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Female workers sort out plastic bottles for recycling in a factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Credit: Abir Abdullah/Climate Visuals Countdown

By Masum Billah
DHAKA, Nov 27 2024 (IPS)

After Bangladesh’s interim government banned polyethene bags, a new sense of hope has emerged for the Sonali bag—a jute-based, eco-friendly alternative developed in 2017 by Bangladeshi scientist Dr. Mubarak Ahmed Khan. Sonali bag, or the golden bag, is named after the golden fiber of jute from which it is made.

Despite its promises, the project has struggled to make significant progress due to a lack of funding. However, following the announcement of the polythene bag ban, Mubarak is now facing pressure to supply his Sonali bag to a market eager for sustainable alternatives.

“Since the government banned polythene bags, we have faced immense pressure of orders that we cannot meet—people are coming in with requests at an overwhelming rate,” Mubarak Ahmed Khan told the IPS.

The latest ban, which came into effect on October 1 for superstores and traditional markets on November 1, isn’t the first time Bangladesh has imposed a ban on polythene bags.

In 2002, the country became the first in the world to outlaw them, as plastic waste was severely clogging city drainage systems and exacerbating its waterlogging crisis, with Dhaka alone consuming an estimated 410 million polybags each month. But the ban gradually lost effectiveness over the years, largely due to a lack of affordable and practical alternatives and inadequate enforcement from regulatory authorities.

Dr. Mubarak Ahmed Khan in his office holding a Sonali Bag. Credit: Masum Billah/IPS

Polyethene bags, although cheaper, are harmful to the environment as they are non-biodegradable and their decomposition takes at least 400 years. Sonali Bag as an alternative, on the other hand, is regarded as a game-changer because it is biodegradable, capable of decomposing in three months.

The ban comes as the UN Plastics Treaty Negotiations are underway in Busan, South Korea. The UN Environment Programme estimates that around the world, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute.

“In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes—used just once and then thrown away.”

Without an agreement, the OECD estimates that annual plastic production, use, and waste are predicted to increase by 70 percent in 2040 compared to 2020. This on a planet already choking on plastic waste.

The talks have in the past stalled over a disagreement over how to manage waste, with some countries favouring introducing a cap on plastic production and others supporting circularity with use, reuse, and recycling as the main objectives.

The plastics treaty talks will run from 25 November 2024 to 1 December 2024.

However, despite its environmental benefits and higher demands, in Bangladesh the Sonali Bag project still remains within the pilot phase.

A late start for funding crisis

After Mubarak’s invention made headlines, the country’s state-owned Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation launched a pilot project, setting up a jute-polymer unit at the Latif Bawani Jute Mill to produce Sonali Bag.

Mubarak said they have been asking for government funds, as the project has been operating under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute. However, the basic funding that kept the pilot project running expired last December, and the previous government—which was toppled in August in a mass uprising—had discontinued the project.

“There had been assurances that we might receive Tk100 crore (about USD 8 million) in funding from the government by July. But then came political unrest and a change in government,” Mubarak said.

After the new government took charge, they renewed the pledges to fund the Sonali Bag project.

“The interim government told us that we will get the money in January. If that happens, we will be able to produce five tons of bags per day,” Mubarak said. “Five tons may not be a lot, but it will give us the chance to demonstrate our work to private investors, boosting their confidence to engage with us.”

According to Mubarak, one kilogram of Sonali bags amounts to around 100 pieces of small bags. Based on this estimate, five tons could produce around 15 million bags per month.

Bangladesh’s current adviser to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Md. Sakhawat Hossain, told IPS that they are seriously considering funding the Sonali Bag project this January, although he acknowledged that his ministry is currently facing a funding crisis.

“The work will begin in full scale after the fund is provided,” Sakhawat Hossain said. When asked if Mubarak would receive the funds by January, he replied, “We hope so.”

A ban without adequate alternatives at hand

Mubarak Ahmed Khan regards the government’s decision to ban polythene bags as a “praiseworthy” initiative. However, he emphasized that sustainable and affordable alternatives to the polythene bags should come soon.

Mubarak is not alone in his concerns. Sharif Jamil, founder of Waterkeepers Bangladesh, an organization dedicated to protecting water bodies, shares skepticism about the effectiveness of the ban this time, citing the lack of sustainable alternatives in the market.

“The announcement of this ban is an important and timely step. However, it must also be noted that our previous ban was not enforced. Without addressing the underlying issues that led to nonenforcement of the previous ban, the new polythene ban will not resolve the existing problems. It is crucial to tackle the challenges that allowed polythene to remain in the market,” Sharif Jamil told IPS.

“If you don’t provide people with an alternative and simply remove polythene from the markets, the ban won’t be effective,” he added.

Sharif noted that the existing alternatives in the market are not affordable, with some selling alternative jute bags at Tk25 in supermarkets, while polythene bags are often offered at a price that is essentially free.

“Alternatives need to be more affordable and accessible to the public,” he said.

Mubarak stated that his Sonali bag currently costs Tk10 per piece, but he anticipates lowering the price with increased production and demand.

The pursuit of competition in sustainable alternatives

Sharif Jamil, however, wants competition in the sustainable alternatives market.

