report

Mining in Bolivia Lithium rush in the Andes

As of: 06/20/2021 4:40 p.m.

The largest lithium deposits on earth are believed to be under the Uyuni salt lake in Bolivia. The planned dismantling of the metal, which is important for batteries, raises hopes, but is controversial because of the high water consumption.

By Anne Herrberg, ARD Studio Buenos Aires, and Matthias Ebert, ARD studio Rio de Janeiro

It lies dazzling white between the majestic peaks of the Bolivian Andes, an area nine times the size of Berlin: the Uyuni salt lake. Hidden underneath is a treasure: white gold, lithium, or as Panfilo Huayllas, Mayor of Rio Grande says: “our future”. He demands: “All communities around the salt lake and all Bolivians must benefit from the lithium that is under this salt crust.

Lithium, the lightest metal on earth, is required for lithium-ion batteries. They are not only found in cell phones and laptops, but also in electric cars. Without lithium there is no e-mobility – and nowhere in the world are more reserves believed than here, on the roof of the Andes.

Bolivia doesn’t just want to be a supplier of raw materials

But Bolivia wants to be more than just a supplier of raw materials. “We local residents have to share in the profits, because we will feel the effects of lithium industrialization here in Rio Grande,” says Mayor Huayllas.

Lithium is said to be a driver for Bolivia’s industrialization. The plan is to build the batteries yourself. Ex-President Evo Morales was once looking for partners for this project – and found them in a German medium-sized company: ACISA from Zimmer ob Rottweil on the edge of the Black Forest. It was a deal of the century. But it burst in 2019 , after the election overshadowed by allegations of fraud and Morales’ flight into exile. Since then, the German-Bolivian project has been on hold.

The lithium deal negotiated by ex-President Morales collapsed in 2019. Image: AFP

Not everyone is enthusiastic about it anyway. Luis Machaca is the spokesman for a citizens’ initiative that opposes the project. “The Germans wanted to mine our raw material behind our backs, with a contract for 70 years,” he says. “They may be a good partner, but they have neither the technical means nor the technology.”

Lithium mining uses up a lot of precious water

What does mining mean for people, but also for the sensitive ecosystem? It is about the most precious commodity on the roof of the Andes: water.

A look across the border into the Atacama Desert to Chile: SQM has been mining lithium there for 25 years. The brine is pumped up from 40 meters, then evaporates in basins over months until a lithium-containing slag remains. It is a very water-intensive process, of all places in one of the driest regions in the world, says the Chilean biologist Cristina Dorador. “We can see from satellite images over the past 20 years that the soil has lost moisture,” she says. At the same time, the ground is heating up and the vegetation is receding. “These changes are directly related to lithium production over the past 20 years.”

Water protection should be improved

The company promises to make mining more sustainable. In Chile’s new constitution, on which the biologist Dorador will also be co-writing, environmental and water protection should be a top priority. Local residents like Cristian Toroca remain skeptical. “The company had not previously intended to involve local residents, that bothers us about this group,” he says. “They’re pulling this mineral out of the ground to sell in Europe as a clean product, but that’s a lie.”

In Bolivia it is still unclear who will be awarded the contract: the Germans are competing with Chinese and US companies. Panfilo Huayllas continues to hope that the white gold will bring prosperity to his community. But he too says: not at any price. “Alternative ways of supplying lithium production with water in the future must be found. If they only tap our wells, we will ruin the future of our children.”

Lufthansa rescue package Paybacks before the election?

Status: 06/18/2021 12:37 p.m.

The low point of the crisis has been overcome for Lufthansa, said CEO Spohr a few days ago. He hopes to be able to repay the state aid quickly – if possible, before the general election. According to CEO Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa wants to repay the billions in financial aid from the state in the corona crisis in a few months. “We were one of the first companies that was saved by the federal government. We also want to be one of the first companies to pay back the rescue funds – hopefully before the federal election,” he said in an interview with Chancellor Angela Merkel at the National Aviation Conference. The election date is September 26th. Germany, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland had pledged nine billion euros in government aid to the group last year due to the collapse in business caused by the pandemic, thus saving it from ruin.

“Low point is behind us”

The group had started preparations this week for a capital increase with which the aid could be paid. “We are switching from crisis mode to transformation mode,” said Spohr. The planned capital increase is an important step towards withdrawing from state financial aid.

Since April, the booking situation has improved significantly due to falling Covid infection numbers, progress in vaccination and the introduction of the digital vaccination pass in the EU. “The low point of the crisis is behind us,” said Spohr. “We’re not back to normal, but now is the time to look ahead with confidence.”

