NewsWhore
06-05-2009, 05:10 PM
Alexander Medina Herasme writes today in Hoy newspaper that the decision by the Estrella Group to go ahead with the construction of a cement plant on the outskirts of the Los Haitises National Park could backfire against the well-earned reputation of other companies that make up the group.
The Santiago-based business group insists it will be a green operation. But environmental campaigners are warning that a cement plant would definitely pollute the area, a leading water source for the DR.
Herasme comments that consumers could think twice when purchasing cement from the company, or the company's tomato paste, cooking oil, imported milk, or even media services. "All the wealth of those investors is at risk for investing in a plant that is located in the wrong place," he writes.
He says that the area around Los Haitises conceded to the company for the cement plant used to be forest and was excluded from the park because of previous depredation by man.
"In the 21st century, deciding about making an investment cannot just be based on economic and legal factors," he writes. He states that companies need to take new principles of corporate social responsibility into consideration to ensure that their ventures do not harm society.
"The negative impact of this investment in the environment of Los Haitises goes against the sustainable development of all Dominican society, mainly that of the Cibao, the main beneficiary of the rains that Los Haitises karst formations attract.
He explains that the area attracts 2000mm of rain a year, and the high humidity of the natural forest causes the clouds that the winds blow east to other areas in the Cibao, including the source of the Yaque del Norte River. He says that the porosity of the karst rocks combined with the heavy rainfall creates the conditions for the accumulation of large quantities of water underground that make the region one great water reserve.
He says that the first Ministry of Environment team that evaluated the project rejected it, and a second team made a complacent recommendation.
He concludes that the best decision the company could make would be to relocate it. He concludes that to fail to do so "will have disastrous consequences for the marketing of the new cement brand and the recovery of the invested capital."
To follow the story, see: www.dr1.com/forums/environment/... (http://www.dr1.com/forums/environment/82475-anyone-know-what-going-los-haitises.html)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)
The Santiago-based business group insists it will be a green operation. But environmental campaigners are warning that a cement plant would definitely pollute the area, a leading water source for the DR.
Herasme comments that consumers could think twice when purchasing cement from the company, or the company's tomato paste, cooking oil, imported milk, or even media services. "All the wealth of those investors is at risk for investing in a plant that is located in the wrong place," he writes.
He says that the area around Los Haitises conceded to the company for the cement plant used to be forest and was excluded from the park because of previous depredation by man.
"In the 21st century, deciding about making an investment cannot just be based on economic and legal factors," he writes. He states that companies need to take new principles of corporate social responsibility into consideration to ensure that their ventures do not harm society.
"The negative impact of this investment in the environment of Los Haitises goes against the sustainable development of all Dominican society, mainly that of the Cibao, the main beneficiary of the rains that Los Haitises karst formations attract.
He explains that the area attracts 2000mm of rain a year, and the high humidity of the natural forest causes the clouds that the winds blow east to other areas in the Cibao, including the source of the Yaque del Norte River. He says that the porosity of the karst rocks combined with the heavy rainfall creates the conditions for the accumulation of large quantities of water underground that make the region one great water reserve.
He says that the first Ministry of Environment team that evaluated the project rejected it, and a second team made a complacent recommendation.
He concludes that the best decision the company could make would be to relocate it. He concludes that to fail to do so "will have disastrous consequences for the marketing of the new cement brand and the recovery of the invested capital."
To follow the story, see: www.dr1.com/forums/environment/... (http://www.dr1.com/forums/environment/82475-anyone-know-what-going-los-haitises.html)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)