1.
SV Rubbish on beach
0.08

2.
CU Broken lavatory on beach
0.10

3.
CU People being rowed in river
0.14

4.
CU Oil polluted oar in rowlock
0.19

5.
CU People being rowed across river with oil and effluent floating on surface
0.26

6.
CU Oar in oil-polluted water, TILT UP TO River side
0.37

7.
CU polluted beach area
0.40

8.
SV Stretch of polluted beach with debris and rubbish on shore
0.45

9.
CU Two girls in bikinis
0.48

10.
SV People wading in sea
0.53

11.
SV Girls walking past in bikinis
1.00

12.
MV People bathing in sea
1.02

13.
CU Flotsam
1.07

14.
SV Sunbather
1.10

15.
MV Girl making way across polluted sand to water PAN TO Rubbish
1.22

16.
CU Girl Sunbathing
1.25

17.
CU Shattered toilet on beach PAN ALONG TO Debris on beach and sunbathers in background
1.39



Initials CL/1819 CL/1837



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The level of pollution in the world's widest river -- the River Plate in Argentina -- has reached such a high point that bathing has now been forbidden.

For thousands of people from Buenos Aires, this means a journey of several hundred miles to "safe" beaches.

The pollution has become intensified around the capital, in both the river's estuary and in its subsidiaries.

Hundreds of ships which dock at Buenos Aires are partly to blame for the sludgy deposits of oil which float on the surface of the river.

Factories seem to have few qualms about offloading their effluent into the waters. Consequently, the entire stretches of river beaches are littered with rubbish and effluent.

So far, the Argentinian government has done nothing to curb the pollution apart from banning bathing. Even then, many people ignore the ban in spite of warnings of intense bacteria concentrations in the waters which could damage eyes, skin and genitals.

With summer in full swing, the beaches are still crowded. Although some Venture into the water, most people are contented just to sunbathe.

SYNOPSIS: The modern day plague of pollution is making its mark on the waters and shore of Argentina. All kinds of litter is dumped.

Here on the River Plate -- the world's widest river -- the situation has deteriorated rapidly in recent years. Once this river was a favourite place for leisure time activities . Now, the water is specked with sludgy oil deposits.

This is one of the subsidiaries of the River Plate leading to the estuary at the capital Buenos Aires.

The beaches along the river have become so polluted that the authorities have banned bathing in the area. This has deterred some people who are merely there for the ... but not others.

Many people have ignored the ban in spite of warnings of intense bacteria concentrations in the waters which are definite health hazards.

So far, the Argentinian Government has done little to curb pollution apart from banning bathing. Big industries and the hundreds of ships which empty their effluent into the waters continue to do so unchecked. It the people from Buenos Aires want to swim at a safe beach they must travel several hundred miles.

Once the perils of swimming in the sea ware sharks, undercurrents and hidden rocks. Now, the danger is lurking everywhere and only man can stop it.