成人快手

Are industrial accidents an inevitable part of modern economies?

| Wednesday, 10 Oct. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT

Two things have come out of the toxic sludge spill in Hungary. First you are very interested in hearing from those affected. And second, amongst the condemnation there have been discussion of whether we have to accept that some accidents, though of course the minimum possible, are inevitable.

The majority of national economies are industrialised and our desire for the products and lifestyle that comes with that makes any alternative unthinkable. Are accidents like this a regrettable consequence?

Your comments

  1. Comment sent via Twitter

    Loved that @bbc_whys rap that I just heard. So nerdy, so awesome.

  2. Comment sent via BLOG

    David Price in the UK on the blog - Not so much as what will happen now as what will happen in 10/20 years time.Heavy metals cannot be destroyed they accumulate in fish and plant life,and fall as rain water.

  3. Comment sent via Twitter

    Listening to the #radio 成人快手 World service World Have Your Say @bbc_whys Hungary Toxic sludge / Gamu / AlQueda / child benefit #politics

  4. Comment sent via Facebook

    Dee - I wasn't shocked. As long as we consume, disasters will happen

  5. Comment sent via Facebook

    Ben in Ghana - The green vegetation has continuously been replaced by industries and housing infrastructure. To be safe we need to "GO GREEN".

  6. Comment sent via Facebook

    Ceaser in South Africa - More disasters will come - period! This is because although there is much talk about sustainable development, its not being practiced in reality

  7. Comment sent via Facebook

    Andrew - The European Union has designated this type of waste as non-toxic so no regulation. Corruption rules EU.

  8. Comment sent via Facebook

    James in Indiana - these things will happen. its is a "playing with fire" scenario

  9. Comment sent via YOURSAY

    Kalypso emailed from Vienna - I'm in absolute disbelief that something of that sort could happen in 2010! I'm horrified at the thought that these radio active chemicals could get into the Danube!

  10. Comment sent via BLOG

    Ibrahim in the UK on the blog - Industrial accidents are inevitable until we develop 100% accurate systems and processes (not likely). Destroying our planet through environmental poisoning is also inevitable until we form the mindset that the whole earth is our home, poisoning any part of it should be unacceptable.

  11. Comment sent via BLOG

    Gary Paudler on the blog - Industrial accidents are inevitable as long as governments favor commerce over public wellbeing. Very reasonable regulation would have prevented the BP Gusher in the Gulf and the ruptured cancer pond in Hungary.

  12. Comment sent via BLOG

    Pendkar on the blog - They are not inevitable. They can be prevented. It just means that we should be willing to pay the cost for the safety

  13. Comment sent via BLOG

    Allison in Los Angeles on the blog - I do believe these type of accidents are an inevitable part of modernity and industry. What continually upsets, but doesn't shock me, is that society, corporations, and governments do not have contingency plans in place to quickly resolve these issues

  14. Comment sent via host

    We''re on air now. Listen here:

  15. Comment sent via host

    Hello - Ben S here. We''ve got four different topics on today''s programme. Firstly, the Hungarian sludge - Are industrial accidents an inevitable part of modern economies?