The groundwater pollution of Korneuburg, Austria : its issue life-cycle in the public discourse and collaboration and confrontation strategies of act…

2015

This thesis is a case study about the groundwater contamination of Korneuburg, Austria. The company Kwizda was responsible for pesticides leaking into the groundwater. The contamination was kept quiet with the help of local authorities and would have never come to light if not for the diligent efforts of affected residents. Their collaboration with environmental activists and a journalist led to the uncovering of the incident, eventually leading to remediation measures and lawsuits. While public attention to the issue was high, the authorities approved a controversial remediation measure that would lead to further pollution. With a particular reference to environmental and social issues, th…