The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: estimations based on a systematic review | BMC Public Health | Full Text

Human poisoning by pesticides has long been seen as a severe public health problem. As early as 1990, a task force of the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about one million unintentional pesticide poisonings occur annually, leading to approximately 20,000 deaths. Thirty years on there is no up-to-date picture of global pesticide poisoning despite an increase in global pesticide use. Our aim was to systematically review the prevalence of unintentional, acute pesticide poisoning (UAPP), and to estimate the annual global number of UAPP.

Source: https://www.migrantclinician.org/files/2017-07-05-man-spraying-pesticide-on-field-of-plants.jpg

Continue reading at: The global distribution of acute unintentional pesticide poisoning: estimations based on a systematic review | BMC Public Health | Full Text

Oceans: they pollute, they pay - AllThings.Bio

"Extended producers responsibilities (EPRs). EPRs are based on the polluter pays principle, which simply means that manufactures of these products are responsible to help with clean-up and recycling." A good step toward paying all costs - which will move these companies to produce less or none - and in an effort of doing so, influence our consumer behavior to use less single use - or even other types of plastic...

Wikimedia

Continue reading at: Oceans: they pollute, they pay - AllThings.Bio

Take action to ensure polluters pay for their role in the single-use packaging crisis

The UK Government is currently consulting on a major reform to packaging legislation in a move that could force producers to foot the bill for dealing with ever-growing mountains of single-use packaging waste.

We are urging tougher measures to clamp down on pointless packaging altogether and drive a transition away from our single-use society.

You can help by sending an email supporting these core principles for revamping the system! Just copy and paste the text at the end of this article (adding any additional points you may wish to make as to why it’s time to get tough on single-use packaging) and send it to packaging@defra.gov.uk by 13 May.

• Address the root cause of the problem: A significant reduction in single-use packaging is needed to close the gulf between packaging use and recycling levels in the UK. The EPR scheme must be designed to encourage a wholescale move away from non-essential packaging, with a shift into reusable and refillable alternatives
• Make sure ‘full costs’ mean full costs: Packaging doesn’t just become a problem at the point of disposal. From sourcing through to consumption, there are social and environmental costs all along its life cycle. Producers must be made to consider these under EPR requirements to properly satisfy the ‘polluter pays principle’
• Set producer fees to ensure sustainable design: Non-recyclable, excessive and toxic packaging must be phased out through the ‘approved list’ for packaging design, with a fee system designed to encourage reusable and sustainable design choices
• End the shameful social and environmental impacts of so-called ‘recycling’ exports: The UK must end its reliance on exporting waste overseas, focusing instead on building a circular economy in the UK. The very highest environmental and social responsibility standards must be met for any future waste exports
• Implement robust monitoring and full transparency: Strong accountability and enforcement measures must be put in place, with third party audits rather than self-monitoring by producers.

Continue reading at: https://eia-international.org/news/take-action-to-ensure-polluters-pay-for-their-role-in-the-single-use-packaging-crisis/ 

Summary of Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2020

The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act will include the following elements:

• Require Product Producers to Take Responsibility for Collecting and Recycling Materials
• Require Nationwide Beverage Container Refunds
• Source Reduction and Phase-Out Certain Polluting Products
• Carryout Bag Fee
• Minimum Recycled Content Requirement:  Plastic beverage containers will be required to include an increasing percentage of recycled content in their manufacture before entering the market.  Additionally, the EPA will be required to implement post-consumer minimum recycled content for other covered products after a review with the National Institute of Standards and Technology is completed to determine technical feasibility.  
• Recycling and Composting
• Plastic Tobacco Filters, Electronic Cigarettes and Derelict Fishing Gear
• Prevent Plastic Waste from Being Shipped to Developing Countries that Cannot Manage It
• Protect Existing State Action
• Temporary Pause on New Plastic Facilities

Read the entire story here: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/break-free-from-plastic-pollution-act-summary

Solar farm being installed on Lake Wilson Road - News - Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI - Hillsdale, MI

Interesting that conservative Hillsdale County goes solar while Deerfield/Riga are resisting to "destroy prime agricultural land"...

JONESVILLE - Pine Gate Renewables and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors announced their first wave of solar energy projects into Michigan, with the closest being built near Lake Wilson Road.

