Environmental "crisis" In Lebanon

[Janus]

So there are some serious political problems in Lebanon right now but the Israeli attacks have also caused some major environmental ones as well.


Originally posted by BBC News
The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) has expressed its "grave concern" about oil pollution in Lebanese coastal waters.

An oil slick caused by Israeli bombing of the Jiyyeh power station now covers 80km (50 miles) of coast.

Local environmental groups describe the slick as an "environmental disaster".

Almost as much oil may have entered the water as during the 1989 Exxon Valdez tanker incident in Alaska, which led to widespread ecological damage.

Full article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5233358.stm)

[barret]

I'm not too keen on why anyone would put an oil burning powerstation near the coast. The only powerstations that need that much water for cooling are nuclear powerplants.

[Janus]

I agree. But much of the city is near the ocean so I'm guessing it's mainly for easier transportation and access purposes.

[barret]

Yes, but a plant that would use that oil would not be built right on the coast, as this one was.

[Janus]

Right, I agree with you.

I'm just saying that I don't think Lebanon really planned on this. I doubt many other nations would either. Besides, even if it were not built on the sea, the chemicals would've seeped and contaminated the water supply when it was washed away by rain which would've made it even worse.

[Janus]

This spill has now spread to the Syrian coastline as well.

UN calls for action after Lebanese slick spreads to Syria (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060802/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictlebanon_060802214123)

If they can't even solve the political problem there, how the hell can they solve this environmental one?