The United Nations expressed concern Tuesday about serious contamination of Guatemala's Pasion River and the risks the environmental damage poses to thousands of families.
The Pasion River was declared an ecological disaster after it was severely contaminated by an industrial pesticide used for the production of African oil palm, a chemically intensive crop grown as a monoculture.
#Ecocidio en #Guatemala, productores de #palmaafricana vertieron quimicos y acabaron con la fauna del #rioLaPasion. pic.twitter.com/zcZXDq2xX2
— LUI DONIS (@luidonisblog)
June 28, 201
“Ecocide in Guatemala, African palm producers dumped chemicals and killed wildlife in the Pasion River.”
“The man impact is water pollution, because these people live off the river, use the water for drinking and for personal hygiene, as well as feeding themselves with the fish,” said the U.N. coordinator in Guatemala, Valerie Julliand.
Julliand added that the contamination has had a “psychological impact” on local families, compounding the situation of poverty with the experience of “mourning the loss of the river,” which is a lifeline for Guatemalan people who live and work along its banks.
"Otto ladrón, te echaremos malatión (sustancia tóxica que se vertió en el río la pasión)", grita #SumpangoL... https://t.co/d2Zx6yd7QL
— Edwin Pitán (@Epitan_PL)
July 4, 201
“’Thief (President) Otto (Perez Molina), we will throw malathion (toxic substance that was dumped into the Pasion River),’ shout protesters.”
The extent of damage to the river started to come to light in June, when thousands of dead fish surfaced in northern Guatemala near the border with Mexico, leading authorities to investigate what they called an “ecocide.”
According to Guatemala's National Council for Protected Areas, the contamination has affected 23 species of fish and 21 other species including birds, reptiles, and mammals.
Julliand called for uncovering who is responsible for the contamination. According to the U.N., between 2.5 and 3.75 tons of industrial waste are generated by each ton of a palm oil produced.
Si te perdiste la conferencia #RíoLaPasión de @ONUGuatemala | aquí te dejamos el enlace > http://t.co/WMGGkq0GLP pic.twitter.com/iPJ6LNRT3x
— Oacnudh Guatemala (@Oacnudh_GT)
July 22, 201
“In case you missed the U.N. press conference on the Pasion River, here is the link.”
U.N. delegates have requested investigations and ecological assessments to ensure the environmental catastrophe is not repeated and have recommended water laws be implemented.
“We want to ensure that the case will not be forgotten not matter how long it takes,” said Julliand, “and ensure that there is justice to avoid (the case) being repeated.”