12 May 2006 - International
— The Carnival Queen of Argentinia attended the
EU - Latin American Countries Summit in Vienna
to expose Greenpeace's concerns about the pollution
of the Uruguay River.
In front of Presidents Vazquez of Uruguay and
Kirchner of Argentina she put on a provocative
costume to convey a provocative message: stop
the two huge European-owned paper pulp mills which
threaten to pollute the river area of her home.
The proposed plants are to be
built in Fray Bentos, on the Uruguayan shore of
the Uruguay river, and its toxic byproducts will
flow into the Argentine city of Gualeguaychu.
The conflict has put a strain
on relations between Argentina and Uruguay, and
on 30 May 2006, 100,000 people protested on the
bridge that unites Gualeguaychu and Fray Bentos.
The unexpected appearance of Evangelina Carrozzo,
the dancing Carnival Queen, brought the issue
even more attention.
Greenpeace demands a clean production
plan for the industry in the region that includes
the total elimination of all chlorine compounds
in the bleaching process as well as the relocation
of these new pulp mills far away from any urban
centre. "We urgently need to have legislation
that governs the production of pulp and paper
in the region. Such legislation should include
the total elimination of all chlorine compounds
to allow a closed system for effluents."
says Paula Brufman, Toxics Campaigner for Greenpeace
Argentina.
Every year a new Carnival Queen
is elected amongst thousands of participants.
The election takes place in the city of Gualeguaychu
where the biggest carnival celebrations in the
southern cone take place. Evangelina Carrozzo
was elected Queen in February.
"Being Queen of Carnival
means a lot more than just a dancing beauty contest.
Being Queen of Carnival in Gualeguaychu means
that I represent the Uruguay river... I speak
for our people and the nature around us. I am
entirely qualified to demand to any Head of State
that they protect our environment”, said Miss
Carrozzo.
The smiling activist wore a
long raincoat and hid among photographers before
springing out in front of the assembled political
leaders with her message.
