''Yes to nuclear energy''

Argentina's Secretary of Environment and Development, Atilio Savino, spoke with Tierramérica about his performance in office, which has come under fire from environmental groups.

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's top environmental official, Secretary Atilio Savino, does not have the support of the country's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) specializing in environmental issues.

Most of the groups condemn Savino's previous work as manager of CEAMSE, a company with government funds in charge of handling solid waste from the Argentine capital and the province of Buenos Aires. According to the activists, the CEAMSE sanitary landfills contaminate water supplies, the soil and the air, and contribute to the spread of disease.

The environmentalists also criticize his performance as Secretary of Environment and Development, saying Savino is focused more on economic reactivation than environmental defense.

Savino, an economist with graduate studies in political science, sat down for a dialogue with Tierramérica.

-- Many people think that worrying about the environment is a luxury in a country with high rates of poverty and unemployment, as is the case of Argentina. What do you think?
-- There are priority problems as you mention, but the health of the population is also a priority problem, and to take care of health means environmental issues are also important.

-- What do you see as your main achievements as Secretary of Environment and Development?
-- One is the recovery of the government's environmental institutions through the Federal Environmental Council (with provincial representation). Another -- unprecedented in this country -- is the national environmental agenda drawn up through regional consensus, which is to be made public in the coming days.

-- What about the continued clearing of native forests reported in many provinces?
-- We are working with the Ministry of Federal Planning on an ambitious program for strategic territorial regulation. Each province should decide how its land is to be used.

-- In other words, the political will exists to halt the unregulated logging?
-- Of course, and some provinces have already presented proposals to protect the intangible wealth of certain areas.

-- What do you think of the dismantling of protections for native forest in the northeastern province of Salta to auction off the land to farming interests?
-- We expressed our ideas and concerns to the provincial government, but in a federal system, the province owns its natural resources and makes the final decisions.

-- Are such issues discussed in the Federal Environmental Council?
-- Yes, and the talks are ongoing. A very positive result is the finalization of a draft bill for protecting native forests through economic incentives, which will soon be presented in Congress.

-- What is your opinion of open-face mining, which is hotly resisted by local residents and environmental groups?
-- Mining is not under the mandate of the Environmental Secretariat. In any case, we contribute ideas on some matters to the Mining Secretariat and other agencies, because anything that could have an impact on the environment or health is our concern.

-- To mitigate Argentina's energy crisis, do you say yes or no to nuclear energy?
-- I say yes, with appropriate regulation of the industry and of the waste it produces. In France, 80 percent of electricity is generated by nuclear reactors, and Argentina has had strong nuclear development, so we are prepared to enhance our energy matrix.

-- Many environmental NGOs criticize you, including your work at CEAMSE. Have you changed your position on treating solid waste since you became secretary of environment?
-- I was the company's manager and I know that one must closely study which instruments are used in the integrated management of solid waste. Sanitary landfills are a tool that must have adequate oversight, but there are others that are more important: limiting production of waste, waste treatment to limit the amount going to landfill, and ensuring that the waste that does go is the safest possible.

In general, the Secretariat of Environment is very open to criticism and to contributions that help resolve problems, which are many. Our policy is to bring in all who have ideas to propose. And those who only want to criticize, we'll receive them as well, to determine whether we need to correct our ideas or actions.

* Marcela Valente is an IPS correspondent.