Magyar News, 1992. szeptember-1993. augusztus (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1993-05-01 / 9. szám
Béla Lipták DEATH STARTS THIS SPRING Europe’s oldest wetland region, which has survived since the last ice age, the area that used to be the delta of the Pannon sea, will start dying this spring. With it will die the unique fauna and flora which has evolved over millennia and the lifestyle of this region called theCsallokoz and the Szigetköz. Death comes because there is little rainfall in this region and the marvelously rich vegetation, and the animal life it supports, depend on the groundwaters for their water supply. The drop in the ground waters was caused by an unprecedented outrage which occurred on the 24th of October last year, when Slovakia, led by its ex-Communist Prime Minister who is one of the last remaining true believers in Stalinist gigantomania, has stolen the Danube, thenborder river with Hungary. The rerouting of the Danube by Slovakia has created an environmental disaster for both countries. The concrete sealed canal blocked the contact between the river and the groundwaters. This resulted in lowering the level of the groundwater to the point where the roots can no longer reach it. It will be on the conscience of all of us, if we allow this wetland region, which survived since the last ice age, to die. At issue is more than the future of a millennia old wetland region. What is also at stake is the respect for international law, the unlawful rerouting of a border river and the precedent created when aggression pays. As “Greater Slovakia” is being built, the ideal of a new world order is being shattered. As the richest environmental treasure of Europe starts to look like the surface of the moon, as the rich farmlands turn into deserts, as the drinking water supply of millions is destroyed, as the protest of 81 mayors of the region is disregarded, one begins to wonder if this is how Europe should be at the end of the 20th century? The Present As it is shown on the sketch “A”, the Danube has been blocked on Slovak territory and as the level of the blocked water swelled up, it created a reservoir, called the “Danube Lake”. This gigantic open sewer has not only drowned the island and forests of the region, but has also trapped the industrial and municipal pollutants discharged by the untreated emissions of Bratislava. This lake is breeding viruses and bacteria and poisoning the drinking water supply of millions. As the water accumulated in the “Danube Lake,” it has eventually reached the level of the concrete sealed bypass canal and started to flow through it toward the Gabcikovo (Bös) power plant. The dam is lying in an earthquake zone and it was not designed to withstand seismic shock. In the region of Dobrohost, the walls of houses are already cracked due to the settling of the drying ground, the fruit trees are dying and so are the people’s spirit. Dead fish are lining the dried out river-Page 6 bed. The wells have already dried up and water is trucked into the villages. As the rich farmlands dry up, as the orchards disappear, fewer and fewer water trucks will be needed, because these villages will become ghost towns, monuments to a cynical and prodigal age. The Solution The sketch “B” describes a solution, which can be implemented in a few weeks and which satisfies Slovakia’s shipping and power requirements while protecting the environment and the drinking water. The first step in implementing my plan is to cut the dike to the east of Cunovo (Dunacsun) and return the Danube into its natural bed. This can be done quickly by earth moving equipment. The material in the present dikes would then be used to raise the banks of the natural riverbed. This would eliminate the formation of the polluted reservoir (the “Danube Lake”) near the Hungarian border. At the same time, this would leave Slovakia free to keep the lake below Bratislava and use it as a harbor. The dam at Dunakiliti would send all the water into the Danube bed and the excess into the bypass canal. It is reasonable to keep the bypass canal operational for yearround shipping while supplying it with water for power generation only during periods of high water flow. It is my recommendation that all elec-If you want to know something, you ask. That is the sure way. Then you hope to get an answer. We, out of curiosity, decided to find out where the Magyar News is sent out of our immediate area. We are conducting a survey, and we want to be sure to get proper reply to our question. It is very helpful to our “circulation department” when somebody picks up extra copies of the Magyar News and sends it to friends. We welcome this gesture because we think of it as an appreciation of the work we do. We are also proud to find that other publications use some of our articles, some as far as California. We do not want to expand beyond our tricity produced at Gabcikovo (Bös) be given to Slovakia. At the same time, the power generated at Dunakiliti would belong to Hungary and could be used to pay the Austrian debt for the partial construction at Nagymaros. An important goal of this plan is to remove an irritant from the relationship between two nations which have lived in symbiosis for a millennium. What You Should Do Senator Christopher Dodd has suggested to Senator Pell, the president of the Foreign Relations Committee, to hold hearings in the Senate so that I might describe my plan to save the Danube. If you agree with my goal, please write to: 1) The Honorable Claiborne Pell, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510. 2) The Honorable A1 Gore, Vice President of the United States, Old Executive Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510. I know that you are busy. I know that writing letters is a lot to ask. You should know that no cause is lost unti 1 the ones who believe in it give up, and for that reason alone we should never give up. The editor of Magyar News and the surveyed readers fully support Béla Lipták in his efforts to solve this situation that is in no way acceptable. local area, God forbid that somebody should have that idea. We do not compete with news organizations, though many of our events have news-worthy potential. We try to maintain a Hungarian awareness, and, as much as we could, work on educational matters of our heritage. So, please sertd us a note. Let us know the town and state where you mail an extra copy. We don’t need your name or any other information. You may also call 377- 0569, or leave a note with the person who is handing out the magyar News at the churches or businesses. Please find a way to help us make a sure survey. Thanks. (Editor) SURE WAY TO SURVEY
