3 November 2009 | News | Climate Justice and Energy
This Time
Argentina: Environmentalist organizations go to Congress to lift veto on glacier bill
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Since the Executive vetoed a bill to protect glaciers in Argentina, almost a year ago, Argentinian environmentalist organizations have been carrying out a campaign in support to the bill, which has gathered thousands of signatures. They aim at the passing of the vetoed bill, so that glaciers are considered natural heritage of the country.
Among other things, the bill banned the pouring of pollutants into glaciers, and the settling of industries and mining and oil exploitation projects, thus closing the door to controversial projects, like that of Canadian mining transnational corporation Barrick Gold.
Argentinian President, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner based her veto on economic reasons, and stated that the environmental protections established in the bill were excessive and affected investments.
On Wednesday, Programa Argentina Sustentable will submit to the House of Representatives a document where they claim to pass the bill, which is supported by 153,000 signatures.
These signatures were gathered through the website www.proteccionglaciares.com.ar, by environmentalist federation Friends of the Earth Argentina, member of the federation of environmentalist groups Friends of the Earth International, and to date have managed to gather 154,397 signatures.
In addition, Programa Argentina Sustentable has invited all organizations that have gathered signatures with reference to the bill to unify them, so as to file a joint claim on Wednesday.
In addition to the individual support of citizens, the document is backed by over a hundred organizations.
Photo: http://www.panoramio.com
