Industrial pollution an issue in Romanian elections

(29 Nov 2008) 1. Wide of Copsa Mica plant 2. Heavy smoke coming out of plant chimneys 3. Various of electoral posters 4. Smoke coming out of plant chimneys 5. Wide of railway worker checking cargo 6. SOUNDBITE: (Romanian) name not given, railway worker: "We hope it will be better after we go to vote." 7. Pan to another railway worker 8. SOUNDBITE: (Romanian) name not given, railway worker: "We hope to stop the pollution here, people and children have big problems. There are abandoned blocks of flats in town." 9. Pull-out of train moving 10. Electoral posters in front of abandoned building 11. Newly painted building next to abandoned, damaged building 12. Pan from electoral poster to people gathered nearby 13. SOUNDBITE: (Romanian) Musca Augustin, local resident: "We hope for the better - to eliminate the daily stress of not knowing what the future holds." 14. Posters in front of apartment block 15. Heavy smoke coming out of plant chimneys 16. Horse and carriage passing in front of plant 17. SOUNDBITE: (Romanian) Chiriac Ion, retired Copsa Mica plant worker: "I take natural fertilisers to the field, but it is in vain because the crop is poor, the factory destroys it, the gas burns everything all around including us." 18. Close-up of fertilisers 19. SOUNDBITE: (Romanian) Chiriac Ion, retired Copsa Mica plant worker: "There is no hope, maybe God will help, there is no hope." 20. Horse and carriage leaving 21. Mid of two crosses 22. Close-up of cross with image Jesus covered with fabric to protect it from being damaged by pollution STORYLINE: As they prepare to go the the polls on Sunday, pollution remains a key concern for voters in the Romanian town of Copsa Mica. The town, which is 350 kilometres north of Bucharest, is situated deep in the wooded valleys of Transylvania, but it is home to a number of factories and has been named by environmentalists as one of the most polluted places in Europe. In recent years, Romania has voiced a stronger commitment to environmental protection, but the country's faltering transition to a market economy has made enforcement difficult. It may have been partially cleaned up but it will still take the environment 100 years to recover, experts say. Many residents have left the town in the past years, while others struggle to survive. Local authorities have launched various campaigns like re-painting the apartment blocks but many remain pessimistic. Chiriac Ion, a retired Copsa Mica plant worker said that there was no hope for the town. However, some think that the upcoming elections could bring much needed change to the area. Musca Augustin, a local resident, said that he hoped for better, "to eliminate the daily stress of not knowing what the future holds." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...