A Radical Plan to End Plastic Waste

November 4, 2019 / activist360 / Leave a comment

Plastic is an incredible substance for the economy – and the worst substance possible for the environment, says entrepreneur Andrew Forrest. In a conversation meant to spark debate, Forrest and head of TED Chris Anderson discuss an ambitious plan to get the world’s biggest companies to fund an environmental revolution – and transition industry towards getting all of its plastic from recycled materials, not from fossil fuels.

Oil & Gas Pollution on Pennsylvania Public Lands

October 29, 2019 / activist360 / Leave a comment

All of Pennsylvania’s oil and gas facilities–whether unconventional (aka “fracked”) or conventional, and uncounted abandoned wells–have the potential to emit both methane that harms the climate and toxic air pollutants that impact air quality and harm health. Earthworks’ investigations of oil and gas development in Pennsylvania’s State and National Forests shows that the industry benefits from weak regulations and limited enforcement, allowing them to emit serious pollution and present other problems that degrade our public lands.

Melting Ice – the Future of the Arctic

October 9, 2019 / activist360 / Leave a comment

https://youtu.be/U0aNeYZL8jY

Climate change in the Arctic is fueling not only fear, but also hope. Sea levels will rise and flood many regions. But the melting ice will also expose new land with reserves of oil, gas and minerals. New sea routes are also emerging.

The melting of the ice in the far north has given reason for great optimism, as newly-found mineral resources promise the Inuit a better life. But international corporations and self-proclaimed ‘partners’ such as China also have their eye on the treasures of the Arctic. Some even dream of a polar Silk Road. As large corporations position themselves to exploit the treasures of the far north, the indigenous people, the Inuit, are fighting for their independence.

The DW Documentary team spent four weeks with a geological expedition to the north coast of Canada – a place where no human has ever set foot before – and were present at the geologists world’s northernmost spring. A microbiologist with them also collected DNA samples that could help in the development of new vaccines against resistant germs. However, the most important resource in the far north is still fish: Greenland supplies half the world with it, yet it still doesn’t bring in enough to finance necessary investments in its underdeveloped infrastructure. And in Canada, the Inuit are also struggling with their government for the right to share in the wealth of their own land.