Latest news with #Athens-based
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Gangs, exploding fingers, black markets: Check out the wild afterlife of trash
It is strange, and sinister, how garbage travels. An empty packet of chips from the US, a diaper discarded in Germany and a plastic bottle from the Netherlands have all ended up with rice farmers-turned-trash miners in Indonesia. Primeval forests are being razed in parts of that country to make space for 'trash towns'. Since 1992, this chain of islands has been 'processing' thousands of tonnes of plastic waste a year, with the mounds turning fields barren and grey. In just one example, in the village of Gedangrowo in East Java, all 150 families have switched to drying the plastic shipped in from the Global North, and selling it to tofu and cracker factories for fuel. Elsewhere, 40 tribes living in Agbogbloshie — now classified as a garbage dump in Accra, the capital of Ghana — hammer out old ceiling fans and pry open motorcycle motors, refrigerators and computers to get at the metals and minerals within. Agbogbloshie is known as one of the largest e-waste 'processing' centres in the world. But all they really do is break the e-waste apart and scavenge from it what they can. There are no safety standards. There is no regulation. Some of those who scavenge here, for instance, spend all day burning plastic wiring to get at the metal within, which they then exchange at nearby units for cash. India, meanwhile, takes in millions of tyres, to burn in pyrolysis plants to extract either a dirty industrial fuel or steel. These plants, often unlicensed and unregulated, emit clouds of carbon dust that hang over cities ranging from Indore in Madhya Pradesh to Palghar in Greater Mumbai. Pyrolysis releases toxic heavy metals such as benzene and dioxins into the air, and into local water bodies. In Malaysia, similar sediments in water bodies have led to mass hospitalisations. And on and on it goes… Trash Talk How did garbage become the stuff of a globalised black market? Athens-based journalist Alexander Clapp, winner of the Pulitzer Center Breakthrough Journalism Award, began researching this question five years ago. His findings make up his first book, Waste Wars: The Wild Afterlife of Your Trash (February 2025). The idea for it took root in the wake of China's ban on plastic, in 2017, he says. 'I began seeing all these stories pop up about containers of trash getting sent to countries that weren't expecting it, or didn't want it. In Romania in 2020, I stumbled upon all this plastic waste and started realising one could tie all these different geographic threads — Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe — into a single story about where the West's trash ends up, and why.' He spent the next two years travelling across five continents, talking to port workers, scavengers, recyclers, activists, environment ministers. 'What countries have the luxury of exporting trash? Which ones are desperate and must accept trash?' he says. Examine this and it is clear 'that the waste trade has become a barometer of global standing. Much as one could write a book about the 16th century told through the spice trade, our present world can be understood through the globe-spanning movement of waste.' Organised grime In his book, he writes of how, 'for hundreds of years, European empires enriched themselves by taking what they needed from the Southern Hemisphere.' As hypercapitalism spawned mountains of waste, he adds, 'In the 1980s, the so-called Global South became not just a place to take from — but also a place to put things… Poor countries no longer just propped up your living standard; they also cleaned up your environment.' As oil prices shot up in the '70s, raised by Arab countries to protest the West's support for Israel in the midst of an ongoing conflict, debt mounted to critical levels in the impoverished former colonies of the Global South, and currencies weakened. When garbage from the North was positioned as an opportunity, many of these countries signed on, not out of desire but desperation, Clapp says. Former colonies were given millions in down-payments, and decades of debt relief, particularly if they accepted radioactive and industrial waste. Soon, plastic and e-waste were added to their heaps. 'Investment' in roads, hospitals and other infrastructure was linked to deals around trash. The result of these agreements: it cost less than $3 to bury a tonne of the West's toxic material in Africa. 'Many supporters of the waste trade argue that countries like the Philippines and Nigeria willingly accept the West's waste, and that's true. They do. But if you examine the history of how and why the waste trade started, it's clear that many such countries have long felt they have no option other than to accept such garbage. It's been either poverty or poison,' Clapp says. 'I think this is precisely how capitalism works: through the exploitation of people and states that have negligible means of fighting back.' To add to the complications, these countries had little to no history of dealing with toxic waste, since they produced little to none of it themselves. This meant they had an incomplete picture of what they were taking on, and an even less-complete idea of what to do with it. There was no real know-how in the field; no real disposal facilities. The result is that toxins leached into land and water; fingers were blown off in makeshift 'processing' units; air was polluted and landfills grew. It is only lately that the ramifications of more than four decades of this trade are being acknowledged and discussed, Clapp points out. Meanwhile, the numbers continue to climb. Electronic waste, the fastest growing category, has grown by 82% between 2010 and 2022, according to the fourth United Nations Global E-waste Monitor report, released in 2024. Volumes are expected to rise further, from 62 million tonnes a year in 2022 to 82 million tonnes, by 2030. Less than 25% of this waste is documented and recycled. The rest is still pouring into places such as Agbogbloshie in Ghana, and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Beltline Road repaving to affect drivers
Jun. 3—Road work will begin Monday on a 5-mile section of Beltline Road between U.S. 31 and Gordon Terry Parkway. The project will likely take several months to complete and will include milling the pavement, resurfacing the road and adding new traffic stripes and pavement markers, according to Alabama Department of Transportation North Region spokesperson Seth Burkett. "It's standard maintenance resurfacing," Burkett said. "This is about ensuring the longevity of the pavement and making for a smoother ride for the traveling public." Burkett said the project should be mostly completed, if not wholly completed, by the end of 2025. Work will occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings. "The stuff that really impacts traffic will primarily be done at nighttime, so as to minimize daytime impact," Burkett said. This stretch of Beltline Road can see between 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles per day, according to ALDOT. With most work happening at night, Burkett expects evening and pre-rush hour morning drivers will experience the biggest traffic impact. He recommends travelers wanting real-time updates on lane closures and traffic check or the ALGO Traffic app. Work will be split into