Due to interest posed by local residents, Hillsdale Daily News sought answers from both companies involved and the Fayette Township Planning Commission.

Tami von Isakovics, director of communications and marketing for Pine Gate Renewables, said the company is a fully integrated utility-scale solar development company headquartered in Asheville, N.C.

“We operate 480MW of renewable energy in five states and have more than 8GW in development,” von Isakovics said. “As a leader in the industry, Pine Gate focuses on forging partnerships to expand its renewable energy footprint nationwide. It’s mission is to provide renewable power for local communities across the country through project development, financing, construction and environmental preservation.”

Continue reading at: Solar farm being installed on Lake Wilson Road - News - Hillsdale.net - Hillsdale, MI - Hillsdale, MI

Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Solution | Fortum

Good news for getting electric cars to be the standard while reducing the total number of cars.

To achieve a high recycling rate of 80% with a low-CO2 we use hydrometallurgical recycling process. The lithium-ion batteries are first made safe for mechanical treatment, with plastics, aluminium and copper separated and directed to their own recycling processes. And what is left of the battery after these processes are the chemical and mineral components, the ‘black mass’  and in our facility in Harjavalta the ‘black mass’ can be treated on an industrial scale.

The black mass typically consists of a mixture of lithium, manganese, cobalt and nickel in different ratios. Of these, nickel, cobalt and lithium are the most valuable and most difficult to recover. Most of today’s recycling solutions for EV batteries are not able to recover these valuable minerals.

Continue reading at: Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Solution | Fortum

Fantastic Tools for Investigative Journalism: Investigations ← Forensic Architecture

Fantastic tools for investigative journalism.

Forensic Architecture (FA) is a research agency, based at Goldsmiths, University of London, investigating human rights violations including violence committed by states, police forces, militaries, and corporations. FA works in partnership with institutions across civil society, from grassroots activists, to legal teams, to international NGOs and media organisations, to carry out investigations with and on behalf of communities and individuals affected by conflict, police brutality, border regimes and environmental violence.

Our investigations employ pioneering techniques in spatial and architectural analysis, open source investigation, digital modelling, and immersive technologies, as well as documentary research, situated interviews, and academic collaboration. Findings from our investigations have been presented in national and international courtrooms, parliamentary inquiries, and exhibitions at some of the world’s leading cultural institutions and in international media, as well as in citizen’s tribunals and community assemblies.

Continue reading at: Investigations ← Forensic Architecture

Experts: Whitmer has upper hand in Line 5 case, but May shutdown is uncertain | Bridge Michigan

Their rationale was twofold: Michigan should never have granted the easement in the first place, Whitmer and Eichinger wrote, because allowing Enbridge to transport oil through the Straits poses a spill risk that “cannot be reconciled with the public’s right in the Great Lakes and the state’s duty to protect them.” 

It could be months or years before Michiganders know for sure when or whether Enbridge must decommission Line 5, legal experts say. (Shutterstock photo by JHVEPhoto)

Second, state officials determined Enbridge has repeatedly violated the terms of its easement by failing to properly support the pipeline, allowing the pipe to bend in ways that could compromise its structural integrity, and failing to maintain the pipeline’s protective coating, among other issues.

Continue reading at: Experts: Whitmer has upper hand in Line 5 case, but May shutdown is uncertain | Bridge Michigan

UK plans to bring forward ban on fossil fuel vehicles to 2030

Forgot to share this ambitious decision of a conservative government. Definitely not the same as the Trump administration.

The UK is poised to bring forward its ban on new fossil fuel vehicles from 2040 to 2030 to help speed up the rollout of electric vehicles across British roads.

Graeme Cooper, the director in charge of National Grid’s electric vehicle project, told the Guardian that fears over the UK electricity grid’s ability to cope with a boom in vehicle charging are unfounded. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Boris Johnson is expected to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles this autumn with the announcement, one of a string of new clean energy policies to help trigger a green economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The government had hoped to set out the plans as early as this week, according to sources in the energy and transport industries, but the announcement will be delayed until later this year as it focuses on tackling the rising number of coronavirus cases.

Continue reading at: UK plans to bring forward ban on fossil fuel vehicles to 2030