Military Space News
WATER WORLD
Greenpeace slams Poland's new river protection law
Greenpeace slams Poland's new river protection law
by AFP Staff Writers
Warsaw (AFP) Aug 18, 2023
Environmentalists on Friday slammed the passing of a controversial law in Poland on the revitalisation of the Oder river, which was hit by toxic algae growth last year that caused mass fish deaths.

A toxic algae bloom hit the river on the Polish border with Germany last summer, with at least 300 tonnes of dead fish pulled from the water as tensions spiked between the two countries.

In response to the environmental disaster, Warsaw passed a new law Thursday evening which includes provision for new water treatment plants, and is intended to put more stringent requirements on industrial sites.

But Greenpeace said the government had "ignored the voice of the public and scientists" in passing the law, in a statement on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

They criticised what they said was a lack of consultation and said that the bill will "not protect the Oder" and will continue to be polluted.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) had previously criticised the bill for focusing on "further regulation of the Oder (and other rivers), which will further destroy the ecosystem and its ability to clean itself."

The law allows the building of new infrastructure including the modernisation of sewer systems and constructing new water treatment plants, estimated to cost some 9.5 billion zlotys ($2.3 billion).

The new law also forces large industrial sites, such as mines, to invest in systems to reduce saltwater discharges.

The toxic algae growth was sparked by the introduction of high levels of salt into the waters, according to the German environment ministry, which said that there was a "lack of available information" on the cause.

Poland also blamed toxic algae for the mass fish deaths, but said the disaster had most likely been caused by poor water quality as a result of high temperatures and very low water levels.

Polish and German authorities on either side of the river have said they are determined to stop future disasters happening, but have clashed over responsibility and the best way to keep the algae in check.

bo/rox/giv

X

Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WATER WORLD
Parched Egypt struggles to contain water loss
Cairo (AFP) Aug 18, 2023
At the foot of an 800-year-old Cairo mausoleum, weeds rise from a murky green pool - a sign of massive loss of clean water that often goes to waste instead of reaching Egyptian consumers. Beneath intricate Koranic inscriptions, the thick shrubbery crawls upwards from waist-deep water towards the 13th-century Al-Ashraf Khalil dome in the Egyptian capital's historic quarter. But "it's not natural" nor the result of spring water, said heritage management expert May al-Ibrashy. In a country alr ... read more

WATER WORLD
Northrop Grumman begins producing NGI solid rocket motor booster cases

Lockheed Martin's NGI program completes all subsystem PDRs

Berlin offers to extend Patriot missile deployment in Poland

Lockheed Martin achieves milestone in PAC-3 MSE Integration with Aegis Weapon System

WATER WORLD
Ukraine missiles shot down over Crimea bridge: pro-Russia official

Pentagon eyes missile testing role for Australia

Ukraine says five wounded in Russian missile strike in Dnipro

US to help Australia boost missile manufacturing

WATER WORLD
Elbit Systems awarded a $55M contract for Dutch Counter UAS solution

New method for dynamic drone tracking in GPS-denied environments

Scientists tame dreaded aviation phenomenon

Russia says it shot down two Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow

WATER WORLD
Lockheed Martin completes CDR for Tranche 1 Transport Layer Satellites

Northrop Grumman achieves key milestone in Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission

Hisdesat announces the launch of first SpainSat NG satellite for summer of 2024

ATLAS Space launches Freedom Space for Government Missions

WATER WORLD
A revolution in stand-off jamming

RTX boosts battlefield communication during Northern Edge 2023

L3Harris, Team Lynx contracted for next phase of US Army's Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle

US and Australia use war games to focus on long-range firepower

WATER WORLD
BAE agrees to buy Ball Aerospace for $5.55 billion

Biden asks Congress for $13 bn in new Ukraine military spending

Iraq asks US, UK to extradite suspects in massive graft scandal

BAE profit jumps as Ukraine war boosts defence spend

WATER WORLD
Belarus strongman orders contact with Poland amid border tensions

US praises China role in Saudi-led Ukraine talks

Tuberville blockade leaves 2 seats on Joint Chiefs unconfirmed for first time in history

China, Russia foreign ministers hail cooperation in call

WATER WORLD
World Nano Foundation highlights nanotech's role in space materials science

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.