Cruises start again The return of the dream ships

As of: 06/17/2021 3:52 p.m.

The cruise industry is trying to start over in small steps. Successful vaccinations and falling infection numbers are fueling hopes, but the way out of the crisis should not be an easy one.

By Thomas Spinnler, tagesschau.de

The cruise industry, along with the entire tourism sector, was one of the biggest losers in the pandemic. The entire business came to a standstill at times. The 7-day incidence values, which have recently fallen across Europe, and the vaccination campaign, the progress of which is becoming increasingly noticeable, are awakening hopes for a successful restart in 2021, both in the industry and among those interested in cruises. It is not excluded. Just yesterday, a cruise ship with guests left Hamburg for the first time in seven months . This morning went for the first time since the outbreak of the corona pandemic in front of Palma in Mallorca a cruise ship at anchor, the “Mein Schiff 2” of the German shipping company TUI Cruises. It is said to be the first of more than 20 who will be calling this port by the end of August.

“Time was used”

“The chances of a real fresh start for the cruise industry are very good due to the measures that have been taken,” said Helge Grammerstorf, National Director of the Cruise Lines International Association Germany (Clia) tagesschau.de firmly. The providers used the time to expand the security measures against Corona, to keep the ships ready for the incoming operation and to strengthen the sustainability measures.

However, the memory of what happened during the start of the pandemic last year is likely to be fresh for many. Hundreds of vacationers were stuck on board, some for weeks, ports refused entry – the sometimes dramatic images are not so easy to forget.

“Safer than in the supermarket”

That is why protection against corona remains the determining issue on cruise ships. Grammerstorf is certain that health protection on the ships is guaranteed. Individual corona cases cannot be completely ruled out. But both staff and passengers would be tested before boarding, during the trip and also at the end of the trip.

“In principle, it is safer on the ship than when shopping in the supermarket, since the ships are completely sealed off from the outside,” says the Clia director. This also applies to shore excursions, which take place in closed groups that are not allowed to be left. “In the very rare event that a person should test positive during the voyage, it is provided that all affected persons and their contacts are taken off board to protect everyone else,” says Grammerstorf.

The shipyards are also suffering

The industry is an important economic factor. In Germany alone, the ocean cruise business is worth billions. According to the association’s data, the area with around 48,000 employees generated around 6.6 billion euros in 2019. Above all, however, it represents 80 percent of orders from German shipyards.

The German shipbuilders were therefore hit hard by the crisis. Because many shipyards have specialized in the construction and maintenance of cruise ships. Jobs have also been cut, both at the shipyards and among the cruise lines.

“Offers are accepted”

According to Clia, according to the latest available figures from September 2020, around 28,000 jobs have been lost, more than half. If the industry returns to a reasonably normal and predictable course of business, many will return. No wonder, then, when the hope of a new start becomes more and more urgent.

According to Grammerstorf, the customers are very enthusiastic about the offers, there is a great demand for cruises: “Demand pressure has built up while it was not possible to travel. The pre-bookings for 2022 are also very encouraging.” A more precise forecast is currently not possible, as the countries are only gradually opening up and therefore many departures are scheduled at short notice.

High costs, hardly any income

The business will hardly be profitable at first. No income, or at best low income, is offset by high running costs. After all, the ships cannot simply be completely decommissioned when they are in ports or in roadsteads. Some of the crew must remain on board, the ships must be kept functional, which requires regular and intensive maintenance. In addition, the huge passenger capacities of the ships cannot be used to their full capacity despite the start of travel activity due to the corona-related distance rules. Higher costs, also because of the various protective measures, are offset by lower income, which would have to be offset with higher prices. “At the moment, the main thing is to show that cruises can also take place safely under Corona conditions,” emphasizes Grammerstorf. The cruise operators have to accept that it is likely to be a losing business, at least initially

According to overseas media reports, Ukraine hopes to join NATO and fight its long-time enemy Russia.

Ukrainian President Zelensky said that he welcomes Ukraine’s eventual joining of the military alliance, which is a landmark move for Kiev.

Ukraine will hope that joining NATO means they can call on the support of major powers such as the United States and the United Kingdom to defeat Russia’s bullying strategy under Putin.

But Biden warned that Kiev needs to eradicate corruption before it can be officially included in NATO.

After the NATO summit on Monday, the American president said: “In fact, they still need to fight corruption.”

