19 October 2010 | Interviews | Extractive industries
Demanding Solutions
Stronger environmental regulations are needed to prevent disasters like the one in Hungary
Download: MP3 (6.1 Mb)
The situation in Hungary after the “red sludge” spill that caused one of the largest environmental disasters in the history of the country is still alarming. Last week, the spill caused another death, bringing the death toll to nine. In addition, as the days pass by, the sludge –which is a toxic mud derived from the production of aluminum- turned into dust, causing even more damage to the health of the people.
The “red sludge” was spilled on October 4th when a reservoir at the Magyar Aluminium plant was broken, affecting several towns and water sources to the west of the country. In an interview with Real World Radio, Robert Fidrich, project manager at the Hungarian NGO member of environmentalist federation Friends of the Earth, explained the current situation and talked about the measures being taken to support the people affected by the spill.
Among other things, Fidrich said that the accident was another proof of what happens when profiting was put before the environment and human beings. That´s why he said that stronger environmental regulations are needed, to prevent these events, that cause so much suffering, from happening again.
