Yet it took almost two weeks before the public was informed. By then the episode had passed. Meanwhile, children were playing in the harmful spring sunshine. Ten years ago, when a radioactive cloud from the Chernobyl power station spread over several countries in Europe, the public had to wait days, or even weeks, before they were given access to information about the effects of the disaster. As a result, people across Europe faced needless exposure to high levels of radiation.
Polluters like to operate under a veil of secrecy.
Once the veil is lifted, they are forced to clean up their act, explains Mr Wates. A large number of NGOs are taking part alongside governmental representatives. The NGO representatives, brought together in a coalition of national, European and international environmental NGOs, have decided to launch a two-year campaign to promote their ideas at the negotiations of this new Convention. The Convention should enable the public not only to have access to information on the environment, but above all to participate actively in environmental decision-making. This Convention, the fifth on the environment negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, could apply to the Commission's 55 member States.