News from the Earth — plastic free

Sustainability Day was created to remind the community of the importance of caring for the environment and the steps to take. On the last Wednesday of every October, schools, companies and organizations have dedicated the day to sustainable living.  Sustainable development means to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations.  Anyone can participate! Donate the clothes you haven’t worn in months. Start a composting program. Ride your bike instead of driving your car. Take shorter showers. Donate items you no longer need. RECYCLE!...

In cities all across the world, concerned citizens are grouping together to raise awareness of the climate crisis and the dangers of ignoring global warming.  The events will highlight the importance of the number 350, which scientists say is the number (in parts per million) that is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. Unfortunately, we have already exceeded this number; the current CO2 count in the atmosphere is 390 ppm. Experts have said that unless we can rapidly return to 350 ppm, we risk reaching irreversible tipping points, such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheets and major...

The environment is a human right interconnected with many others, such as the right to food, to water, to life itself. The United Nations Human Rights Council (Unhrc) adopted resolution 48/13 on Friday, October 8. A document of historic significance, proposed by Costa Rica, Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia and Switzerland and approved with 43 votes in favor and 4 abstentions (Russia, India, China and Japan). Unhrc invites the entire UN apparatus, as well as the various international organizations, companies and civil society, to contribute personally to ensure this right for all. Such a strong stance cannot be ignored at Cop 26, the Conference...

The agri-food system is everything that lies behind what we put on our plates: the land, the climate, cultivation, supply systems, transport and distribution. It is a long chain in which many players are involved: on our plates is the work of a billion people around the world. Agriculture also includes non-food products, such as forestry and biofuels. The pandemic has highlighted the link between man's health and the planet's health. It is unthinkable that the agri-food system will not enter a crisis if it is continually tested by floods, drought, pathologies and insect invasions. The population of large urban centers...

In 2021, human beings will discard an estimated 57.4 million tonnes (approximately 63.3 million U.S. tons) of electronic waste. That waste will outweigh the Great Wall of China, the world's heaviest human construction. This is why the WEEE Forum is calling for these items to be repaired or recycled instead of discarded.  Each of us has a crucial role in making circularity a reality for e-products.  Every tonne of WEEE recycled avoids around 2 tonnes of CO2 emissions. If we all do the right thing with our e-waste we help to reduce harmful CO2 emissions. 2021's mountain of waste didn't...