As the rest of world tackles plastics disposal, the U.S. resists
by Charles Pekow on 17 May 2021
In an expansion of the U.N.’s 1989 Basel Convention, amendments to the international protocol on the shipment of hazardous waste were revised to include plastics in 2021, with nations currently figuring out how to implement the agreement.
The United States is the only major nation not to have fully implemented the treaty, despite strong support for it among both the Republican and Democratic parties. The Biden administration could soon change that.
The U.S. remains a major dumper of hazardous waste globally, including large amounts of plastics, despite the attempted limitations imposed by the Basel Convention. The potential impacts of plastics and other “novel entities” on human health and ecosystems are largely unknown.
2021/05/11 16:58 (Pexels, Tom Fisk photo) (Pexels, Tom Fisk photo) TAIPEI (Taiwan News) A survey published on Monday (May 10) reveals that German companies expect not only that Taiwan’s economy will grow but that their own business in the country will improve over the next 12 months. The survey was conducted by the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK) in its 140 locations in 92 countries between March 17 and April 9. It showed similar results as the Business Confidence Survey released by the German Trade Office Taipei (GTOT) in February. Regarding Taiwan, 74.5 percent of the German companies are optimistic about the country’s economy for the next 12 months, an 11.2 percent increase from the previous GTOT survey. Meanwhile, 23.3 percent believe the outlook remains the same.
Apr 15, 2021 10:15 PM EDT
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons)
(Photo : Pexels)
The Amazon and Congo tropical forests, east Siberian and northern Canadian forests and tundra, and the Sahara are among the wilderness areas unaffected by human activities. Invasive foreign animals such as cats, foxes, rabbits, goats, and camels have had a significant effect on native species in Australia, with no intact areas remaining, according to the report.
The researchers propose reintroducing a limited number of valuable animals, such as elephants or wolves, to some endangered regions. This development could return up to 20% of the world s land to ecological integrity.
Satellite Imaging
Previous studies used satellite imaging to identify wilderness areas, estimating that 20-40 percent of the Earth s surface is unaffected by humans. However, the researchers behind the new study argue that while trees, savannah, and tundra may appear to be in good condition from above, essential species lack land. Eleph
Airborne Plastic: Can Microplastics in the Air Affect Human Health? natureworldnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from natureworldnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BAKER CITY â Baker Cityâs most famous backhoe is finally on the auction block.
And itâs there with the approval of city voters, an endorsement not typically afforded to pieces of heavy equipment.
Future sales of such machinery, however, will not be subject to the whims of the electorate.
The story dates to 1952, when Baker City voters approved a city charter.
The document, among much else, requires city officials, before selling land or buildings with an estimated value of at least $5,000, or vehicles and other equipment worth at least $10,000, put the matter on the ballot.
The idea seems to have been that voters might want to have a say in whether the city disposes of relatively valuable, but publicly owned, items.