GREEN
UN and WWF rise up: produced 430 million tons of plastic each year
5 June 2023 marked World Environment Day, an anniversary established back in 1972 by the United Nations. This year's theme was finding solutions to the crisis of plastic pollution, 99% of which is made up of chemicals from polluting and non-renewable sources.
The WWF, in its report 'Plastic: From Nature to People. It's time to act', not only cites data but also calls for quick and precise solutions to reduce plastic pollution, especially single-use and industrial plastics.
Tourism is one of the main contributors to plastic pollution, but it is undoubtedly not the only cause. What is certain is that with each passing year we find ourselves pushed further and further towards the point of no return.
Plastic is an emergency: data from the UN and WWF
5 June 2023 marked 'World Environment Day', an anniversary established back in 1972 by the United Nations. This year's theme was finding solutions to the crisis of plastic pollution, 99% of which is made up of chemicals from polluting and non-renewable sources. The WWF, in its report 'Plastic: From Nature to People. It's time to act', not only cites data but also calls for quick and precise solutions to reduce plastic pollution, especially single-use and industrial plastics. Tourism is one of the main contributors to plastic pollution, but it is undoubtedly not the only cause. What is certain is that with each passing year we find ourselves pushed further and further towards the point of no return.
WWF's report
On the occasion of 'World Environment Day', the WWF published its report, with truly alarming data. Specifically, we are talking about 22 million tonnes of plastic waste entering the sea every year, and just as much is dumped on land in the same time frame, mostly consisting of single-use plastic.
Tourism a major cause of plastic pollution
The 'United Nations Environment Programme' talks about tourism as one of the main causes of the Earth's massive plastic pollution. In fact, figures suggest that eight out of ten tourists visit coastal areas, adding waste to the eight million tonnes of plastic that enter the oceans each year. The report mentions some products as particularly harmful to the environment, such as courtesy kits with single-use plastic shampoo bottles, toothbrushes and combs that hotels provide to guests.
The risk is that these data will worsen
The UN speaks of a growing trend related to tourism and the pollution it brings. In fact, it seems that international tourists between 1980 and 2019 have increased from 177 million to almost 1.5 billion (annually). Moreover, the sector is now recovering to pre-pandemic levels, with twice as many people having travelled so far in 2023 compared to the same period last year.
Need to make the sector circular
Both the 'United Nations Programme' and the 'World Travel & Tourism Council' emphasise the importance of coordinating, at an international level, actions, policies, infrastructures and models in order to make the tourism sector a circular environment, able to create no waste and to reuse the resources made available to it.
A bit of data on plastic waste
According to these reports, 430 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year, two thirds of which are short-lived products that quickly become waste. Overall, 99% of the plastic produced is made up of chemicals from polluting and non-renewable sources.
The cycle of plastic pollution
In the last 50 years, waste and pollution from plastic has increased more than 50 times, according to the United Nations. What is more, it is good to know that plastic is never completely destroyed, but breaks down into particles that then enter the environment, and more importantly are then ingested by fish and livestock, before being consumed by humans through food and tap water.
The global plastics treaty
The 'Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee' (INC-2) met a few days ago in Paris, France, to develop a global plastics treaty. The aim, as the name suggests, is to totally eliminate plastic pollution in the world.
WWF's appeal (pt. 1)
WWF itself, on its official website, has made a kind of appeal to the world in recent days: "WWF appeals to governments to support global bans and phase-outs of 'high-risk and unnecessary' single-use plastic products, such as plastic cutlery, electronic cigarettes and microplastics in cosmetics, along with stricter controls for end-of-life management of plastic products, which incentivise and efficiencyise re-use, collection and recycling.
WWF's appeal (pt. 2)
Eva Alessi, Head of Sustainability WWF Italy, also spoke out: "Many countries are already implementing concrete measures to eliminate plastic leakage into the environment, to reduce its use and improve its recycling, from banning single-use plastic items such as bags or straws, to microplastics in cosmetics. But we know that this is not enough. There is a need for coordinated approaches, guided by globally agreed rules that can make a difference on a large scale and put all countries and companies on the same playing field. It is 2023. There is no reason to keep many unnecessary and harmful single-use plastic products in circulation globally when we know they are causing so many environmental impacts, polluting waterways, choking the oceans and entering our own food chain. Industry knowledge and research can provide more sustainable solutions. We need regulations and incentives to support this transition by stimulating innovation and promoting circularity'.
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Tablet computers and tech gadgets
14/06/2024
The four main consumer rights are: the right to product safety, to full information, to a free choice and to be heard. Often, however, especially in online transactions, not everything is as clear as it should be, and one often runs the risk of running into scams.
Suspicious e-mails, random links, false information, fake websites: these and many other things undermine our computer security, as do outdated passwords and careless consumers. The phenomenon of online scams is much more widespread than people think, with hundreds of thousands of victims worldwide every year.
However, there are some very simple guidelines to help you defend yourself. Nothing complicated, just a few behaviours to follow if you want to surf more safely. Here are some tips on how to arm yourself against online scams.
Art galleries private collections
12/06/2024
The Neolithic site of Stonehenge, is located a few miles from Salisbury, England. Formed of huge stones, it is believed to have been an astronomical observatory in ancient times, with special significance at the solstice and equinox.
Specifically, these are huge megaliths positioned in a circular shape, topped by equally huge connecting lintels. The current position of the stones is the result of massive restoration that took place in the early part of the 20th century.
To this day, historians and scientists remain debated about its real significance. Included in UNESCO protected sites, today it is a popular tourist destination. The myths behind this place, even in 2023, are wasted.