Around the world, unsafe recycling of lead batteries (mainly from cars) is widespread. Perry Gottesfeld of Occupational Knowledge International (a San Francisco-based organization that campaigns worldwide against industrial pollution) called lead pollution “the most serious health threat to children”. In Senegal, 18 children died within three months of cerebral palsy caused by lead poisoning from a battery recycling plant on the outskirts of Dakar. In addition to those 18 children, hundreds more children in the residential area were poisoned. A person cooks lead manually in the Pesarean (Indonesia). Image source: Pure Earth On the other side of California, a giant lead smelter is located in the city of Torreon (Mexico), which has a history of childhood blood poisoning in the neighborhood and stretches back half a century. Air, soil and water pollution has long been documented around small and large lead smelting and recycling plants. Doctors all know that lead can be easily inhaled or swallowed, and when it enters the bloodstream, lead dust will immediately travel from the digestive tract to the brain. On the other hand, it should be known that lead is a potent neurotoxin and at no level has ever been deemed safe. Besides causing fever and affecting the gastrointestinal tract, lead poisoning also damages intellectual development in young children even at a low dose, reduces intelligence quotient (IQ), loss of attention. , and emotional disorders. Workers disintegrate car batteries in preparation for lead recycling in Patna, India. Image source: Pure Earth Lead poisoning is also believed to be the cause of outbreaks of violent behavior in communities in the United States and around the world. The UNICEF report noted: Lead wreaks havoc on the body in a silent way. One-third of children worldwide are suffering from lead poisoning from recycled batteries and other sources. Fatty profits but a danger to human health An estimated 85% of the lead used today is in batteries, mainly used in cars. And when the battery runs out, 99% of the expired battery will be recycled to create a new battery. The recycling battery business is very lucrative, this is a money-making business. Tens of thousands of people breaking batteries and smelters around the world are looking for ways to monetize it, collecting an abundance of used batteries and turning them into brand-new products. According to the International Lead Association, in London: “More than 6 million tons of lead are collected each year. Lead batteries are the most recycled consumer product in the world, thanks to recycling they no longer have to be mined.” Because of very little regulation, in many countries around the world, small-scale operators compete with the legal battery industry. “Total half of all batteries are in the informal economy, where unregulated and often illegal recycling processes have broken battery cases, spilling lead acid and dust into the ground. Lead smelting in open-air furnaces has spewed toxic fumes and dust around residential areas,” according to a report published in June 2020 by Pure Earth and UNICEF. With the rapid development of African economies, more than 800,000 tons of lead leach out of batteries each year on the subcontinent. And the consequences for human health and the environment have already begun to emerge. Two years ago, Mr. Gottesfeld completed research showing that lead poisoning had spread to the land around battery recycling plants in crowded slums or near schools in cities such as Dar es. Salaam (Tanzania), Lagos (Nigeria) and the port of Tema (Ghana). Lead contaminated soil is excavated in Dong Mai ward (Hanoi, Vietnam). Image source: Pure Earth In addition to Africa facing serious lead poisoning problems, Southeast Asia is also facing a similar crisis. Mr. Bill Daniell (School of Public Health, University of Washington) is the lead author of a 2015 study on lead exposure around Dong Mai ward (Ha Dong district, Hanoi), where many households are engaged in recycling. battery processing. More than 100 children in Dong Mai were tested and all showed high blood lead levels of more than ¼/45 micrograms/decilit, which is nine times the safe limit in the US. In India, a study published in 2019 by Toxics Link (an NGO based in New Delhi) announced that 90% of lead batteries in India in recycling plants are in the informal sector. awake. The study mapped residential areas in major cities like New Delhi, where lead-battery recycling plants operate without any official supervision. Nguyen Thanh Hai ( According to e360.yale.edu )

According to Binh Dinh Fisheries Sub-Department, in this province, many shrimp farming areas under the extensive farming method, the environment in the cultured water areas is seriously polluted, because the farming area has not been properly planned, which is the main cause of the epidemic. shrimp disease. In fact, the planned shrimp farming areas in Binh Dinh are few, and the spontaneous shrimp farming areas with weak infrastructure are many. The extensive shrimp farming areas do not have a separate water supply system into the pond and a separate wastewater discharge system, most of them only have one pond and then discharge it directly into the environment, leading to infectious pollution. lan. In the context of seriously polluted farming water, causing continuous diseases for shrimp, many whiteleg shrimp farming households in the form of intensive and semi-intensive farming in Phu My district (Binh Dinh) have filtered water before put in ponds. Contamination of culture water is the main cause of disease for shrimp. Photo: Vu Dinh Thung. The filter tank is built of cement bricks with a width of 6m, a width of 4m, and a depth of 2m. Underneath the tank is a layer of coral rock, followed by a layer of activated carbon and a thick layer of sand on top. Water is pumped from the underground circuit into the filter pond and then discharged into the pond with a large plastic pipe. Pump and filter continuously until there is enough water in the pond. After being filtered, the water is clear, when entering the pond, there is little change in algae. Every 3-5 months, shrimp owners have to change the sand and coal layer once. The 1-year coral layer must also be removed, scrubbed clean and then put back in the tank to avoid contamination of the culture water from the scum in the filter tank. The model of using water filter tanks for shrimp farming has been applied by many whiteleg shrimp pond owners in My An commune (Phu My district). Breeding fish in a dual-effective shrimp pond For shrimp farmers in Hoai Nhon town (Binh Dinh), raising mullet in shrimp ponds to help the fish clean the pond environment, both to limit environmental diseases on shrimp, and to earn more income from fish. . According to Mr. La Dong Quang in block 2, Tam Quan ward (Hoai Nhon town, Binh Dinh), one of the three pioneers in raising mullet in shrimp ponds has degraded in the model developed by the Binh Dinh Agricultural Extension Center. deployed with an area of ​​12,000m2, the number of mullet fingerlings stocked is 12,000 with the size of 200 fish/kg. After 8 months of stocking, the results showed that the fish grew well, the survival rate reached nearly 90%, the average weight reached 2-3 fish/kg, the estimated yield was more than 4.8 tons. Mullet has delicious meat, is popular with consumers, so the output is very generous. Mr. Pham Van Chay, a shrimp farmer in Dong Dien hamlet, Phuoc Thang commune (Tuy Phuoc district, Binh Dinh) releases monotypic tilapia into shrimp ponds to clean the pond environment. Photo: Vu Dinh Thung. According to Mr. Do Minh Quang, Deputy Director of Binh Dinh Agricultural Extension Center, farming households must manage environmental factors during the farming process; regularly monitor watercolor, identify environmental factors, monitor environmental factors. Monitor the health and pathology of the mullet fish to take timely measures. The water level in the pond is always maintained above 1.2 m, the amount of water changes from 20-30%/time, the time of water change depends on the level of pollution in the pond. Use aerators and aerators to maintain optimal dissolved oxygen levels in the pond, especially after sunset. In the first time of the farming process, only run the fan in the evening, when the fish are large, depending on the total weight of fish in the pond, adjust the running time of the fan accordingly. The shrimp’s food is always left over at the bottom of the lake, when the aerator runs aeration, the excess food pops up, the mullet fish just like that, so they can take advantage of the fine food source, and the fish will grow faster. Photo: Vu Dinh Thung. “Especially, mullet is omnivorous, the main food is organic detritus. This feature is very beneficial for cleaning degraded shrimp pond environment. In addition, the technique of raising mullet is not difficult, there are few diseases, so the survival rate is high. Breeding mullet interspersed with shrimp at a ratio of 1/4 will bring double profits on the same area, and at the same time reduce the time and cost of fish feed. Because the shrimp’s food is always left over on the bottom of the lake, when the aerator runs on the aerator, the excess food expands, the fish just keep on snapping, so they can take advantage of the refined food source, and the fish will grow faster. Breeding mullet in degraded shrimp ponds has given double results, both cleaning the environment in the pond to ensure safe shrimp growth and creating more income for farmers,” said Mr. La Dong Quang, farmer. mullet in a shrimp pond in Hoai Nhon town shared. In the shrimp farming area in the direction of biosecurity in Dong Dien village, Phuoc Thang commune (Tuy Phuoc district, Binh Dinh), in the shrimp ponds, tilapia can be stocked with the density of 1 fish/2m2 so that they to clean the pond bottom and ensure the water source for farming. “Tilapia not only gradually eat waste at the bottom of the pond to help limit pollution, but the slime layer of the fish also secretes substances with biological effects to kill harmful bacteria of shrimp, balancing the ecology in the pond. Thanks to that, shrimp farming in Dong Dien in recent years has not been harmed by diseases, farmers are profitable,” said Pham Van Chay, who has 4,500m2 of water surface area for whiteleg shrimp farming in Dong Dien village. shall.

