Up to 35,000 tons of oil have spilled into the Mediterranean following Israeli air strikes -- now it is a race against time to prevent long-term damage and the destruction of a fragile ecosystem.
(...)
According to UNEP chief Steiner, "The Lebanese government has requested international assistance from the UN, and we stand ready to do all we can." He added that he is urgently trying to assemble EU satellite images and other data in order to get a more accurate measure of the spill along Lebanon's coast. "Firstly our thoughts are with the suffering of the civilian population," he said. "But we must be concerned about the short and long-term impacts on the marine environment, including the biodiversity upon which so many people depend for their livelihoods and living."
The ocean is a vital source of income for many Lebanese, through fishing and tourism. Many fish and crabs have already perished and others are covered in oil. The Lebanese beaches that were once so popular with tourists could be polluted for some time to come. Even when the bombing stops, it is unlikely tourists will be rushing back to the country, but if they did, instead of sandy beaches they would find long stretches of oily ground, strewn with dead and dying marine life.
Como é que é, Israel tem que defender a sua existência? Eu começo a perguntar-me se o Líbano sobreviverá esta guerra. Na verdade e tendo em conta ainda antes desta guerra, será que o estado do Líbano sobreviverá o estado de Israel?
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário