Argentines stage protest against Botnia pulp mill in Uruguay

print this

Drums were pounding and pots were clanking in front of the Finnish Embassy in Buenos Aires on Wednesday afternoon as 500 people gathered for a demonstration against the construction of a eucalyptus pulp mill in Uruguay by the Finnish company Metsä-Botnia.
     
The organisers of the demonstration, citizens of the town of Gualeguaychú (located on the River Uruguay) and environmental protection organisations, were concerned at the pollution produced by the plants owned by Botnia and the Spanish company Ence.
      "We don't want the River Uruguay to die. We demand that the construction of the plants be discontinued immediately because they will poison the future of our children. This is a protest for peace, environment and life", declared Alejandro Gahan, a resident of Gualeguaychú.
      The protest lasted for four hours and also targeted the Uruguayan and Spanish Embassies and the Hotel Alvear, where a forestry seminar was held, branding Botnia representatives as "murderers" and "liars". However, the demonstration was peaceful and police forces called in to protect the embassy were left standing idle.
      Contrary to Botnia's accounts of the project, Argentines are under the impression that the pulp factory will use technology that is outlawed in Europe. Corruption is considered as the norm in Argentina and the Finnish company is not expected to run its business any differently. Citizens of Gualeguaychú are also concerned about the sheer scale of the Uruguay project.
      "Finland is known internationally for its pure environment, yet it is building a polluting factory here. Botnia has no right to come to South America and use us as guinea pigs", protestor Maria Elena Marchioli stated.
     
Yesterday's demonstration held in front of the Finnish Embassy was the first of a kind in the history of the embassy.
      "Argentina has a strong protest culture, so we have been expecting this. However, it is very rare that a demonstration is held against Finland, particularly one relating to environmental issues", Ambassador Ritva Jolkkonen said.
      Botnia's construction project has kept the small embassy delegation busy over the last couple of months. According to Jolkkonen, the embassy wants to ensure that correct information is available about Finnish environment policy and the forest industry.
      The embassy in Buenos Aires represents Finland in both Argentina and Uruguay. The countries have had a conflict of interest over the pulp mill undertaking, but the Finnish officials have tried to steer clear of it.
      Yesterday's demonstration was the first protest against the project to be held in the capital of Argentina. Protests have been nevertheless organised in the border town of Gualeguaychú since March, when Botnia announced its plans to build a pulp factory in the Uruguayan city of Fray Bentos just across the border.
      Citizens of Gualeguaychú are planning to organise weekly roadblocks on the border crossing bridge during the summer months. This is expected to hinder tourism in the region considerably.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Transport of building material for Botnia pulp factory stopped by Argentine customs (18.11.2005)
  Argentina demands Botnia abandon their pulp mill undertaking in Uruguay (11.8.2005)
  Metsä-Botnia to build massive pulp factory in Uruguay (8.3.2005)

Links:
  Botnia Uruguay Project

Helsingin Sanomat