Wellington has the least pollution Pollution is one of the most common causes of climate change, with exhaust fumes from households and vehicles leading to environmental and health problems globally. However, in Wellington (New Zealand), that problem seems to be well under control. Wellington, New Zealand. Source: Uswitch The city scored 13.66 on the pollution index, which means that out of 100 units of air, only 13.66 is polluted. New Zealand’s air is very fresh for many reasons, the main one being that the population is not too large, the main economic sectors are agriculture, fishing and tourism, so there are no big factories like many places in the world. gender. Wellington is considered the culinary capital of New Zealand and possesses beautiful natural settings. Visitors cannot miss the “Lord of the Rings” tour, to visit famous scenes in the blockbuster of the same name or experience the props and costumes in the movie. Canberra is the most sustainable city Energy in Canberra (Australia) is mainly from solar and wind sources; and the pollution index in this city is 13.89, just behind Wellington. Canberra has an extensive public transport infrastructure and is environmentally friendly, making it possible for people to go anywhere without having to drive their own car. Tourists have easy access to tourist attractions, whether the museums, the shopping in the center or the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the suburbs. The city also operates a carpooling service, encouraging people to travel in groups and cutting back on solo driving. Canberra, Australia. Source: Daniel Morton / Unsplash Switzerland’s Zurich is also highly rated on the sustainability index. It is a paradise for cyclists, with dedicated lanes and many car-free lanes surrounding the city center. Walking is a great way to explore the city, people here do not attach too much importance to the use of personal cars. The pollution index in Zurich is also low, ranking third with 17.31 points. Madrid, Brisbane, Dubai, Copenhagen are in the top 5 Immediately after Canberra is the Spanish capital, which owns a green space of up to 64 square kilometers, with 300,000 trees. The parks in Madrid are always a destination that attracts residents and visitors. The most famous is the Monte de el Pardo park, a green nature reserve about 50 times the size of Central Park in New York (USA). Both Brisbane (Australia) and Dubai (UAE) have priority policies for sustainable development. While Brisbane implements its “Clean, Green, Sustainable 2017-2031” strategy focusing on clean air, biodiversity and low carbon emissions; while Dubai named itself “sustainable city” to promote the green development model. Tourists cycling in Copenhagen. Source: Feybiun / Unsplash With a large area of ​​water and green space, Copenhagen (Denmark) is one of the cleanest, safest and most attractive tourist destinations in Europe. Coming here, visitors often cycle through the streets, admire the old architecture, including the iconic statue of the city’s mermaid. Food is also a strong point of Copenhagen, as there are 15 Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. Nairobi is the leader in green energy The world is strongly promoting sustainable energy and cutting carbon emissions. Nairobi (Kenya) is at the forefront of this movement, with more than 90% of its energy coming from sustainable sources such as hydro or geothermal. However, poor air quality, pollution rates make Nairobi low in this ranking. Nairobi, Kenya. Source: Uswitch Lisbon in Portugal is the second best city for sustainable electricity, making the most of its sunny location with its huge network of solar systems. The city is a popular tourist destination in Europe, with a variety of choices from beautiful natural vistas to quaint towns and castles. In third place is Lima, the capital of Peru. After years of facing air pollution, the city has turned to solar power to try to reduce emissions. The city also installed large billboards that function as air purifiers.

