The list of countries, where Arnika organization helps, increased by another item. Bosnia and Herzegovina. was most recently added. It is another country of former Eastern Block in addition to Armenia, Belorussia, and Kazakhstan. There, the Czech experts will seek for places contaminated with toxic substances and will help local people with analyzing, meetings with authorities, and communication with the public.
"One of the topics, which connect the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the iron works operated by Mittal. Influences on the environment and human health in the north of Moravia are known; what dangerous substances and in what amount the iron works empty in Kazakhstan and similar data is being analyzed today by scientists from Institute of Chemical Technology. For the citizens of Zenica, where Mittal iron works represents the biggest source of pollution, local authorities announced the recommendation not to go out of the house because of the catastrophical air condition last week," says Martin Skalsky of Arnika, the leader of the Centre for citizens support. How serious the risks is and how it would be possible to put through their restriction will be found out by Bosnian people with the help of the Czech non-governmental organization.
This week, Arnika's members Martin Skalsky, Martin Plocek, and Jan Nezhyba are right in the spot. They have arrived to introduce examples of citizens' activity in the Czech Republic where, due to public activities, mitigation of the load of toxic substances and noise for people and the environment was successful, or it was managed to ensure the human call to be answered correctly according to valid legislation. They will also meet with workers and volunteers of local non-governmental organizations. Together, they will seek out other potentially problematic places in central Bosnia where the heavy industry of the whole country is located.
Mittal factory in Bosnian Zenica belongs among the biggest local polluters
Martin Skalský of Arnika, the leader of the Centre for citizens support during the interview with Bosnian media
Several buildings in Zenica were built in the style of so-called socialistic brutalism, which is the same architectural style as of Kotva building in Prague
The work of Arnika in Bosnia and Herzegovina is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic within the scope of TRANS, Transition Promotion Program.
