude the territory offshore Western Sahara.
Published 03 July 2008

"It is surprising that mainly Bergen-owned Gearbulk sails for the occupying power Morocco". Read here editorial in one of Norway's biggest newspapers, Bergens Tidende, 29th of June 2008.

Published 01 July 2008
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This photo, taken in Port of Lyttleton, New Zealand on June 20th, shows the vessel Pacific Victory offloading phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. 
Read also: Another Hong Kong vessel involved in plundering.

Published 01 July 2008

"EU - and Denmark - can not on the one hand support the UN\'s criticism on Marocco\'s illegal occupation of Western Sahara and simultanously, on the other hand, make a fisheries agreement with Marocco that totally ignores Western Sahara's rights to their own resources" states member of European Parliament\'s Development Committee, Socialist People’s Party's Margrete Auken.

Published 28 June 2008
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See photographs of the Gearbulk chartered vessel Simge Aksoy discharging phosphates from occupied Western Sahara in Port of Tauranga, New 23rd of June 2008.

Published 25 June 2008
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Irish Member of European Parliament, Kathy Sinnott, demands that the occupation of Western Sahara must end and that the Morocco-EU fisheries agreement be reviewed before the EU gives any so-called 'Advanced Status' to Morocco.

Published 21 June 2008
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In May, the Hong Kong based company Jinhui Shipping regretted having carried out phosphate shipments from Western Shara, and said they would never do it again. Here is an other Hong Kong company caught red-handed.

Published 21 June 2008