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NEWS
ÜVERVIEW
Acid Rain–
The
Burning lssue
A
cid rain is causing
heightened concern as
eroded monuments, lifeless
lakes and dying forests
proliferate worldwide.
Industries fueled by coal ,
particularly smelters and
power plants, are prime
sources of chemical and
nitrogen oxide.
These pollutants,
expelled into the
atmosphere, can be carried
for hundreds, perhaps
thousands of miles by
prevailing winds. The
chemicals may then mix
with other chemicals in the
atmosphere to produce
caustic or poisonous
substances and be rained
or simply settle onto the
landscape below.
Reports of extensive
42
forest damage have come
from Poland, East
Germany and the Soviet
Union. West Germany
estimates thal 34 percenl
of its forests are in trouble
from acid precipitation.
Amsterdam's
Drug
Dilemma
I
n spite of extensive efforts
lo curb drug traffic,
Amsterdam's heroin trade
and its accompanying crime
wave continue lo escalate.
Amsterdam, with a
population of about 750,000,
has an estimated 10,000
drug addicts.
" The problem created by
drug addicts is out of hand,"
says Mayor Ed van Thijn.
According lo the research
department of Groningen
University, a heavily addicted
heroin user needs at least
Acid-rain in
Czechos/ovakian f orest:
Extensive damage to
nature is proliferating.
while Gzechoslovakia says
that one tenth of its trees
have already died.
More than 200 lakes in
the Adirondack Mountains
of New York are devoid of
game fish. Authorities in
Ganada estímate that
4,600 of the lakes in
eastern Ganada are now
uninhabitable for fish.
Sweden cites 9,000 lakes
with diminished fish
populations. In all
accounts, acid rain is
blamed.
Forest-fire prevention has
kept alkaline ash from
neutralizing sorne
acid-polluled soils. Sorne
40 ,000 Dulch guilders
($11 ,500*) each year to
support his habit. The
average drug addict spends
about 170 guilders ($49) for
lhe drug each day.
Tono one's surprise,
addicts are blamed for 90
percent of Amsterdam's
crimes. The police estímate
lhat drug addicts steal an
average of 500 guilders
($144) worth of goods each
da
y.
Mild sentences and
overcrowded jails minimize
penallies for theft and drug
crimes. Says detective Ghief
Superinlendent Everl
Jagerman: " We don't arres!
users of heroin because
there isn't enough capacity in
research suggesls lhat
increased ozone makes
trees more vulnerable lo
acids.
Glean-up programs will
be expensive and may
yield only qualified results.
Yet , countries hardest hit
are convinced that
something, even if costly
and limited, must be done
lo save invaluable lakes
and forests. Eighleen
governments have resolved
lo cut their emissions
of sulfur dioxide by
1993.
Many scienlisls fear lhat,
even if acid-causing
emissions were eliminated
allogelher, il would take
decades lo reslore
damaged lakes and foresls
lo their original heallh and
productivity. •
the jails. People who steal
gel sent back on the street
again."
In an attempt to decrease
addictions, two special
buses distribute melhadone,
a treatment substitute for
The PLAIN TRUTH