“At the same time, we will make every effort to enable Ukraine to resist Russian aggression… to maintain their personal safety.”

Biden added that Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Moscow’s role in the east of the country does not mean that Kiev will never be accepted.

But Putin said in an interview with Russian state television that if Ukraine joins NATO, Russia will “unacceptable”.

He claimed that Ukraine’s joining the NATO military alliance will enable NATO to obtain missiles that can reach Moscow within seven minutes.

He said in an interview: “At least 50% of Ukrainian residents do not want to join NATO. They are smart people.”

“They understand that they don’t want to be victims on the line of fire, they don’t want to be bargaining chips or cannon fodder.”

Earlier, Zelensky urged NATO to speed up Ukraine’s accession to NATO through a member action plan.

Earlier Monday, he told reporters that he hoped that Biden would give a clear “yes” or “no” answer to Ukraine’s plan.

Earlier this month, Biden reiterated his support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and invited Zelensky to the White House in July.

But Zelensky said: “It is better to hold this meeting before the summit.”

He added that he did not want Putin and Biden to propose a solution to the conflict in Ukraine at the summit.

“It is impossible to make a decision for Ukraine,” he said. “So there will be no concrete results.”

Zelensky sought support from Washington for the Seven Years War between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists.

On Friday, the Pentagon announced a new $150 million military aid to Kiev.

The conflict escalated in early 2021. In April of this year, Russia assembled 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border and Crimea, prompting NATO to issue a warning.

Russia subsequently announced its withdrawal, but both Washington and Kiev stated that the withdrawal was limited.

Zelensky estimates that there are more than 90,000 Russian troops stationed on the Ukrainian border, and said that tensions are still likely to escalate.

“Any escalation can lead to conflicts,” he said. “If the number of troops near our border increases, it may lead to a large-scale war.”

The conflict in eastern Ukraine, including the escalation of tensions in the past few months, is expected to be discussed in Geneva.

Zelensky said that his country is ready to join NATO. He explained: “We are fighting a war. This is proof that we are ready to join.”

“We prove every day that we are more willing to join NATO than most NATO countries.”

In April, Zelensky invited Putin to meet in eastern Ukraine, but Putin seemed to have rejected the invitation, saying that Moscow would welcome the Ukrainian leader “at any time.”

Putin also emphasized that Zelensky should directly discuss the conflict in eastern Ukraine with the separatists.

Since Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Kiev has been fighting pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This war claimed the lives of more than 13,000 people.

Kiev and its Western allies accuse Russia of sending troops and weapons to support the separatists. Moscow denies this.

Corona vaccine study Novavax is 90 percent effective

Status: 14.06.2021 2:21 p.m. According to preliminary study data, the corona vaccine from the US pharmaceutical manufacturer Novavax is safe and highly effective – even with virus variants. The product raises great hopes, especially in developing countries. According to the US pharmaceutical company, the Novavax corona vaccine protects well against the virus and its variants. The company said that the vaccine was around 90 percent effective and, according to preliminary data from a study, safe. The vaccine effectiveness study involved nearly 30,000 people in the United States and Mexico. Two-thirds of them received two doses of the vaccine three weeks apart, all others received placebos. A total of 77 people were infected with the coronavirus, 14 of them in the group of those who were vaccinated. Of the participants who received the drug, none developed severe or moderate symptoms, while there were 14 in the comparison group without vaccination.

background 06/14/2021

No cases of blood clots or heart problems

The vaccine was similarly effective against several variants of the coronavirus, including the alpha variant first discovered in the UK, as well as in high-risk groups such as the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions. The side effects were similar to those of other vaccines and mainly concerned pain at the injection site. There have been no reports of blood clots or heart problems, said Novavax boss Stanley Erck. Novavax plans to publish the results in a medical journal where they will be reviewed by independent experts.

Vaccine important for developing countries

The company said that applications for approval would be submitted in the USA and Europe, among others, by the end of September. Until then, a production of 100 million cans per month is possible. Novavax’s vaccine is easy to transport and store, which is why it is expected to play an important role in vaccination campaigns in developing countries. “Many of our first doses will go to low- and middle-income countries, and that was the goal from the start,” said Erck. Novavax’s vaccine works in a similar way to flu vaccines. It is made with laboratory-grown copies of the spike protein that envelops the coronavirus. The immune system reacts to the proteins in the vaccine and is thus prepared when it is actually confronted with the virus. Other vaccines that are widely used today contain the genetic instructions for the body to make its own spike protein.

