GLOBAL INDIGENOUS: 'Ring around the' mercury pollution

Yahoo

16-04-2025

Deusdedit RuhangariyoICTAround the World: Tree rings show mercury pollution from Peru's illegal mining, Air New Zealand unveils Māori, Pasifika-inspired new uniforms, and access to food in remote communities receives critical boost in Australia
New research has found that certain tropical trees in the Peruvian Amazon can serve as indicators of mercury pollution from gold mining, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive air monitoring equipment, Mongabay reported on April 8. An estimated 16 million people globally engage in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, much of it illegal and tied to serious environmental and health risks. In regions like the Peruvian Amazon, mercury is commonly used to extract gold from ore. The resulting gold-mercury amalgam is burned, releasing toxic fumes that endanger both miners and surrounding ecosystems.While past studies have largely focused on mercury's impact on aquatic environments where it bioaccumulates in fish and threatens the people who consume them, this new research turns attention to mercury pollution on land.Monitoring airborne mercury on land has traditionally relied on costly equipment, limiting its use in remote or under-resourced areas. To address this, researchers explored an alternative: analyzing tree cores. Like rings in temperate trees, growth rings in certain tropical species can reveal historical exposure to airborne chemicals.'One challenge is that most tropical trees don't form distinct annual rings,' explained Jacqueline Gerson, lead author of the study and an assistant professor at Cornell University. 'But we identified three species known to produce growth rings and sampled them.'Of the three tree types sampled, only the fig tree (Ficus insipida) reliably produced rings. Core samples were collected in 2019 and dated back to 1941, providing nearly 80 years of environmental data.The team collected samples from five locations spaced about 50 kilometers (30 miles) apart, three near active gold mining and two farther away. Four trees were sampled per site, and their mercury content was compared to data from passive air samplers nearby.The results showed a clear link. 'Where you see elevated mercury concentrations in the air, you're seeing elevated concentrations reflected within the tree itself,' Gerson said.Trees located closer to mining sites had higher mercury levels than those farther away. At the most contaminated sites, researchers could track mercury increases over time. At more distant sites, however, changes over time were less apparent.According to Miles Silman, a biology professor at Wake Forest University who was not involved in the research, this breakthrough offers a scalable solution: 'The takeaway is that now we have a way to monitor Hg [mercury] in the air anywhere in the world, making a problem that was difficult and expensive cheap and accessible.'Gerson added that this method could help countries measure their progress under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty aimed at reducing human-caused mercury pollution. 'I think it's a really promising tool,' she said.
Air New Zealand has unveiled its new cabin crew attire, assuring the public that the updated designs respectfully celebrate Māori culture without appropriating it, Te Ao Maori News reported on April 10.Created in collaboration with acclaimed Māori tāmoko artist Te Ringatu Netana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Te Arawa) and fashion designer Emilia Wickstead (Nō te Moana nui ā Kiwa), the design partnership produced a uniform that blends Air New Zealand's values with the cultural richness of Aotearoa.Bari Mio, Air New Zealand's Māori development spokesperson who was involved in selecting the designers, emphasized the airline's commitment to avoiding cultural appropriation and to genuinely representing Aotearoa and te iwi Māori through thoughtful and respectful design choices.'It's crucial that we carefully consider how we incorporate Māori elements, including bringing in Māori artists through ethical and respectful processes,' said Mio. He added that Air New Zealand's unique culture helps distinguish Aotearoa globally.Dr. Bobby Luke, a Māori fashion designer and university lecturer, voiced concerns about large companies using Māori imagery and taonga, stressing the need for processes that are 'culturally informed.'Key garments in the collection include:
• The Fine Print – Dress: Features a tūī knot neckline and kōwhai print, inspired by Ngatoro-i-Rangi's story, symbolizing protection, responsibility and belonging.
• The Collective Thread – Shirt: A bold, inclusive design with the tūī knot neckline, wearable by all staff across roles.
• The Wrap Around – Trench: A tailored piece with a purple pinstripe, blending craftsmanship with comfort.
• The Runway Cut – Waistcoat: A new addition for male crew and ground staff, embodying mana and authority.
• The Woven One – Ie Faitaga: A cultural garment to be trialed by Pacific staff, celebrating the heritage of the Pacific community.
Improvements to the Gunbalanya store in Arnhem Land have been announced as part of the federal government's efforts to address food insecurity in remote communities, National Indigenous Times reported on April 11.Earlier this year, the federal government pledged to ensure that 30 essential grocery items in 76 remote community stores across Australia would be sold at city-equivalent prices. As part of that initiative, they also committed to boosting warehouse capacity to stabilize vulnerable supply chains.These efforts are part of a broader 10-year National Strategy aimed at enhancing food security in remote First Nations communities and ensuring consistent access to affordable, nutritious food.On Thursday, the government announced over $341,000 in funding for upgrades at Gunbalanya's Adjumarllarl Store, located 300 kilometres east of Darwin and 60 kilometres northeast of Jabiru. The funds will be used to purchase new refrigeration and freezer units, as well as upgrading the store's point-of-sale system.'This is great news for the residents of Gunbalanya and another example of the Albanese Labor Government investing in remote communities to improve the lives of First Nations people,' said Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. 'Our investment will strengthen Adjumarllarl Store's capability to supply Gunbalanya residents with nutritious food all year round, including during the wet season.'The upgrade is one of 15 announced through the $9.6 million Store Efficiency and Resilience Package, which was agreed to before the election was called.According to National Indigenous Times, Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour, who is defending her seat, welcomed the investment: 'Every person across the country deserves access to nutritious and healthy food all year round. This investment for the people of Gunbalanya will enable Adjumarllarl Store to provide this need to the community.''While the opposition has criticized the government's approach to tackling food insecurity, Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Jacinta Nampijinpa Price argued that 'the government can't continue to subsidize their way out of the cost-of-living crisis.' However, critics have also noted a lack of concrete policy proposals from the coalition in support of Indigenous communities.In response, McCarthy emphasized the importance of bipartisan support and the broader purpose of the funding: 'This package is not just building resilience, it's an investment in the health and wellbeing of First Nations people, and part of our broader commitment to Closing the Gap.'Other stores receiving similar support include Maningrida, Kalkarindji, Timber Creek, Lajamanu, and several stores across Queensland, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.
My final thoughts are in Peru where the use of mercury in illegal gold mining is a serious threat to both people and the planet. In places like the Peruvian Amazon, miners, often driven by poverty, are exposed daily to toxic fumes as they burn mercury to extract gold.It's a silent crisis that's poisoning communities and damaging ecosystems with little oversight or accountability.Mercury doesn't just vanish. Once released, it settles into the land and water, entering the food chain and putting entire communities at risk. It causes long-term health issues, especially for children, and its effects can last for generations. What's worse, most of the focus has been on water pollution, while mercury in the air, right where people live and work, has been harder to track.That's why this new research is so important. By using tropical trees like the fig tree (Ficus insipida), scientists have found a cheaper, natural way to detect mercury pollution over time. Tree rings are acting like environmental time machines, revealing decades of contamination in areas close to mining.The way forward is clear. We need stronger enforcement against illegal mining and real investment in safer, sustainable alternatives.Local communities must be equipped with affordable tools, like tree core monitoring to track pollution and demand accountability. This is about justice, health and protecting the future.
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