Ecobreves – CHILE: Pig Slaughterhouse Shut Down

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

SANTIAGO, May 28 2012 (IPS) - The Chilean government declared a health alert in the town of Freirina, 800 km north of Santiago, in response to the pollution and foul odor emanating from the nearby Agrosuper pork processing plant. The measure was announced after local residents had blocked the access roads to the slaughterhouse for six days, leading to violent clashes with the police.

“The government’s decision was prompted by the protests staged by the townspeople of Freirina, who have been asking to be heard for nine months and had not succeeded until now,” Isabel Allende, the senator for the region, told Tierramérica.

Under the health alert, the plant will be temporarily shut down until the problems creating the foul odors are resolved and the possible environmental damage is mitigated.