ABP

- Rapport -

ALBA: FIRTH OF FILTH

Millions of litres of raw sewage leaked into the Firth of Forth this week in yet another episode of seemly environmental apathy in the face of private business, by the Labour/Lib Dem Scottish coalition Government. The leak comes just weeks after it was announced that the Scottish Government was considering an application for ship

Par Cathal Ó Luain pour Celtic League le 29/05/07 14:36

The leak comes just weeks after it was announced that the Scottish Government was considering an application for ship to ship oil transfers to take place in the Forth. Ship to ship oil transfers are notoriously risky and spillage is common. The League called on the Scottish Environment Minister Ross Finnie MSP to consider carefully all risks involved and not to put private enterprise above environmental protection and the concerns of the local community. However, when it was revealed that the shipping company who had applied for permission to undertake the oil transfers in the Forth was the same one that had been responsible for a catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 1995, some said that the Scottish Executive had to feign surprise.

This latest development has affirmed League fears that the Government would prefer to risk environmental damage in order to keep private business happy. Leith Links Residents' Association, near Seafield - the sewage processing plant responsible for the disaster - commented on Radio Scotland that the plant was a 'disaster waiting to happen' and that they used 'third world technology'. Seafield has been in the hands of private contractors for thirty years, who were also responsible for installing the treatment facility and is operated by Thames Water on behalf of Scottish Water. The consortium that runs Seafild were fined in 2001 after three other sewage leaks from its East Calder sewage treatment plant. Questions have also arisen about the lack of back up equipment needed in case of such a leak.

The flow of sewage has now been stopped after flowing for the whole of the weekend since last Friday and the public has been warned not to go swimming or harvest fish or shell fish from the Forth. Calls for an immediate investigation are sadly too late in what could become one of Scotland's worst environmental disasters.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

26/04/07

Voir aussi :

Michael D Higgins, président de la République d'Irlande, reçoit le Collier de l'Hermine à Dublin par Philippe Argouarch le 13/11/2024
Prix du livre insulaire 2025 par Culture, arts et lettres des îles le 12/11/2024
Forum de l’Arbre, de la Forêt et du Bois par ROND VERT le 13/11/2024
Ar Redadeg : remise des chèques pour le soutien de la langue bretonne par ChatGPT le 12/11/2024
Christian Troadec : J'étais un élément turbulent car je demandais un vrai plan de sauvegarde de la langue bretonne par Philippe Argouarch le 12/11/2024
Exposition des artistes plasticiens OSTRE'ART 2024 par I.R. le 11/11/2024
Inauguration à Carhaix : hommage émouvant à la poétesse Anjela Duval et à Sébastian ar Balp, figure des Bonnets Rouges par Philippe Argouarch le 09/11/2024
L’Union Démocratique Bretonne appelle les communes bretonnes à agir contre la crise du logement avec la nouvelle loi sur les meublés de tourisme par ChatGPT le 09/11/2024

The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues. TEL (UK) 01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609 (voir le site)

[ See all articles from Celtic League]

Vos 0 commentaires

Commenter :

Put your name here

ABP

Agir

Nous suivre