However, from the end of November 2020, the factory stopped working. This is like a knife cut into the despair of the nearly 300 inhabitants living on the island. These people are forced to drink contaminated water, fear outbreaks of disease and face the fear of prolonged starvation. Impotent “Skin diseases and diarrhea are widespread, especially among children. We have no choice but to drink contaminated water or salt water,” said Taboree Biremon, a resident of Banaba island. “The kids are not okay because they don’t understand (why do we have to deal with this). They keep asking for the kind of food they never get. We just feel so sad about it but what can we do?” According to Mr. Taboree, it has been 3 months since people have had no fresh water to drink, cannot bathe, have no food other than fish because all crops have died. “We couldn’t sleep either. All we wanted was to find water on the island. We are looking for a way to survive. We were adrift in the sea, lost and no one cared,” Mr. Taboree said. Empty food shelves – a familiar image in many houses in Banaba. Photo: Guardian. A ship from Kiribati – 400km away – docked this past March – providing bottled water and equipment to set up a new desalination plant. But island seniors insist relying on remote support is not feasible and sustainable, especially as the climate crisis worsens. “Dealerization plants are not a long-term solution. As the incident continued, we were in the same impasse again. What the people need is to restore the status of the island,” said Roubena Ritata, a village elder. Banaba leaders are looking for a lasting solution. In fact, there is a solution that their ancestors have worked for decades to survive on this island: the traditional method of drawing water. Reason Elders are writing to the Australian and New Zealand governments asking for assistance in building or cleaning up a network of underground water in the caves, called te bangabanga . Australia and New Zealand contributed to the destruction of the bangabanga te system in the 20th century from phosphate mining. This activity was started by Australian miner Albert Ellis in 1900. Over the next 80 years, the British Phosphate Commission (BPC) – owned by Australia, New Zealand and the UK – exploited Banaba Island so much that about 90% of the island was bare land. “The total destruction (Banaba island) is the result of the activities of these countries. They come, fill their pockets, and leave,” said Katerina Teaiwa, an associate professor at the Australian National University and author of “Ocean Island: The Story of Man and Phosphate from Banaba”. The Banaba has historically survived many severe droughts thanks to caves and water storage. The underground caves are called te bangabanga. Photo: Guardian. However, the elderly residents here claim that almost all of the caves have been destroyed, the remaining few are seriously polluted. “For many people, te bangabanga exist only in stories and dances that have been passed down through generations,” said elder Pelenise Alofa. Historically, only women have been allowed to enter these caves, showing the importance and role of women in the Banaba community. “We performed dances and told the story of how the ancestors found the cave to the young. It’s part of the people of Banaba. I thought these problems would be solved, but they got worse,” said Alofa. The Banaba used to receive a compensation for what they had to endure. In 1976, a group of people sued the UK over the destruction of the island’s nature. The court then ruled that Britain had only a moral debt, not a legal obligation. In the end, the British government decided on behalf of the group to offer the Banaba people a good faith settlement of nearly $7.8 million, on condition that they waive all further legal action. Now, as the drought persists, the Banaba people are forced to continue their search for compensation and find a lasting solution. Looking for justice 6,000 people were forced to migrate from the island to the Fijian island of Rabi. “Banaba citizens living in Fiji and the diaspora in Auckland are eager to return to Banaba and connect with their homeland. But the devastation caused by mining operations leaves people with no other choice,” said Rae Baineti, director of the Kiribati Auteroa Diaspora Director. “As a social activist, I advise the younger generation to stand firm and be brave. I encourage them to dialogue to hold the government accountable for our destruction of land,” he added. An old cantilever used to load phosphates for ships. Photo: Guardian. Over-mining has also resulted in houses in Banaba being built with asbestos. This substance when inhaled can lead to two deadly diseases, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mike McRae-Williams, an Australian environment expert with over 30 years of experience in the mining industry, came to Banaba in 2008 to assess the severity of the situation. “This is a serious health hazard to the people who live here,” he said. “Instead of constantly giving stories like ‘poor Banaba people, no water, help them’, we should aim for an approach that is to find a reasonable solution,” said resident Teaiwa. While supporting the emergency rescue effort along with the Kiribati government, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to comment on the Banaba residents’ request for New Zealand and Australia to address the root of the crisis. panic. Meanwhile, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not provide an answer to this issue.

Ho Chi Minh City strives for 100% of supermarkets to use environmentally friendly plastic bags in 2021. Photo: CAO THANG Many consequences The project “Building a system to observe plastic waste in society and the environment” (COMPOSE) implemented by the French Embassy in Vietnam has shown that, out of 250,000 tons of plastic waste per year in Ho Chi Minh City, there are 48,000 tons. buried, more than 200,000 tons are recycled or discharged directly into the environment. Alarmingly, the Saigon River has the 5th largest amount of plastic waste in Vietnam and 45th in the world. The amount of plastic waste dumped into the Saigon River in March 2018 recorded 5.6 – 10.3 tons. Based on this figure, the amount of plastic waste is estimated at 7,500 – 13,000 tons/year. Every liter of water the Saigon River pours into the sea has 1,000 times more microplastics than the Seine in Paris. According to research by scientists, each broken microplastic will produce a lot of toxic substances harmful to health. At that time, people can suffer from hormone balance, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases… Microplastics less than 5mm long, when not properly collected and handled, will have a negative impact on the environment and the ocean. , underwater creatures. Microplastics are found in most of the products we use every day such as cleansers, shower gels, toothpastes and some cosmetics. Each time we wash 6kg of clothes, we also release 728,000 microplastic fibers into the environment. Researchers from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) also argue that plastic pollution is a transboundary problem, with global impacts. Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, is most vulnerable as the region bears most of the consequences of the overload and inefficiencies of the global recycling system. Plastic pollution causes negative economic impacts on the region’s industries, estimated at $1.3 billion per year. Although most national governments have announced or are in the process of establishing national regulatory measures, these measures are limited in their ability to address the broad cross-border challenge. borders of ocean plastic pollution due to lack of effective coordination among countries. The time has come for countries to consider establishing a legally binding international treaty to combat plastic pollution. The convenience and popularity of plastic products on the market, especially single-use plastic items, make consumers consume and use a large amount of plastic. Therefore, we need to come up with basic solutions to limit such as incentives for new innovative products, promotion of more sustainable or plastic-free alternatives. Create a labeling mechanism to promote better choices from consumers. It is necessary to encourage the participation of businesses in handling plastic packaging. Combine multiple solutions To join hands with the Government to realize the goal of reducing plastic waste, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has issued a plan to strengthen the management, reuse, recycling, treatment and reduction of plastic waste. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City strives by the end of 2021, 100% of supermarkets and trade centers to use environmentally friendly packaging for living purposes to replace difficult-to-decompose plastic bags; Small traders at the people’s market reduce by 50% using non-biodegradable plastic packaging in product packaging. State management agencies and public non-business units must be exemplary, active, and take the lead in reducing and reusing plastic waste, not using non-degradable plastic packaging and single-use plastic products. times (bottles, jars, straws, foam boxes…) at offices, conferences, seminars. In particular, limit the use of single-use banners, slogans, etc., and switch to using electronic devices for propaganda purposes. To achieve these goals, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoa Binh directed relevant departments and units to jointly develop action plans for implementation. In particular, focus on waste control at source. Minimize and move towards not using non-biodegradable plastic packaging and single-use plastic products in all daily activities of state agencies, factories, schools and people’s daily activities. . Mobilize restaurants, hotels, tourist resorts, tourism and catering establishments, etc. to have plans to reduce plastic waste and gradually switch to using recycled and environmentally friendly products. Plastic waste generated from tourism, marine services, maritime economy, marine mineral resources, aquaculture and fishing must be collected, stored and transferred to functional units. handling. In parallel with the source control solution, HCMC also encourages the reuse and recycling of plastic waste through the development and deployment of the 3T model (Reduce – Reuse – Recycle). , encourage and create favorable conditions for organizations with functions and conditions to perform the service of collecting, reusing and recycling plastic loads in the city. Ho Chi Minh City will also strengthen the inspection of environmental violations such as indiscriminate dumping of waste and plastic waste in public places. Inspect and handle violations of environmental protection tax, value-added tax, corporate income tax, etc. in import, production and distribution activities, and trading in non-degradable plastic packaging and plastic products. disposable; encourage recycled products, environmentally friendly products.

