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Negotiations on Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution Reach Critical Phase

Negotiations on Global Treaty , to End Plastic Pollution , Reach Critical Phase . 'The Independent' reports that negotiators from around the world have met to discuss what could become a global treaty meant to end plastic pollution. . The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution has begun agreeing on treaty language at their fourth of five scheduled plastics summits. The most ambitious and contentious idea revolves around limiting how much plastic can be manufactured globally. As most plastics are made from fossil fuels and chemicals, oil and gas exporters have strongly objected to the limitations, along with plastic-producing countries and companies. According to Stewart Harris, an industry spokesperson with the International Council of Chemical Associations, the treaty also focuses on recycling and reuse. . We want to see the treaty completed. We want to work with the governments on implementing it. The private sector has a role to play, Stewart Harris, an industry spokesperson with the International Council of Chemical Associations, via 'The Independent'. 'The Independent' reports that the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty provided scientific evidence on plastic pollution at the negotiations. I heard yesterday that there’s no data on microplastics, which is verifiably false: 21,000 publications on micro and nanoplastics have been published, Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden's University of Gothenburg who co-leads the coalition, via 'The Independent'. Ecuador's chief negotiator, Walter Schuldt stressed that countries present at the negotiation share a common vision of moving forward in the treaty process. Because at the end of the day, we’re talking about the survival of the future of life, not only of human life but all sorts of life on this planet, Walter Schuldt, Ecuador's chief negotiator, via 'The Independent'

This Day in History: Nuclear Disaster at Chernobyl

This Day in History: , Nuclear Disaster at Chernobyl. April 26, 1986. The disaster at Chernobyl, located about 65 miles from Kiev in the former Soviet Union, is the worst nuclear power plant accident to date. 50 tons of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere after an explosion of the Number 4 reactor, caused by an engineering experiment. The 30,000 residents of the nearby community of Pripyat were evacuated the next day. The Soviet government attempted a cover-up. But two days after the disaster, radiation levels 800 miles away in Sweden were detected at 40% higher than the normal level. 32 people were initially killed in the Chernobyl plant. 5,000 Soviets eventually died from radiation-induced illnesses. Millions of acres of forest and farmland across Northern and Eastern Europe were contaminated. The former residents of Pripyat have never returned

Apple Facing EU Fine for Hindering Streaming Music Competition

Apple Facing EU , Fine for Hindering , Streaming Music Competition. On March 4, the European Union filed its first antitrust penalty aimed at Apple, fining the tech giant almost $2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music service. On March 4, the European Union filed its first antitrust penalty aimed at Apple, fining the tech giant almost $2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music service. According to regulators, Apple forbid streaming music rivals from informing users that cheaper subscription options available on their websites. According to regulators, Apple forbid streaming music rivals from informing users that cheaper subscription options available on their websites. Those options would allow users to avoid a 30% fee charged when people pay through the iOS App Store app. . This is illegal. And it has impacted millions of European consumers who were not able to make a free choice as to where, how and at what price to buy music streaming subscriptions, Margrethe Vestager, EU Commission's competition commissioner, via NPR. Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition commissioner, said the practice has resulted in , "millions of people who have paid two, three euros more per month for their music streaming service than they would otherwise have had to pay.". NPR reports that the EU Commission decision comes the same week as new rules take effect aimed at preventing tech companies from cornering digital markets. Apple said the it would appeal the commission's decision to levy a fine against the company. . The decision was reached despite the Commission's failure to uncover any credible evidence of consumer harm, and ignores the realities of a market that is thriving, competitive, and growing fast, Apple statement, via NPR. Apple added that the EU decision benefits Spotify, which is based in Sweden and currently holds a 56% share of Europe's music streaming market. Apple added that the EU decision benefits Spotify, which is based in Sweden and currently holds a 56% share of Europe's music streaming market. Ironically, in the name of competition, today's decision just cements the dominant position of a successful European company that is the digital music market's runaway leader, Apple statement, via NPR

Apple hit with €1.8 billion EU antitrust fine over music streaming

The European Commission started investigating following a complaint by Spotify in 2019.