Purple River: How German Lobbying Pollutes Mexico

Several German companies — Volkswagen, BASF, and Bayer — have been extracting water from Mexican rivers, and returning it heavily contaminated. Hundreds of their factories and facilities located along the Atoyac river —  a critical waterway in Puebla and Tlaxcala — produce everything from textiles to chemicals.

As the result, the river is now heavily contaminated, which has severe consequences both for the river’s ecosystem and local populations. Inhabitants of the area report increasing cases of skin conditions, gastrointestinal illnesses, and even cancer among children.

The journalists highlight the lack of enforcement on the government's side, and the apparent leniency toward corporations that continue to discharge toxic waste. Residents have raised concerns over this inadequate response, as legislative gaps and lack of action from the Mexican government enable continued pollution despite of the environmental laws which are already in place. The situation proves the urgent need for more stringent environmental oversight to protect Mexico's vital water resources from industrial pollution.

The Atoyac River case illustrates the broader environmental justice issues in industrialised regions of the Global South, where economic development often comes at a steep human and ecological cost.

Photo by Alejandro Saldívar