Elephants and giraffes inhabit Hwange National Park. Photo: Reuters According to the United Nations Commission on Biological Diversity, Earth’s ecosystems – the foundation of life – are being degraded at an unprecedented rate. Biodiversity provides 18 basic services globally to sustain human activities and development. However, these 14/18 contributions of nature are on a global downward trend. In addition, the rate of forest cover has decreased from 31.6% to 30.6% in the period 1990-2015. Coral reef ecosystems have the highest decline in survival index, between 1970 and 2015 it has decreased by 35% to 25% of the studied species are threatened with extinction. About 7 million other species of animals and plants are also at risk of “disappearing” due to human impacts. Meanwhile, the consumption of wild animals and habitat destruction have made infectious diseases more likely to spread to humans. The weaker the “health” of the ecosystem, the more fragile the immune “wall” between humans and pathogens. Without a change in the way people treat nature, future pandemics will occur frequently, cost many lives and severely impact the global economy. The severity is much greater than what the COVID-19 pandemic has caused to the world today. The loss of biodiversity and climate change have been threatening the progress of global sustainable development. According to the United Nations, the livelihoods of more than 3 billion people around the world depend on marine and coastal biodiversity, while 1.6 billion people make a living from forests. Therefore, the conservation of species on Earth is no longer in the framework of “altruism” but plays an important role in ensuring human life. In a statement kicking off the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the Earth was approaching a “point of no return” of deforestation, pollution of rivers and oceans. ocean, plowed lawns… seem to have fallen into oblivion. He stated: “We are destroying the very ecosystems that are the foundation of society. The degradation of the natural world is destroying the very food, water and resources needed for humans and other living things. animals exist, as well as the lives of 3.2 billion people – or 40% of the world’s population.” In 2010, in the city of Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture, Japan), about 190 countries participating in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity adopted an ambitious 2020 action strategy to reduce pressure from society. human society towards the natural world, conservation of biodiversity. Within the framework of this convention, countries have set 20 goals on biodiversity by 2020 to conserve biodiversity and restore ecosystems globally. The decisions of the 12th, 13th and 14th stakeholder meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity all called for the parties to the convention to develop and adopt ecosystem restoration plans. Some of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goals are related to ecosystem restoration that require urgent global action if they are to be achieved. The Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan 2016-2024 also includes goals for wetland ecosystem restoration to conserve biodiversity and adapt to climate change. However, as ecosystems continue to degrade rapidly, marine ecosystems, from coastal to deep sea, are currently suffering the heaviest losses in history due to human activities. In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Forest and Global Change, scientists found that only 3% of the world’s land area (excluding Antarctica) is still ecologically intact, with populations of healthy primitive animal body and undisturbed habitat. Global natural biodiversity is severely reduced by modern farming techniques; deforestation; habitat destruction in marshlands and in the ocean… The report of the Intergovernmental Forum on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services also indicates that the global rate of species extinction has increased at least tens to hundreds of times higher than the average rate. over the past 10 million years and continues to grow rapidly. It is estimated that about 7 million species are at risk of extinction in the next 30 years; 3/4 of the world’s bird species are endangered; A quarter of mammals are likely to disappear from the Earth. Great Barrier Reef on Orpheus Island, Australia. Photo: AFP/VNA On the other hand, the Aichi goals by 2020 are almost all unattainable. Of the 20 Aichi goals, only 4 have a high probability of achieving, the remaining goals are rated as low or unattainable. This report, together with the Convention on Biological Diversity, highlights the need for the world to take urgent efforts now and take effective action to stop the serious ecological degradation that is taking place. The United Nations has designated 2021-2030 as the decade of ecosystem restoration based on proposals from more than 70 countries, with the goal of accelerating worldwide efforts to prevent and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. ecosystems and raise awareness of the importance of ecosystems to human life. The United Nations emphasized that the restoration and conservation of ecosystems make an important contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Multicultural Framework. global biodiversity. The UN recommends that countries strengthen political will, mobilize resources, improve capacity in scientific research, and cooperate internationally to create driving force for ecosystem restoration at national, regional and international levels. local; mainstreaming ecosystem restoration into national development policies and plans, thereby creating opportunities for ecosystems to increase their resilience and the opportunity to maintain and improve livelihoods for all. people. Countries develop and implement policies and plans to prevent ecosystem degradation, in accordance with national laws and priorities, and develop and strengthen initiatives to enhance recovery effectiveness. Ecosystem; create conditions for synergies and consensus on an overall view to achieve national commitments and priorities through ecosystem restoration; promote sharing of experiences and good practices in ecosystem conservation and restoration. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized: “Fortunately, the Earth is resilient and we still have time to reverse the damage we have caused. By restoring ecosystems with the With unprecedented efforts to heal the Earth, we can accelerate a transformation that contributes to the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals.” Achieving these goals will not only protect the planet’s resources, but will also help create millions of new jobs by 2030, generate more than $7 trillion in profits a year, and help erase the planet, Guterres said. poverty. Ru Cha primary mangrove forest in Huong Phong commune, Huong Tra town, Thua Thien – Hue province (Vietnam) has an area of ​​​​about 5 hectares, has the function of preventing salinity, protecting aquatic resources and the mainland. Photo: Ho Cau/VNA Vietnam is currently in the group of countries with the most important and diverse ecosystems in the world, both in terms of marine and terrestrial ecosystems (especially forest and mangrove ecosystems). Vietnam currently has 173 protected areas with a total area of ​​over 2.5 million hectares, including 33 national parks, 66 nature reserves, 18 species and habitat conservation areas and 56 landscape protection zones. In particular, 9 sites are recognized as “world biosphere reserves”, 3 are “world natural heritage sites” recognized by UNESCO, 9 ramsar sites (wetlands), 10 ASEAN heritage garden. As one of the active members of the international community, Vietnam always strives to protect and develop natural ecosystems, biological species, and rich, endemic, precious and rare genetic resources. and has achieved many remarkable achievements. In addition, Vietnam is also committed to joining hands with countries in the region and around the world, working together to reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030 for sustainable development. In the words of UN Secretary-General Guterres, the next 10 years are “the last chance” for humans to heal their own “wounds” to the Earth, preventing climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Only with strong action can people end these 10 years with a bright vision: living in peace with nature and ensuring a better future for all.