02.03.2021

This scene seems to clearly illustrate the devastation of the Covid-19 epidemic on the tourism industry of the Golden Temple, especially on an island famous for its never-sleeping nightlife, which once attracted about 15 million. visitors per year, according to New York Times. Just a few weeks ago, Phuket seemed ready for a comeback. After a year away from foreign tourists, the Thai government decided to allow vaccinated visitors to Phuket in July without going through quarantine. This is part of a project called the Phuket Sandbox. However, the land of the Golden Temple is facing the worst outbreak of Covid-19 since the pandemic began, partly due to the rich people coming to Phuket, Bangkok to party without adhering to the social gap. Due to the epidemic, Phuket’s beaches are deserted even at the time of year attracting tourists. The number of new daily reported infections increased from 26 on 1 April to more than 2,000 just three weeks later. In early December 2020, Thailand had only 4,000 cases of Covid-19. For months, Thailand’s strict quarantine, blockade and mandatory masking measures have helped limit the spread of the epidemic despite having a significant impact on the economy. But in the latest outbreak, the country’s government responded slowly. In Phuket alone, it was not until April 22, when cases of SARS-CoV-2 were recorded at a record high, did the local government begin to request Covid-19 screening for those arriving on the island. On April 18, the Thai tourism minister admitted that Phuket reopening on July 1 seems unlikely because it will depend on the anti-epidemic situation in Thailand. Bleak In preparation for Phuket Sandbox, the Thai government has provided a variety of vaccines to the island, in hopes of gaining public immunity by the summer. As of mid-April, more than 20% of Phuket’s residents have been vaccinated. However, the picture is still very bleak. Usually at this time of year, the golden sands of Patong Beach will be overflowing with foreign tourists. But now, they are almost abandoned, where some local residents line up for Covid-19 tests. On the way, reptiles can freely move around without fear of being hit by traffic. The absence of international tourists makes life difficult for local residents in Phuket. In mid-April, the Songkran festival is seen as a rehearsal for Phuket’s revival. Instead of foreign visitors, hotels try to attract wealthy locals who, if not for the pandemic, would have gone to Hokkaido (Japan) for a vacation or to shop in Paris (France). However, rather than preparing for a comeback as a tourist paradise, the Songkran festival seems to have spoiled the island’s chances of reopening in July. At the festival in Patong and other beaches in April, thousands of wealthy Thais party, wear bikinis more than masks. To them, Covid-19 is just a virus that can infect vegetable vendors or manual labor, not the upper class. However, subsequent viral test results showed how wrong their thinking was. Many local workers had to line up to receive food assistance due to loss of jobs during the epidemic. The outbreak of the epidemic after months of economic difficulties is also causing the majority of Phuket’s residents to suffer. Just watching a 3-year-old elephant nibble on a cane nearby, Jaturaphit Jandarot lay slowly swinging in a hammock, with nothing else to do. Before the pandemic, he and other elephant managers on the outskirts of Patong used to bring in more than 100 tourists a day, mostly from China. “I am delighted to know they will open Phuket to foreign tourists. Thais do not ride elephants, “Jandarot said. But no matter what the tourism situation, the elephants still need to be fed. . “Of course, we want to welcome people to Phuket, but when they do not defend themselves and bring Covid-19 here, I am somewhat angry,” said Huda Panan, a primary school teacher. Being a taxi driver, unemployed for a year. At one point, mosques in Phuket distributed food to the local people. The long line of people quickly ran out of food. “We can wait a little longer to improve Phuket situation, but not too long,” said Panan.

Pope Francis presides over the Easter vows at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, April 3, 2021. Photo: AFP / VNA This year, millions of Christians around the world celebrate the second consecutive Easter season in a bleak atmosphere as all the masses hosted by Pope Francis allow only about 200 people to attend, compared to with a capacity of nearly 10,000 people. This year’s Easter Vigil was held 2 hours earlier than usual so that the attendees could go home before 10 p.m. – the start of curfew in Rome (Italy). Pope Francis presides over the Easter vows at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, April 3, 2021. Photo: AFP / VNA In his homily, Pope Francis reiterated the meaning of Easter to offer hope for rebirth. He emphasized that during the dark months of the COVID-19 pandemic, people should not lose hope and pay attention to the vulnerable in society. It is expected that during Easter (April 4) – one of the most important holidays of the year for Christians, Pope Francis will celebrate the traditional blessing “Urbi et Orbi” for the city. Rome city and the world.