two segments. It will begin with the section from U.S. 31 to Danville Road. Then the northern segment from Danville Road to Gordon Terry Parkway will be repaved. "At least one lane in each direction will remain open at all times," Burkett said. "But I would expect at least a single lane closure if they're out there milling or paving at night." The project will cost $3.35 million, according to Burkett. Grayson Carter and Son Contracting Inc., an Athens-based company, will complete the work. This is a standard job for the company according to Steve Turner, the paving and milling manager. He expects traffic to be affected for a minimum of a month. As far as delays to the project's timeline, Turner said the weather could play the biggest role. "Everybody knows lately just how much rain we have had," Turner said. "If that trend continues, then it's definitely going to cause that job to be extended, but we hope that rain is just about over with." Turner encourages the public's cooperation to keep the area safe during the repaving process. "We ask for the public's patience as we're working," Turner said. "We want our people to come home safe, so try to obey all the traffic controls, the signs, and the people that are out there guiding traffic control... . We're definitely not trying to impede your day, so we don't want to get hurt in the process." — or 256-340-2437
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
India will no longer differentiate between state and non-state terrorism: DMK MP Kanimozhi
Athens [Greece], May 29 (ANI): DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation to Greece, said India has made it clear that it will no longer distinguish between individual acts of terror and state-sponsored terrorism. While interacting with the Indian diaspora on Wednesday (local time), she added that the government's outreach, which includes opposition MPs, reflects a united stance against cross-border terrorism and a firm resolve to say 'no more' after years of suffering. 'Our Prime Minister and the Government of India have made a decision to reach out to countries. In our delegation, except Capt Brijesh Chowta, all of us are from the opposition parties. Our Prime Minister and the country have clearly stated that we will no longer differentiate between state-sponsored terrorism and terrorist activities of individuals and groups. India has suffered enough, and the time has come to say no more,' Kanimozhi said. Earlier, an all-party delegation led by Kanimozhi interacted with the Athens-based newspaper Kathimerini in Athens on Wednesday (local time) as part of the government's diplomatic outreach to highlight India's stance on terrorism. 'The members of the delegation led by Kanimozhi held a constructive interaction with the editorial board of Kathimerini during which they conveyed India's 'new normal' policy on terrorism. They emphasised India's firm stance against terrorism in all its forms,' posted India in Greece on X. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, also includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, and Russia. The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (ANI)
NDTV
29-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Won't Differentiate Between State, Non-State Terrorism: DMK's Kanimozhi In Greece
Athens: DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leading an all-party delegation to Greece, said India has made it clear that it will no longer distinguish between individual acts of terror and state-sponsored terrorism. While interacting with the Indian diaspora on Wednesday (local time), she added that the government's outreach, which includes opposition MPs, reflects a united stance against cross-border terrorism and a firm resolve to say "no more" after years of suffering. "Our Prime Minister and the Government of India have made a decision to reach out to countries. In our delegation, except Capt Brijesh Chowta, all of us are from the opposition parties. Our Prime Minister and the country have clearly stated that we will no longer differentiate between state-sponsored terrorism and terrorist activities of individuals and groups. India has suffered enough, and the time has come to say no more," Mr Kanimozhi said. Earlier, an all-party delegation led by Ms Kanimozhi interacted with the Athens-based newspaper Kathimerini in Athens on Wednesday (local time) as part of the government's diplomatic outreach to highlight India's stance on terrorism. "The members of the delegation led by Ms Kanimozhi held a constructive interaction with the editorial board of Kathimerini during which they conveyed India's 'new normal' policy on terrorism. They emphasised India's firm stance against terrorism in all its forms," posted India in Greece on X. The delegation, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, also includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, and Russia. The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
All-Party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi interacts with editorial board of Athens-based newspaper
Athens [Greece], May 28 (ANI): An all-party parliamentary delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi interacted with the Athens-based newspaper Kathimerini in Athens on Wednesday as part of the government's diplomatic outreach to highlight India's stance on terrorism. 'The members of the delegation led by Kanimozhi held a constructive interaction with the editorial board of Kathimerini during which they conveyed India's 'new normal' policy on terrorism. They emphasised India's firm stance against terrorism in all its forms,' posted India in Greece on X. Earlier in the day, the all-party parliamentary delegation led by Kanimozhi met with Maria Gavouneli, the Director General of Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). The all-party delegation met the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Tasos Chatzivasileiou, and other officials. During the meeting, the leaders exchanged pleasantries and posed for a group photo. The all-party delegation group of six MPs reached Greece on Tuesday evening. Indian Ambassador to Greece Rudrendra Tandon welcomed the delegation at the airport. The delegation led by Kanimozhi, includes SP MP Rajeev Rai, BJP MP Brijesh Chowta, RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta, AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal and former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf, also met Slovenian Association for International Relations (SDMO) President Marjan Setinc. Recalling an earlier meeting, former Indian Ambassador to the European Union Manjeev Singh Puri stated that Russia and Slovenia have expressed strong support for India's global stance against terrorism, calling it a 'cancer of the modern world' that must be eradicated. Puri emphasised the significance of global support for India's stance against terrorism. 'This is a very important point because Pakistan is also a member of the Security Council and so to have the other non-permanent members and the permanent members understanding our position reflecting it ensures that Pakistan doesn't get a word in edgeways and that they instead are kept on the mat and the world's focus remains on dismantling terror,' Puri said. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, and Russia. The all-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (ANI)