Sea turtles are wrapped around a plastic net. Blue sea cries for help Sea pollution is happening more and more seriously! That is the affirmation of many domestic and foreign environmental experts and organizations. In Vietnam, for many years now, due to waste from human activities, marine pollution has been clearly noticed. According to estimates by scientists, 80% of the waste entering the sea comes from activities on land. Vietnam has 112 estuaries, which is the source for garbage to drift into the ocean. Many creatures mistake garbage for food or get caught between fishing gear leading to habitat destruction. Data from the United Nations Environment Program announced in 2018, each year Vietnam discharges 0.28 to 0.73 million tons of plastic waste into the ocean (accounting for 6% of the world), ranking fourth in the world. A huge amount of garbage is dumped from the mainland to the sea every day by many different routes. Many coastal estuaries have been polluted by industrial and urban wastewater. In many coastal provinces, the discharge of untreated or untreated wastes has not met the standards, causing great economic losses, life and livelihoods of coastal communities and unpredictable damages. for marine ecosystems. However, this situation is not only happening in Vietnam. On a larger scale, marine environments around the globe are on red alert. The biggest danger comes from the huge amount of plastic waste that is floating day and night on the ocean currents. Although warnings about plastic pollution are continuously raised to a higher level, although countries have been trying to solve the problem from plastic waste and recycling, it is difficult to solve the problem on the basis of an early mooth afternoon. In fact, plastic waste has been slowly accumulating in the marine and ocean environment since the 1960s, to the point where we have huge mountains of plastic floating in the ocean and other plastic waste drifting across the oceans. Beautiful clean beaches in the world. There are an estimated 580,000 different sized pieces of plastic per square kilometer, with more than 8 million tons of plastic waste entering the oceans each year. The amount of plastic from waste can release harmful chemicals that seep into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources and the world’s ecosystems. This can seriously harm water-drinking species, including marine and terrestrial creatures, including humans. Environmental activists have warned that there could be more plastic waste than fish in the oceans by 2050. Globally, it is estimated that more than 100 million marine animals are killed each year by plastic waste. . Black sewage discharged into a sea. Return the roof to sea creatures According to statistics of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, marine pollution in recent years has caused many marine species to plummet in number, some species have become locally extinct. Up to 236 rare and precious aquatic species are threatened at different levels, of which more than 70 marine species have been listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. The exploited seafood resources are increasingly depleted in both quantity and quality. Fish stocks have declined from 4 million tons in 1990 to 3 million tons today. The average fish size and species diversity also decreased significantly. What is heartbreaking in the consequences of pollution is the disappearance of populations of turtles in the water. Vietnam has five of the seven species of turtles in the world. These are snail, tortoiseshell, hawksbill turtle, leatherback turtle, and pineapple tortoiseshell, all five species are currently included in the Vietnam Red Book. Many species are almost extinct. Previously, sea turtles were distributed mostly in the seas of our country with high density. Looking at the information box about sea turtle species, we can see that all five species of sea turtles in Vietnam are now in a significant decline in numbers. During the period from 2008 to 2013, only one leatherback turtle was recorded on Cat Dai beach in Cam Lam district (Khanh Hoa province) and Hai Lang (Quang Tri province) in 2013. In other localities There have been leatherback turtles to lay eggs like Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen… there is absolutely no trace of leatherback turtles coming ashore to lay eggs. Expanding to Southeast Asia and the world, quite a few marine animals are in danger of extinction. Photographs taken by photographers around the world show the dire plight of many creatures in response to the onslaught of garbage. The fishes are wrapped around the body with nylon rope. Dead fish in a plastic soda bottle. The long-snouted fish was starved to death by a rubber band wrapped around its snout. Sea turtles swallow plastic foam until their intestines are blocked. Many of them died with a large amount of plastic in their stomachs. In June 2018, a whale was found on Songkhla beach, southern Thailand, choking to death with 80 pieces of plastic garbage weighing 8 kg in its stomach. Around the same time, a green turtle was found dead in Chanthaburi, Thailand, with plastic debris from fishing gear, rubber bands and other marine debris in its stomach. In 2016, a Sei whale and a Baleen whale were found on a beach in the southern Malaysian state of Johor. The photos and stories that bring tears to the viewer’s eyes as a shock to human conscience: Live well and let the creatures have “living land”. It is the irresponsibility, lack of consciousness and greed of mankind that have contributed to climate change, global warming, and creatures being hunted and destroyed. The ocean here and there changes color, only a dull brown color thanks to the secretion of plastic waste, sewage… And where is it only marine life that is destroyed by humans? Sea life is gradually worn down by the pollution of the ocean, causing people’s lives to be turned upside down, poisoned, and reduced quality of life. Back to the story in Vietnam, in order to conserve endemic, precious and rare aquatic species, the State has issued many policies to protect aquatic resources as well as conservation and regeneration of aquatic species. , valuable assets such as: Law on Fisheries 2017; Decision No. 742 in 2010 on planning and setting up 16 marine protected areas; Decision 1479 in 2008 on planning and setting up 45 inland aquatic conservation zones; Decree No. 33/2010 on management of fishing activities; Circular 19/2018 guiding the protection and development of aquatic resources… The most recent is Decree No. 26/2019/ND-CP detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Fisheries Law 2017, including content on management of endangered and rare aquatic species… People’s habits, from daily living habits to making a living, fishing with fishery exist a lot of ugly behaviors, thinking only of their own benefits but casually destroying the surrounding environment. However, in parallel with the regulations applied in life, there is also a need for a “big surgery” in people’s awareness. It is a change of perception by practical, thorough and effective propaganda. That is the practical action of young people when carrying out environmental protection projects, from picking up beach trash, exchanging trash for trees, beach trash projects… Every small change turns into a big change. If each person is subject to positive change, the environment and life will be more positive and greener. We have a big roof to live in, so do creatures. Change and action is to protect the roof for people, aquatic creatures and onshore.

Besides being the tourist attraction of Sierra Leone, the turquoise lagoon with palm trees here is also a seasonal breeding ground for fish and turtles. In May, however, the Sierra Leone government announced plans to build a fishing port and processing complex in the village. The project has raised concerns about its devastating effects on the local landscape, threatening animal species and polluting the environment. AFP . Black Johnson is the proposed site for the construction of an industrial harbor in Sierra Leone. Photo: Handout. Consequences of China’s “investment” Sierra Leone’s Fisheries Ministry said China is funding a $55 million project to build a fishing port to create jobs and support the local fishing industry in the poor country. But, instead of winning praise, Beijing’s actions are causing controversy in the African country. Mr. Tommy Gbandewa, also known as Tito, the owner of the eco-lodge, is leading the opposition to the plan to build on green plots. “If the Chinese come here, the environment will stink. The beaches will stink,” he said. “The water here will be dirty because of engine oil and a lot of noise, fishing boats will be everywhere.” This controversy is at the heart of a longstanding source of tension in Sierra Leone, between development advocates and conservationists on the other. Opposition is heightened as the government is looking to promote ecotourism to boost its economy. Eco-lodge owner Tommy Gbandewa is leading the charge against a Chinese-funded harbor construction plan. Photo: AFP. Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest countries and is still recovering from a civil war that claimed the lives of about 120,000 people nearly two decades ago. Although there are rich fishing grounds, the exploitation of fishery resources in this country is still limited. Not only that, according to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Fisheries, in May, there were about 140 foreign fishing boats catching the country’s fish. These ship owners then processed and sold Sierra Leone’s seafood abroad “with little or no benefit to Sierra Leone”. Even so, despite receiving Beijing’s funding to build a modern fishing pier, the ambiguity in the implementation plan made locals wary. Some believe that the Chinese investors intend to build the fishmeal factory, although the government of Sierra Leone has denied the allegation with AFP . In recent times, a series of fishmeal factories have mushroomed along the West African coast. These factories harvest large quantities of seafood and often release foul-smelling waste, polluting water sources, wreaking havoc on the local environment and hindering tourism development. The fishmeal factory emits toxic waste that is a threat to local communities in Sierra Leone. Photo: Handout. Fishermen’s association spokesman Wudie Bakie Koroma said he would support the harbor construction if taken seriously. “If the fishmeal production (factory) is included in the project, we will firmly oppose it,” he stressed. Against this backdrop, the Chinese diplomat in the capital Freetown Du Zijun announced that the new Chinese-invested project is to build a harbor, not a “fishmeal factory”. “The accusations of not caring about protecting the environment and destroying the ecological environment are purely sensational hypothetical information,” he added. “We have a right to the land” Immediately after the news that the government signed a $ 55 million agreement with Beijing for China to build a project on 100 hectares of exposed sea and forest, locals have repeatedly petitioned to reverse the government’s decision. Mr. Tito said discontent was widespread. Government officials arrived with armed men to survey the construction site. “But I’m Sierra Leone and I have a right to the land,” Mr Tito said. In the wake of the controversy, Fisheries Minister Emma Kowa Jalloh, on a recent visit to the Black Johnson village, promised landowners would be compensated. According to the minister, the Chinese government will provide “subsidy” to build the project, while the government of Sierra Leone invests with land. Half of the required land area is owned by the state, the rest will be taken through the decision to acquire. “We are not occupying land,” she said, noting that the project was “very necessary” to create jobs for thousands of people. The new project is expected to be built in the village of Black Johnson. Photo: AFP. However, Dr Sama Banya, honorary president of the Sierra Leone Conservation Society, said the project would have a “catastrophic” impact on tourism and the fishing industry. Environmental NGO Green Scenery accused the government of failing to properly account for the project’s environmental impact and urged the plan to be scrapped. “Black Johnson is the only ecotourism site left in Freetown, we need to protect it,” said organization director Joseph Rahall. However, not all locals are against the harbor planning. Village chief Pa Lamin Kargbo said the port could help improve places where people still face daily shortages of water, electricity and schools. He explained that much of the friction with the government is due to a lack of dialogue. “We are calling for a peaceful resolution of the problem, so that everyone is a winner,” he said.

