[materiali] Worst Cyanide & HeavyMetal Spill in Romania

[a l b i o n <melnibon@tiscalinet.it>]

Robert Imreh wrote:
> 
> To Whom It May Concern:
> 
> Twice within a period of six weeks, Central Europe has suffered
> environmental disasters of the greatest magnitude. Both originated in
> Romania.
> 
> On January 30, 2000, a cyanide spill from a Romanian mining operation
> inflicted environmental damage comparable only to the massive release of
> radiation that followed a fire and explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear
> power plant in the Ukraine. The cyanide and metal byproducts escaping
> from the Aurul gold mine in Romania found their way into a tributary of
> the
> Tisza, the second largest river of Hungary. The Tisza carried the toxic
> material into the Danube winding its way through Vojvodina in Serbia,
> Romania and Bulgaria into the Black Sea. The cyanide killed all life in
> the Tisza and caused untold environmental and economic damage in the
> lower Danube basin.
> 
> Less than six weeks later, on March 10, 2000, heavy rain and melting
> snow burst a dam at the Baia Borsa lead and zinc mine in Northern
> Romania,
> 115 miles from the Hungarian border. Some 20,000 tons of heavy metal
> sludge
> were released into a tributary of the Viso river, which then carried it,
> once again, into the Tisza. The river, once called the "Blonde Tisza"
> because of its beautiful sandy color, has turned black. According to
> Romanian authorities, the lead concentration of the river is twice above
> permissible levels, the zinc concentration nine times. The heavy metal
> spill has completed the destruction of the upper part of the Tisza,
> begun by the cyanide spill. Moreover, in Romania alone, the disaster may
> cost
> some 2,400 workers their jobs.
> 
> An environmental disaster knows no borders. Clouds of dust generated by
> a massive volcanic outbreak in the Philippines or in Mexico may filter
> out
> sunshine halfway around the world. That cannot be prevented. But these
> two catastrophic events in Romania did not need to happen. They occurred
> as
> the direct result of the Romanian government's cavalier attitude about
> environmental issues. Romania, as well as other countries that fail to
> act immediately to forestall disasters, which could be prevented, must
> be
> compelled by the world community to do so. The existing body of
> international law, including environmental treaties must be enforced
> without delay and strengthened where necessary.
> 
> We invite all organizations and individuals who care for the
> preservation of our environment to show their support and join us at a
> demonstration
> in front of the Romanian Embassy in Washington, DC 1607 23rd Street, NW,
> from 11 am - 2 pm, both Saturday, April 1st & 2nd, 2000.
> 
> We extend a special invitation to all Americans whose roots are in the
> region directly affected by the two recent disaster -- Romania,
> Transylvania, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Vojvodina, Bulgaria, Moldova,
> Ukraine, as well as the European Union.
> 
> If you are unable to join us in Washington, we urge you to organize a
> demonstration in your hometown. We all share the same environment, let
> us take a stand to save it!
> 
> For further information and details, please contact:
> 
> Robert Imreh
> Software Engineer
> Washington, DC, USA
> E-mail: Rimreh@earthlink.net
> Web: http://duna.org/cyanidespill/ &
> http://home.earthlink.net/~szsz1848/cyanidespill/