In my last post, I questioned how it is ethical or even legal for people (and large crowds at that) to be allowed to swim at the Rosignano Solvay beach given the amount of untreated waste that Solvay has discharged there. I have often regarded industrial pollution as black and white, that since these big companies are so clearly exploiting the environment and local community, shouldn’t the government be able to easily make the decision to stop them? But the economic benefit that Solvay has brought to Tuscany, directly (development) and indirectly (beach having tourist appeal), complicates matters.
Tourist Appeal
Being aware of how toxic the beach actually is, it is clear that political leaders are capitalising on the pollution of the beach. The sand, naturally brown, just so happened to get turned white. The colour white has associations with being pristine. By extension, the whitened beach aligns with the popular imaginations of a beach paradise. I wonder if this beach would still be touted as a desirable holiday destination if its sand weren’t white.
The beach becoming a tourist hotspot is an unintentional opportunity that Rosignano had gained. If the sand were more obviously polluted with black sludge, for example, I think the authorities would still justify and show leniency to Solvay regardless of their pollution. This is because of how central Solvay has been in the town’s development.
Development
Solvay’s plant was set up in the early 1900s. Solvay has since been fundamental in developing Rosignano and the local economy, even helping to build homes and schools. Evidently, they are so prominent that they are even included in the name of the municipality’s subdivision — Rosignano Solvay. With such importance to Rosignano’s past, present and future, it is understandable how risky it would be to hold the company accountable for their crimes in discharging untreated waste into the sea. Nevertheless, being dishonest about Solvay’s pollution and the harm caused is indicative of political corruption.
This is Political Corruption
Given these complexities, economic and political decision making is not straightforward. One would think that since the Solvay plant is a clear point-source of pollution, the pollution ought to be easily regulated. However, it is evident that this is a long-running case of political corruption. Regardless of the potential for economic growth, these pollutive industrial activities come at a great cost. Big corporations like Solvay should definitely be held accountable for their harm to the ecosystem and the local people, which I will discuss in my next post.
References:
https://www.ft.com/content/fb129666-dc85-48ff-a9c8-3bfa87a715ca
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj895x/rosignano-soan-idyllic-beach-made-the-cover-of-vogue-italia-but-not-the-huge-chemical-plant-behind-it