Lightning can produce from 2 – 16% of the amount of hydroxyl. The hydroxyl radical is important in the atmosphere because it triggers chemical reactions and breaks down air pollutant molecules like methane. Decomposition of atmospheric pollutants Lightning may play a bigger role than we thought in a fundamental process that helps clean our air of pollutants, according to the results of a new study. Lightning strikes during storms produce large amounts of molecules called oxidizing radicals, which can break down gases such as carbon monoxide and methane in the atmosphere. These are atmospheric pollutants that can contribute to global warming and damage to the ozone layer. Carbon monoxide and methane enter the atmosphere from both natural and industrial sources. Methane is produced by the decomposition of plants, but is also released by oil and gas development and agriculture. Carbon monoxide and other polluting hydrocarbons can be generated by industries and wildfires. However, natural processes in the atmosphere, driven mainly by sunlight, have produced molecules called radicals, the most important of which are hydroxyls. These molecules are very chemically active (meaning that they are more likely to react with other molecules) and can react with pollutants to form new compounds that are harmless or potentially harmful. can be easily attached to water and released into the air. New research led by Pennsylvania State University meteorology professor William Brune has found that lightning produces far more hydroxyl molecules than previously known. His work shows that more than 10% of the supply of these scavenging radicals in the atmosphere can be generated by lightning storms. Use an airplane to fly through the storm Lightning’s ability to clean the atmosphere. The work involved flying NASA’s DC-8 research plane through deep convection thunderstorms to collect data. According to Professor Brune, this is not as dangerous as one might think. “Very interesting indeed. The pilots are phenomenal. They know what they’re doing. They know how to keep planes safe. But it’s really interesting because you can see deep convection and this is very close and personal,” said Prof. Brune. “We did this study in 2012, flying over central China. America and try to see what’s going into the storm chemically, what’s going to come up above. And to our surprise, we saw a very large amount of OHs (hydroxyl molecules). At first, we did not believe the signals received. They are huge, a thousand times larger than the largest mass we have ever seen.” The data collected from the aircraft was compared with data collected from radio receivers on the ground that track lightning flashes in the clouds. Both data sets confirmed the production of high amounts of hydroxyl radicals due to lightning strikes. Hydroxyl radicals are produced when the energy of lightning strikes breaks down water vapor in the atmosphere. “You can think of it like water that has removed the hydrogen atom and then wants to get that hydrogen back. So it becomes very active as it goes and tries to get the hydrogen back,” he said. That means the hydroxyl radical is very reactive with methane or carbon monoxide molecules. Climate change models need to be updated According to the scientists, about 1,800 lightning storms circulate around the planet, which leads the researchers to estimate that this phenomenon produces between 2% and 16% of the amount of hydroxyl present in the atmosphere.

A single lightning bolt can release up to a billion volts, tens of thousands of amps, travel at more than 434,000 km/h and in just a few millionths of a second reach 30,000 degrees Celsius – hotter than the surface of the Sun. Professor Brune admits that it is difficult to gauge the effectiveness of this process on a global scale. The results of this study were based on a limited number of flights over a small portion of the United States. There is still a lot of information that needs to be gathered to create a global picture. However, Professor Brune believes that the hydroxyl generated by lightning has a significant worldwide impact. Previous models suggested that lightning was not a significant contributor to the clean-up of the atmosphere. “Our best estimate right now is from 2%, which is quite important, to more than 10%, which is very important, for the total cleanup of the atmosphere. These estimates may change as our planet warms. Some climate change models show an increase in thunderstorm activity, which means more hydroxyl production and more cleaning of the atmosphere in the future. Other climate models suggest that there may not be much lightning, but lightning strikes will be more intense and may also alter the numbers. In any case, future models of climate change and global pollution will have to take into account this new information about the cleaning of the atmosphere, according to Professor Brune. Existing models may need updating.

Illustration. https://kinhtexaydung.petrotimes.vn The cost of pollution in Europe has risen by more than 50% this year, signaling that climate policies need to be harsher, the region is also starting to make a difference. Futures in the carbon market of Europe, the largest market in the world, exceeded $ 60 / ton for the first time on May 4. Rising prices make it more expensive to release carbon dioxide into the air and force the industry to look for cleaner ways to run production. According to Ulf Ek, investment director at London’s Northlander Commodity Advisors LLP, the bulls have to go further. He hopes the futures contract will trade as high as $ 91 / ton by the end of the year, to boost his incentive to protect the environment. The rise in prices and industry concerns about its competitiveness, poised to put further strain on political discussions about the implementation of the “Green Agreement,” aimed at achieving neutrality. on climate by 2050 and strengthening emissions reduction targets by 2030. Some technologies to cut emissions, such as hydrogen generated without pollution, are still too expensive for steel and chemical manufacturers. But further price hikes could change that. Record carbon prices in Europe will strengthen the Government budget. EU leaders are arguing about enacting stricter pollution targets over the next decade at an extraordinary summit in Brussels, to be held on May 23. On July 14, the European Commission will propose a regulatory package to enact a new goal, by 2030, to cut greenhouse gases by at least 55% from 1990 levels. Agree by national governments and the European Parliament to become the binding rule. https://kinhtexaydung.petrotimes.vn

