News

Chemical Watch 07 December 2016 | Tammy Lovell

Call for electronics giant to compensate ill factory workers

A network of NGOs is calling on Samsung to protect its employees from toxic chemicals and compensate those who contracted diseases, while working in its factories. 

AP 07 December 2016 | Yuri Kageyama  

TOKYO — Six decades after "Minamata disease" mercury poisoning was first discovered, victims and their advocates are demanding tests for food toxicity and illnesses be carried out to help identify patients.

Reuters 06 December 2016 | Stephen Nellis

The California Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday said Apple Inc agreed to pay $450,000 to settle state claims that it had mishandled hazardous electronic waste at facilities in Silicon Valley.

Apple also agreed to increase inspections to settle allegations about facilities in Cupertino and Sunnyvale, the Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control said.

Reuters 06 December 2016 | Nicole Mordant

An environmental group said on Tuesday it filed a lawsuit against De Beers Canada, accusing the diamond producer of failing to report toxic levels of mercury and methylmercury at its Victor diamond mine in northern Ontario.

The Nation 05 December 2016

For much of His 70 years on the throne – the longest reign of any monarch at the time of His passing – King Bhumibol traveled to the poorest and most remote corners of His Kingdom, sitting on the ground with farmers and villagers, listening to their problems and responding with over 4,000 sustainable development projects to better their lives. Many dealt with improving water, agriculture, livelihoods and health. As one of His closest aides said, however, “we were always confronted with soil issues.”

The Indian Express 03 December 2016 | PTI  

Survivors of 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy staged a protest in front of the now-defunct Union Carbide factory on the 32^nd anniversary of the world’s worst industrial disaster, with activists alleging that toxic waste lying there was still to be cleaned up, and the Government was not forcing the Dow Chemical to own up its responsibility towards the victims and clean-up of the factory.

Bangkok Post 03 December 2016 | Editorial

In a bid to create the impression that the coal-fired power plant in Krabi has won backing from locals, Krabi governor Pinit Boonlert submitted a list of supporters' signatures last week, totalling 15,000, to the government. That is worrisome.

Reuters 29 November 2016 | Yimou Lee and Joel Schectman

From a remote corner of northeastern Myanmar, an insurgent army sells tin ore to suppliers of some of the world's largest consumer companies.

More than 500 companies, including leading brands such as smartphone maker Apple, coffee giant Starbucks and luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co, list among their suppliers Chinese-controlled firms that indirectly buy ore from the Man Maw mine near Myanmar's border with China, a Reuters examination of the supply chain found.

Myanmar Times 29 November 2016 | Kyi Kyi Sway     

Urbanisation and infrastructure development are posing an unprecedented and escalating threat to Asia’s tiger population, a new report by the World Wildlife Fund warns.

“The proposed Dawei road development cuts right through the last remaining tiger territory in the Greater Mekong region,”

Le Monde 29 November 2016

Around a hundred scientists ask Europe and the international community to act against endocrine disrupting chemicals. They condemn the use of strategies for manufacturing doubt employed by industries in the climate change battle.

For decades now, science has come under attack whenever its discoveries raised questions about commercial activities and vested interests. Scientific evidence has been willfully distorted by individuals denying the science and actors sponsored by industry interests creating the false impression of a controversy. This manufacturing of doubt has delayed protective actions, with dangerous consequences for the health of people and the environment.