Cleaning Up Paradise.In August 1999, the European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community (EU) launched a program to assist eight South Pacific Island nations in managing their solid waste. On these islands, where space is at a premium, landfills are overflowing o·ver·flow v. o·ver·flowed, o·ver·flow·ing, o·ver·flows v.intr. 1. To flow or run over the top, brim, or banks. 2. To be filled beyond capacity, as a container or waterway. 3. , and dumping dumping, selling goods at less than the normal price, usually as exports in international trade. It may be done by a producer, a group of producers, or a nation. of wastes including plastic and paper packaging, glass bottles, foam containers, scrap metal, and chemical and industrial refuse is uncontrolled. As part of the program, a video titled "Waste World" was produced that documents the extent of the problems created by poor waste disposal practices--these problems include water contamination contamination /con·tam·i·na·tion/ (kon-tam?i-na-shun) 1. the soiling or making inferior by contact or mixture. 2. the deposition of radioactive material in any place where it is not desired. , increases in disease-carrying pests, and potential loss of tourism revenue. The video also features options for controlling the problem such as reducing the islands' reliance on imported goods and creating public awareness of the issue. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion