Dalila grew up in the Tunisian coastal city of Gabès and is accustomed to the heavy, acrid smell from the state-owned phosphate processing plant about a 10-minute walk from her home. On days when noxious fumes fill the air, Dalila rushes to tightly shut the windows and tells her children to hurry indoors. She washes […]
  • CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    3 days ago

    What is the point of this? We should stop fertilizer to save the children? That would kill a great many.

    The mineral phosphate reserves are in Tunisia, thats why the plant is there and its market is global. Why not ask Tunisia to fix its local zoning problem?

        • Einskjaldi@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          "To foster Tunisia’s fertilizer industry, the European Investment Bank agreed to lend GCT about 55 million euros ($84.6 million) in 2008 to make improvements at the company’s facilities across Tunisia, including cutting toxic emissions, reducing health risks and improving living conditions.

          The work was supposed to include the factory in Gabès.

          But progress elsewhere in the country went poorly. There were “significant” delays, according to the bank, which then canceled the remaining 20 million euros ($30.8 million) of the loan that was supposed to include work in Gabès.

          Residents like Dalila did not see any of the promised improvements."

          This is your answer.