Tiny Uruguay Pressed by Neighbour to Halt Pulp Mills

[struggle4progress]

GUALEGUAYCHU, Argentina - Gualeguaychu used to be a sleepy Argentine town. That was before two European companies decided to build some of the world's largest pulp mills on its doorstep in neighbouring Uruguay.

Now it's a hotbed of protest as farmers, ecologists and politicians fearing the mills will lead to acid rain and a stench reminiscent of rotten eggs have taken to the streets to block the projects.

Their opposition to the mills, which Uruguay hopes will help bolster its economy, has also caused a diplomatic feud between the two countries.

"There's no stopping this town. We won't back down now," vowed Edgardo Moreyra, an Argentine activist at a noisy rally outside Gualeguaychu's city hall where students chanted "Clean air, clean water! No to the paper companies!" <snip>

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32032/story.htm