You can treat hair loss yourself at home. Hair loss is not dangerous to life, but it is the most worry of women. Hair is falling more and more without understanding why, causing us to worry affecting our life. So what is the cause of hair loss. You will be answered by the article below. Hair loss due to water pollution Shampooing under polluted, alum water is one of the causes of hair loss. Because the water is polluted, you can use any type of shampoo and it will not work. Water pollution not only causes a lot of hair loss, but also can cause an allergic scalp, root fungus is very dangerous. So when you see a lot of hair loss, you should check the water first to see if it is dirty, alum? Ideally, you should install additional water treatment equipment to ensure no pollution. Insufficient nutrition Hair is made up of mainly protein (88%). These proteins are hard fibers, called keratins. Other components of hair include: water, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals. hard hair. In the absence of proteins and vitamins, hair minerals will be weaker and more prone to breaking. To limit hair loss, you need to eat enough nutrients and vitamins for the body to fully absorb nutrients. Essential oils for hair According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, essential oils from plants such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, or cedar will have a positive effect on hair growth. However, these oils are easy to have adverse effects if used alone. So experts recommend that you dilute them with another base oil like jojoba oil or grape seed oil before using it. You can mix 3-6 drops of essential oil with one tablespoon of carrier oil. Use a gentle massage mixture on the scalp every day and you will see an improvement in a short time. Scalp massage For hair that is being lost or weak, regular scalp massage will bring about unexpected results. You can go to massage at spa establishments or simply ask a relative, husband or wife or do it yourself quite easily. Scalp massage is not too difficult, you use your fingertips to massage the scalp with enough pressure and in circular motions. This has the ability to help blood flow to the scalp better, thereby stimulating the hair follicles to grow. Massage especially works better when combined with essential oils.

A day of bad air pollution recorded in New Delhi in January 2021 – Photo: AFP Chiang Rai is one of Thailand’s most beautiful provinces, with undulating hills, forests, elephant camps and top quality agricultural products. At the northernmost point of Chiang Rai is the confluence of the majestic Mekong River, which flows down from China and the Ruak River. Located on a nearby mountain slope, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort is one of a number of 5-star resorts attracting hikers, elephant lovers and landscape lovers. However, last week, only a few rooms here had guests staying. According to Nikkei Aisa, it was not the Covid-19 epidemic, but the haze in the dry season every year, making the scenery not only lose its breathtaking appearance but also toxic. The concentration of PM2.5 – fine dust with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm in the air – measured here on April 4 is nearly 400 micrograms / m3 of air, nearly 40 times higher than the safety level of the group. World Health Organization (WHO). Tourists wearing masks in Chiang Mai, Thailand in April 2019. For at least 15 years, this region has recorded many days with the highest PM2.5 in the world. Dust covered the northern provinces of Thailand. For at least the past 15 years, Chiang Mai, the neighboring province of Chiang Rai, has seen many days with the highest PM2.5 in the world. Unlike many parts of Asia, the air pollution crisis in northern Thailand was not caused by factories, cheap fuels and transportation, but from fires caused by intentional burning and burning agricultural by-products. “ENTRANCE DAY” OF ASIA Thailand’s green north, which has no industrial zones, is now at the heart of the global air pollution crisis. As recommended by the World Health Organization, the safe level of PM2.5 concentrations averaged 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air annually. Currently, however, less than 8% of the world’s population can breathe that safe atmosphere. And nowhere in the world has this index worse than Asia. According to the Swiss air quality technology firm IQAir, in the ranking of the worst air pollution cities in the world last year, the top 148 cities were all in the Asia-Pacific region. Thailand’s city of Chiang Rai was covered in smoke from forest fires and straw burning in 2019 – Photo: Getty Images According to a study published in the Journal of Cardiology Research in 2015, the air pollution death rate has caused nearly 8.8 million deaths globally, of which nearly 6.5 million are in Europe. ASIAN. This is becoming one of the most serious public health risks globally, even more so than cigarettes. In terms of health threats, the response to air pollution and the Covid-19 epidemic is completely different. Because, while a huge public budget is allocated to control the spread of the disease, addressing air pollution has remained largely flat. However, the annual number of deaths due to dust is many times higher than that of the more than 300,000 deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic last year in Asia, according to data compiled on worldometers.info. For many years, health agencies have raised the alarm about air quality in Asia. China’s so-called “doomsday atmosphere” has set off a decade of alarming about the serious health effects of air pollution. This situation has gradually improved thanks to strict Beijing measures. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan are now replacing China with the worst air quality in the world. “The world has turned its back on cigarettes, but now it has to deal with ‘new cigarettes’ – the toxic air that billions of people breathe every day,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “No country, rich or poor, can escape air pollution. This is a silent public health emergency.” A coal-fired power plant of Huaneng Shandong Rui Group is owned by the Chinese government in Sahiwal, Pakistan – Photo: Getty Images One of the reasons that Asia is hit hard by air pollution is its high population density. Top 4 countries with the most population density in the world have 3 Asian representatives: China, India and Indonesia. The total population of these three countries is 3.1 billion, accounting for about 39.2% of the global population. INDONESIA: SWEETS In Indonesia, fires caused by forest clearing are the cause of serious pollution. Seven out of 10 ASEAN countries were affected by haze caused by burning fires in Indonesia, according to a Greenpeace report. In particular, Singapore and Malaysia were most affected. The report, released after two decades of research, says the haze “causes widespread health problems including lung and cardiovascular disease”. In 2015, scientists at Harvard and Columbia Universities (USA) estimated that haze caused about 100,000 premature deaths in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. According to estimates of the World Bank (WB), the haze caused more than 16 billion USD in damage to the Indonesian economy. In February, Mr. Mohammad Mahfud MD, Indonesia’s Security Minister, said the total area affected by forest fires last year was nearly 300,000 hectares. This figure, although improved compared to 2019, is still 5 times larger than the area of ​​the capital Jakarta. In 2019, about 1.6 million hectares of forests in Indonesia were burned, leaving at least 900,000 people with respiratory problems. Economic loss of the eight affected provinces is 5.2 billion USD. INDIA AND PAKISTAN: GENERAL POINT OF CONTAMINATION According to IQAir 2020, in terms of PM2.5 fine dust concentration, the air quality in the Indian city of Delhi has improved by about 15% compared to 2019 thanks to nationwide blockade measures to prevent Covid-19 epidemics. . However, this is still the city with the worst pollution levels in the world. By 2020, air pollution is estimated to have killed some 54,000 people in the Indian capital, causing $ 8.1 billion in damages – or 13 percent of Delhi’s GDP, according to Greenpeace and IQAir. The (avoidable) air pollution deaths in Mumbai and Bangalore cities are 25,000 and 12,000, respectively. Smoke enveloped the Indian Gate in New Delhi on December 25, 2018 – Photo: Nikkei Asia India has 22 representatives in the top 30 most polluted cities in the world. Despite improving over the past few years, the country’s air pollution remains at a “dangerously high level”, according to a Greenpeace report. The annual average PM2.5 concentration of Delhi is 84.1 micrograms / m3 of air. For comparison, Beijing’s figures are 37.5, Seoul 20.9, Paris 12.2 and London 9.6. India and Pakistan have something in common about pollution: Vehicle dust. IQAir ranks Pakistan as the second most polluted country in the world and is estimated that about 20% of deaths in the country are related to air pollution. Malik Amin Aslam, Pakistan’s climate change minister, said 40 percent of the haze in the country was caused by vehicle emissions. Some other causes are industrial emissions and crop burning around the Lahore region and the border in India. “In Pakistan, the use of dirty fuels has exacerbated air pollution,” said Ahmad Rafay Alam, environmental lawyer at Lahore and Yale World Fellow. To mitigate the air pollution crisis, the Pakistani government has set a target to increase the sales of electric vehicles to about 30% of total vehicle sales by 2020, while also requiring the import of only fuels that meet Euro-V standards. . However, Mr. Ahmad Rafay Alam said that the fuel and electric vehicle import policy exists only on paper because the government has not taken practical steps to implement them. VIETNAM: THE PRICE OF GROWTH? According to GlobalData’s forecast, Vietnam is the most growing economy in ASEAN with real GDP growth of 8.5% this year. However, with this growth, concerns about the environment are increasing. According to a Q&M survey of nearly 800 people aged 18-49, 79% of respondents said that air pollution is their biggest environmental concern. 84% consider environmental problems to be more serious in 2020. According to official data, Vietnam lost about 10.8-13.2 billion USD per year due to air pollution. The Global Alliance for Health and Pollution estimated 50,232 people died from air pollution in Vietnam in 2017. Motorcyclists in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2019. In a recent survey, 79% of Vietnamese respondents said that air pollution is their biggest environmental concern – Photo: EPA PM2.5 concentrations around Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City hit a particularly high level in November and December 2020. Facing this situation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has directed the local government to install an additional air monitoring system. Last January, the Prime Minister also issued a directive on air pollution control. The government recommends that people close windows, wear outdoor masks and wash their noses with salt water for both the young and the elderly. CHINA: DETERMINATION MEASURES China is ranked 14th out of 106 countries for IQAir’s 2020 air pollution level. However, this ranking has improved significantly compared to previous years when the country’s average PM2.5 concentration fell from 41.2 micrograms / m3 of air in 2018 to 34.7 last year (albeit still). 3 times the WHO safety standard). Over the past few years, China has taken drastic measures at the government level to clean up the atmosphere. Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a carbon neutral goal by 2060. Last January, China’s National Energy Administration was warned by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment for its negligence in controlling coal production. This is a rare reprimand in China’s state agencies. According to Nikkei Asia, China only really started to tackle its air pollution problem drastically in 2013, when coal could meet two-thirds of domestic electricity demand. China currently leads the world in solar power development at a significantly reduced cost relative to the world. The country’s electric vehicle and battery sectors also lead the world. Drastic measures by China in recent years include relocating polluting old factories. Earlier last year, 46 factories in Hebei province, near Beijing, were relocated to reduce industrial pollution, especially from steel, cement and glass production. The Forbidden City in Beijing was covered in smog in 2018 – Photo: Nikkei Asia However, not all solutions to China’s air pollution are environmentally friendly. The country’s push to build hydroelectricity to reduce coal use has raised environmental concerns in many Southeast Asian countries.

