Argentine opponents of Botnia pulp mill bring case to Finland

Representatives of Argentine environmental groups opposed to the pulp mill that is being built in Uruguay brought their case to Finland on Tuesday. Jorge Daniel Taillant, and Oscar Bargas, representatives of the groups CEDHA and Asemblea Ciudadana Ambiental de Gualeguaychú were in Helsinki on Tuesday to tell reporters on what they see as mistakes made by Mesä Botnia, which is building the pulp mill on the Uruguay River, which forms the border between the two South American countries.
      Taillant, the head of the human rights and environmental organisation CEDHA, said that he wanted to tell Finns about the concerns of those living on the banks of the border river. Residents of Gualeguaychú are particularly concerned about the combined size of the Botnia plant, and another one being built by the Spanish company Ence.
     
"Botnia's activities do not correspond to our view of what sustainable development is. The company studied the impact that the mill would have only in Uruguay, but forgot about Argentina. It was a great strategic mistake", Taillant said at a press conference on Tuesday.
      He also criticised Botnia for not having a "social building permit" in the area - the approval of the people.
      "The factories are opposed by local people, not just activists."
      "In Finland you probably couldn't build a kiosk if residents in the area were against it", pondered Oscar Bargas, who had been sent by Asemblea Ambiental to go to Finland.
     
The two will be in Finland until Friday. They plan to meet with representatives of both the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Metsä-Botnia, and various organisations. Included on the list is Paula Lehtomäki (Centre), the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, who cancelled a planned trip to Argentina in April.
      Bargas is bringing with him a petition with the signatures of 40,000 residents of Gualeguaychú, calling for the cancellation of the project. He explained the aim of his visit: "I would like the Finnish government to call Botnia and say that the company is hurting Finland's reputation."
     
Metsä-Botnia invited the two to visit pulp mills operating in Finland, but they declined the invitation.
      Taillant insisted that he did not want to be impolite: "It would be illogical to visit factories that are smaller, and which operate under tougher regulations than the plant that is being built in Fray Bentos", Taillant explained.
      A representative of Metsä-Botnia was also present at Tuesday's press conference. An intense debate ensued between the two visitors and the company's head of communications, Annikki Rintala, and its environmental manager Kaisu Annala.
      "We respect the people of the factory area, and we know that they have fears and concerns. However, we are not getting our message through in Gualeguaychú. We would like to tell the residents in the area that they have nothing to worry about", Rintala said.
      Later she said that she had felt the accusations in her heart.
      "However, we have grown accustomed to them, and we are ready to respond and to listen. The opposition is not about a lack of information, as they claim, but rather a state of will."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Argentina lashes out at Metsä-Botnia and Uruguay at UN Court (9.6.2006)
  Metsä-Botnia gives Argentine journalists tour of Finnish pulp industry (22.5.2006)
  No solution to pulp mill dispute at EU-Latin America summit (15.5.2006)
  President Halonen wants to discuss pulp mill dispute at EU-Latin America summit (12.5.2006)
  Lehtomäki leaves for South America, explains cancellation of Argentina visit (25.4.2006)
  European Union backs Metsä-Botnia in pulp mill dispute with Argentina (21.4.2006)
  Argentine president appeals to Finnish government in pulp mill dispute (20.4.2006)
  World Bank: No environmental hazard from planned Uruguay pulp mills (13.4.2006)
  Argentina demands Botnia abandon their pulp mill undertaking in Uruguay (11.8.2005)

Links:
  Uruguay government reiterates support for Metsä-Botnia (30.5.2006)