Speaking of trashing the environment: an update on the Argentina and Uruguay pulp and paper mill controversy

i posted about this some weeks back...

Argentina Uruguay

Uruguay has authorized the construction by Finnish and Spanish companies of two mills in the town of Fray Bentos, opposite the Entre Ríos town of Gualeguaychú. Entre Ríos authorities say the plants will pollute the Uruguay River, which divides the two countries.

Despite criticism from Montevideo and pleas from Buenos Aires, environmentalists from Entre Ríos yesterday vowed to go ahead with plans to block roads leading to Uruguay in protest at the construction of two controversial pulp mills.

to put this in context, this is the height of the summer tourist season for both argentina and uruguay... thousands and thousands of beach-loving argentines flock to punta del este, uruguay, at this time of year for sun and sand and the protestors are blockading the roads at one of the key points where vehicle traffic crosses from argentina to uruguay... needless to say, neither government is particularly happy about the mess... on the other hand, pulp and paper production is among the most toxic of industrial activities and the locals have every right to be concerned... the buenos aires herald has this to say...

The issue is the future of the soil people plant in, the air we breathe and the water we drink...

yep...

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