India is one of the worst affected countries, with many areas often covered in smog with dangerous particles of dust floating around. The Lancet Medical Journal’s “Global Burden of Disease” study estimates that pollution caused about 1.7 million premature deaths in India in 2019 – almost 18 percent of all deaths. in this country. New Delhi capital sinks in air pollution – Photo: AFP Based on this study, a new analysis by consulting firm Dalberg Advisors shows that air pollution reduces productivity, reduces consumer and tourist spending, costs Indian businesses $ 95 billion. each year, equivalent to 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. Director of Dalberg Asia – Gaurav Gupta said: “Clean air is a prerequisite for businesses to thrive. Industry leaders should take more ownership and become advocates of the movement for cleaner air. According to a report by the Clean Air Fund, a charity, the estimated number of years of work lost due to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths is estimated to have cost India’s economy $ 44 billion in 2019 because air pollution. In addition, Dalberg says the effects of pollution on the health of Indian workers cost them 1.4 billion sick days a year, or about $ 6 billion in lost revenue.

Don’t wash too often Outdoor activities make hair sticky quickly, making experienceers often have to wash their hair. Too much frequency causes hair to lose its natural moisture. In the case of hair without natural oils, it becomes coarse, dull and difficult to style. Therefore, you should wash your hair every 2-3 days, helping your hair to be kept moisturized by natural oils. You should also avoid washing your hair with hot water. The high temperature dries out the hair due to the loss of oil as a protective role. Instead, use lukewarm water, which allows for an effective, non-irritating cleanser of the hair and scalp. With the last rinse, cold water works to close the cuticles, making the hair shine. You shouldn’t wash your hair too often. Photo: Global Village Space. Use conditioner and vitamins Conditioner makes hair soft, easy to style. It also strengthens the hair, avoiding split ends. You should only apply the tail part and not on the scalp, making it difficult for the scalp to breathe and causing hair loss. Besides, vitamins have a nourishing effect on hair roots. The way the vitamin works is to stimulate hair growth and improve blood circulation to all parts of the scalp. If you want healthy hair, take the right vitamins. You also need to add protein (eggs, fish, meat and nuts) and vitamins A, B … for hair in foods such as carrots, pumpkins, salmon, avocados … Conditioners and vitamins provide essential nutrients for the hair. Photo: ELLE. Regularly trim the ends of your hair Dealing with split ends is the hardest part of any hair care routine. Before split ends, the ends of the hair can become dry and brittle, look lifeless, and make styling more difficult. This is an early sign to help you recognize when to trim. If you want healthy hair, regular trimming is essential. This encourages hair growth by removing damaged, broken, or split ends. According to experts, the interval between pruning is 3-4 months. Trimming the ends of your hair helps remove damaged parts. Photo: Groupon. Pay attention to how you brush your hair When combing your hair, there are some precautions that need to be taken to help maintain the health of your hair. You should avoid brushing immediately after washing or while your hair is still wet. Hairs tend to swell when wet, making hair more fragile and 3 times more likely to break. Most combs have teeth close together. They cling to and pulling on the brittle hairs. Repeated brushing can cause hairs to break. If you must brush your hair when it is wet, use a finger or a wide-toothed comb. For thinning hair, you should use a paddle brush that stimulates blood circulation under the scalp and has good debugging ability. Meanwhile, the wide tooth comb is suitable for people with curly hair. In addition, you should limit tight hair, obstructing the circulation of nutrients to each hair. You should choose a comb that matches your hairstyle. Photo: Today Show. Limit thermal effects Using a dryer regularly makes hair dry and brittle. The dryer removes surface moisture as well as water from the hair. Use a towel to absorb the water and let it air dry. In case of use, you should choose low temperature to minimize damage. One of the most common dangers of straightening or perming is severe dryness of the entire strand of hair. These tools cause the hair layers to crack, break, and lose natural moisture. Dry straightening causes cracking along the edge of the cuticles. Meanwhile, wet hair causes moisture to escape into small steam bursts, causing the epidermis to dislocate. Both types of damage can lead to fracture and split ends. The sun and pollution can damage and dry hair, split ends or break. When outdoors, you need to use a hat or tie it neatly to limit the amount of hair exposed to direct sunlight. You should limit your use of a dryer, iron, or curling iron. Photo: Sunday Guardian. Recipes of skin and hair care before bed Sleep skin care to promote regeneration, giving a radiant look in the morning.

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