Additionally, dioxines are emitted to the air. These substances have proved mutagenic and carcinogenic. This means that not only the environment would be negatively affected, but also severe damages would impact on the health and life quality of the people living in this valley. An argument frequently used to promote this type of investments is that of job generation, which currently constitutes a severe problem in Chile. Nonetheless, also in this regard the recommendation of the Consultative Council is not appropriate, since at present grape and wine production provides 3,000 permanent jobs, while the Itata Forestry Complex would generate only a total of 1,200 jobs.
Many questions remain unanswered.
Now the responsibility lies in the hands of the Cabinet Meeting. Its decision will in fact reveal what the real environmental and economic policy of the Chilean government is.