Whoever would like to know more about the ecological catastrophe that happened in Ivory Coast in 2006, can read “Probo Koala, the Rich Boys connection”, (for the moment only in Dutch). Aren van Campen (49) is the author of this polar. According to the ecological organisation Greenpeace, the book is a fiction inspired by true events. Which is not a surprise considering the fact that the author works since 30 years in the oil industry.
 

By Rob van Dijk

Aren van Campen lived and worked among other places in Algeria, Australia, Aruba and Indonesia. “I hope this book will be a revelation”, says van Campen. The ship Probo Koala was at the origin of an enormous catastrophe in 2006 in Ivory Coast. The disaster killed at least 15 people. The Dutch company Trafigura recently gave 33 million euros to Ivory Coast towards the victims contaminated by chemicals from the tanker.

Walk over corpses
Through his own experience, Van Campen can know what really took place. Up till 2001, he was  looking after similar businesses, just like the heroes in his book. He bribes the captains, falsifies records, practices all kinds of tricks and ultimately regrets it when he realizes that his bosses and colleagues have no hesitation to literally walk over corpses. Van Campen has stopped with his professional activities for good in this rather untrustworthy world.

In a Dutch peppered with English words, the writer claims not to know exactly how these events happen in reality. “There are obviously always chemical wastes to be transported to a port to be destroyed. If one uses these wastes, that they are mixed with other products to be resold, the risk is too great and sooner or later these products will be found. If it is used as cheap fuel of inferior quality, ships and power plants no longer work, taxis do not run any more. In all other cases, it is rejected, as we saw with the Probo Koala.

An ethical and philosophical guide
However, the author is not in favour of changing the law or to further checks. “It never works. I am trying to make people aware that it is not in their interest to exceed the limits. My wish is that they do not give themselves the goal to maximize profit. This book is, I hope, an ethical and philosophical guide. It is also a fascinating book.”

Probo Koala, The Rich Boys connection, is on sale in the Netherlands as from 20 November. It has not yet been translated in English nor in French.

Watch below a report by The Guardian on toxic waste victims caused by Probo Koala: