Vladikavkaz residents again demand to close "Electrozink"

Today in Vladikavkaz, members of the initiative group "Electrozink. What do we breathe in?" have held another picket with a demand to decommission the "Electrozink" metallurgy factory.

The action was similar to previous ones: the organizers gave green bands (colour of ecologists) and leaflets drawing attention to what happens in the city to townspeople and drivers of passing cars.

"There's only one positive result - closing the 'Electrozink' factory. Moreover, it shall compensate that damage caused during its existence in Ossetia. I've come here not to bring some political points to some bureaucrat, but because I want to live in an ecologically clean city," said Zalina Kairova, the picket organizer.

Irina Basieva, a picketer, believes that closing the factory is only the first step towards restoration of ecology of North Ossetia. "Cars do a lot of harm because of poor-quality gasoline, but heavy metals of the factory - cadmium, zinc, lead - are incomparable hazard," she said.

Architect Semenchuk says that he came here with his friends to express their civil position. "The ecology in the city is catastrophic, and one of the problems is 'Electrozink'. Something should be done! So far, we know only one thing - the factory should be stopped," he said.