Friends of the Earth is on the ground tackling Hungary's toxic sludge8 October 2010
As many of you will know, there was a disastrous toxic spill from an industrial plant in Hungary on 4th October 2011. It has leaked toxic clay and acid from the plant in Kolontar, towards the Danube.
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12th October: Friends of the Earth Hungary is still working hard to handle the disastrous toxic mud spill and their local group - Csalan (Nettle) Association - is working on the ground trying to ensure that every individual affected by the spill has access to proper protective equipment.
To date they have received donations of HUF 1,200,000 - just over £3,800. This has allowed them to purchase and distribute 40 pairs of rubber boots and protective gloves and 750 face masks directly to those in need as well as providing wheel barrows, shovels and hoes for clean up.
Face masks are needed daily and in some areas, such as Devecser, all inhabitants now have to wear goggles. Csalán Association is therefore planning to acquire further masks and protective goggles.
They therefore continue to welcome donations direct to their paypal account
For those that want to donate, as a guide £5 is 1,564.60 Hungarian Forint (HUF).
Csalán Association members have also distributed flyers door to door to raise awareness of the threats posed. Experts from both the National Population Health and Medical Service (ÁNTSz) and Pannon University have confirmed that airborne dust in the Devecser and Kolontár areas exceeds safe limits. In addition, the material is reportedly highly corrosive and can cause serious damage to respiratory organs and its effects are likely to be felt over the long term as well as immediately.
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Friends of the Earth in Hungary / MTVSZ has already started its response and the local Friends of the Earth group in the area is working on the ground right now with the community on emergency cleanup.
To help them, they need protective masks and rubber boots for all those living in the area to support the clean up.
They aim to buy 6000 protective masks (£3.20 each) and 500 welly boots and rubber gloves (£16 each) for distribution this week.
You can help them by donating direct via their web site. The website is in Hungarian, but the "Donate" button is obvious and in English (as are the instructions on the subsequent pages).
In addition to this, Friends of the Earth Hungary / MTVSZ is lobbying the government to prevent the company responsible for the sludge disaster from enlarging its bauxite mines. The enlargement is planned on an area which is currently forested.
Friends of the Earth Europe has issued a statement in solidarity with FoE Hungary. Included in that they say:
"Far too often we see environmental disasters of this kind yet we continue to see corporate opposition to strong environmental, health and safety regulations at a national, European and international level. Corporations say the costs are too high, but the real cost of weak regulation is clear for all to see."
We will try to keep you updated as the situation develops on the Community website.
