Top environmental official in Argentina loses her job

Argentine Environment Secretary Romina Picolotti was ousted from office this month after becoming the subject of a corruption investigation and drawing criticism from green groups for failing to challenge government pro-mining policies and ensure cleanup of a notoriously polluted river. Picolotti, an environmental attorney, was appointed in 2006. At the time, she was representing environmental groups in the Argentine city of Gualeguaychú that were opposed to the construction across the Uruguay River of a vast Uruguayan pulp mill. Her appointment, by then-President Néstor Kirchner, was seen by some as an effort to placate Gualeguaychú residents, whose protest actions—including an ongoing blockage of vehicular traffic on a nearby international bridge leading to Uruguay—created diplomatic tension between the Argentine and Uruguayan governments. The... [Log in to read more]

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