** A red river on the outskirts of Buenos Aires: a highlight on environmental and social issues **
The scene is as disturbing as it is outstanding: the Sarandi watercourse, which winds in the poor districts and the industrial zones of the outskirts of Buenos Aires, is a brilliant red. An event which, beyond its visual show, highlights problems deeply rooted in the societal and environmental fabric of the region. Maria Ducomls, local resident, describes this vision of a “blood river” while evoking the suffocating smells of smoke emanating from factories in the region. What is hidden behind this alarming phenomenon? What are the challenges that this is raising for the community, the environment and the authorities?
Immediately after this visual discovery, the authorities undertook analyzes to determine the origin of this unprecedented coloring. The Sarandi, historically mistreated, has long been the receptacle of waste from the surrounding industrial activities, in particular the incinerators of hazardous waste. The proximity of these factories with densely populated districts highlights a serious gap in environmental regulations and the protection of the most vulnerable social classes. This situation pushes us to question us: have we become insensitive to the alert signals that our environment sends us?
### Pollution and social inequalities: an overwhelming observation
This phenomenon is not an isolated case. A report by the World Health Organization has revealed that people living near polluting industries, such as those found near Sarandi, have higher rates of respiratory diseases and cancers. In Argentina, and more broadly in Latin America, an increasing social dichotomy is asserting itself: the wealthy class often benefits natural resources and economic results, while the least favored populations pay the high price in terms of health and quality of quality life.
Compare the situation of the Sarandi with other places in the world, such as the Citarum river in Indonesia, could offer us interesting perspectives. This river, classified among the most polluted in the world, shows the harmful effects of uncontrolled industrialization: alarming rates of heavy metals, but also palpable despair in riparian communities. In both cases, the lack of regulation and non-responsibility of industries exacerbate the suffering of local populations.
### The challenges of an effective action
Although the Argentinian authorities have started to take water samples, this raises a primordial question: will these measures be sufficient to cause a significant change? The slowness of the bureaucratic process should not be overlooked. The lack of transparency and emergency in the management of these environmental crises only fuel the distrust of citizens towards their governments.
From an economic point of view, it is also essential to become aware of the financial impact that pollution has on these communities. Productivity losses due to diseases caused by pollution can cause millions of dollars each year, not to mention the impact on the education of children, which are often forced to stay at home to take care of sick parents.
### The voice of residents: a plea for change
Maria Ducomls, like many other inhabitants, rises as a witness to this injustice. His cry of heart, far from being a simple lament, must be heard as an action for action. The voices of residents, often ignored, must be integrated into the discussions and decisions concerning their environment. The environmental movements that emerge around the world – such as the fight for drinking water in South Africa or the manifestations of “yellow vests” in France for a justified ecology – illustrate the need for collective mobilization.
A sustainable future does not only depend on technological innovation, but also on a change of mentality which considers each citizen as an actor of his community. The involvement of the inhabitants in the preservation of their environment could be the key to transforming what was once a simple ecological tragedy in an opportunity for social and economic rebirth.
In conclusion, this Sarandi incident must serve as a warning. Not only does it illustrate the state of environmental emergency in which Buenos Aires is, but it also discusses broader issues of social justice. The redness of the river could become, if it is well understood, a symbol of resilience and struggle for human dignity as well as for a greener future. The residents, united, could transform this revolting disaster into a peaceful revolution for a more equitable Argentina.