On Saturday, June 25, an angry mob of 500 odd protesters demonstrated
outside the gates of Celco's new pulp mill in Nueva Aldea, the
controversial project that will pump tons of contaminants into the
Rio Itata and endanger an entire stretch of coastline. Save the
Waves' new Chile Program director, Josh Berry, literally hit the
ground running as he helped prepare and organize the demonstration
with numerous other environmental organizations and local
grass-roots
groups. On this cold, gray winter day, at least 15 surfboards were
hoisted above the crowd as people chanted rhymes mocking Celco, and
the police held the crowd back from the gates.
Two days earlier, Greenpeace activists blocked the gates of
the plant
with a container truck and chained themselves to it. They
also snuck
into the mill and hung a huge banner reading "CELCO: BASTA DE
CONTAMINAR," which in English means "Celco: Enough Contamination!"
The protesters were eventually forced to disperse by police, but
there were no arrests.
The protest is the second major public demonstration against
Celco in
the Itata River Valley this year. Public outrage against pulp mill
practices has been mounting steadily in Chile since a disaster last
year, at another of Celco's mills in Valdivia, caused the death of a
large number of black-necked swans. Celco was blamed for the
contamination of a UNESCO biosphere lagoon, and its Valdivia plant
was ordered by Chile's government to cease operations for months.
The mill in Nueva Aldea will be Celco's largest, and has been under
construction for many years. The plant was due to begin production
in June, but has delayed opening due to opposition from local
residents, farmers and a coalition of environmental groups.
The mill
has also been plagued by numerous accidents. In December 2005, two
workers at the mill were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation,
one of whom is still receiving treatment at a hospital in France.
Another unspecified accident occurred at the mill at the end
of June,
which purportedly will delay the mill's opening for another 4 to 6
months.
Save the Waves continues to work towards a solution that will
prevent
the mill from contaminating the river and ocean. For more
information, click the links at the top of the page.
Please register HERE.
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Station. The staff and volunteers
at Save the Waves thank you for your
support!
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