“It is not only about incentivizing Dr. Mubarak’s project,” Sharif said.

This technology has to be incentivized and recognized, but the government also has to ensure two other things, he said.

“If the government can make it accessible to people at a lower price, it will reach them. Secondly, if the alternative remains solely with Mubarak, it will create a monopoly again,” he said.

It must undergo competition, he recommended. Bangladesh has a competition commission to ensure that other existing sustainable green solutions on the market are also incentivized and recognized.

“Besides facilitating and upgrading Mubarak’s project, the government should ensure fair competition so that people can access it at a lower price,” he added.

For the sake of environment

Adviser Shakhawat Hossain said that they are optimistic about the success of Sonali Bag.

“Already the ambassadors of various countries are meeting me about this. Some buying houses too have been created for this. It seems it will be a sustainable development,” he said.

Mubarak said that if they get the funding soon, Sonali Bag will have a market not only in Bangladesh but all over the world.

He said the private investors should come forward not just because the government has banned polythene bags, but out of a moral obligation to address the negative impact these bags have on the environment.

“With this, I believe we can create a polythene-free environment,” Mubarak said, acknowledging, “It is not easy to introduce this to the market solely because it is a new product. We are up against an USD 3.5 trillion single-use plastic market.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Samira, a mother of five, was forced to leave her home following bombardment and is now living with her children in the streets of Martyrs Square in Beirut. Credit: UNICEF/Fouad Choufany

By Naureen Hossain
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 27 2024 (IPS)

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah comes into effect early on Wednesday morning (November 27). It is hoped that this will mark an end to a 13-month-long period of hostilities between the two parties in Lebanon.

News of the ceasefire came from United States President Joe Biden, who made a televised announcement on Tuesday afternoon that an agreement had been reached between the Israeli and Lebanese governments. Biden remarked that the ceasefire was expected to be a “permanent cessation of hostilities” from both sides of the conflict.

“Civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin to rebuild their homes, their schools, their farms, their businesses, and their very lives,” said Biden. “We are determined that this conflict will not just be another cycle of violence.”

Under the ceasefire agreements, which will initially last for sixty days, fighting at the Israel-Lebanon border will come to an end, and Israeli troops are expected to gradually withdraw from south Lebanon. Hezbollah is expected to pull back north of the Litani river, ending their presence in southern Lebanon.

The implementation of this ceasefire will be overseen by the United States, France, and the United Nations through the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The UN has made repeated calls for the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), which calls for an end to the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and the need for Lebanon to exert government control.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire deal, noting that it would be an “essential step towards restoring calm and stability in Lebanon,” while also warning that Israel must commit to the agreement and abide by UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared in a video statement shortly before the ceasefire deal was reached that Israel would retaliate if Hezbollah made any moves that violated the terms of the ceasefire.

Senior leaders in the UN, including Secretary-General António Guterres, welcomed the ceasefire announcement. In an official statement from his office, Guterres urges the parties to “fully respect and swiftly implement all of their commitments made under this agreement.”

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, also released a statement where she welcomed the ceasefire agreement. She went on to remark that this would signify the start of a critical process, “anchored in the full implementation” of the Security Council resolution 1701 (2006), to go forward in restoring the safety and security of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line.

“Considerable work lies ahead to ensure that the agreement endures. Nothing less than the full and unwavering commitment of both parties is required,” Hennis-Plasschaert said. “It is clear that the status quo of implementing only select provisions of Resolution 1701 (2006) while paying lip service to others will not suffice. Neither side can afford another period of disingenuous implementation under the guise of ostensible calm.”

The ceasefire agreement comes after a year-long period of escalating tensions and fighting, which began shortly after the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel. Hostilities ramped up in September of this year when the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) made repeated attacks on southern Lebanon. The fallout of the humanitarian situation has seen the displacement of over 900,000 civilians since October 2023, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Over 3823 civilian casualties have been confirmed within Lebanon and Israel. Of those casualties, at least 1356 civilians have been killed since October 8, 2023.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said that the work must begin to sustain this peace and that children and families, including those displaced and in host communities, need to be ensured a safe return. Humanitarian organizations need to be “granted safe, timely, and unimpeded access to deliver lifesaving aid and services to all affected areas.”

“We call on all parties to uphold their commitments, respect international law, and work with the international community to sustain peace and ensure a brighter future for children,” said Russell. “Children deserve stability, hope, and a chance to rebuild their futures. UNICEF will continue to stand with them every step of the way.”

Even as a ceasefire seemed imminent, on Tuesday Israeli warplanes bombarded Beirut’s southern neighborhoods. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of 24 civilians. Al Jazeera reported that even amidst Biden’s announcement, the war in Lebanon was “still very much going.”

In recent months, UNIFIL forces have been caught in the crossfires and have faced challenges in fulfilling their mandate. Most recently, four Italian peacekeepers were injured when rockets hit the headquarters in Shama, though they did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

On this incident, UNIFIL stated: “The deliberate or accidental targeting of peacekeepers serving in south Lebanon must cease immediately to ensure their safety and uphold international law.” Earlier this month, UNIFIL released a statement detailing the actions the IDF took against the peacekeepers, including the “deliberate and direct destruction” of UNIFIL property.

During his address on Tuesday, Biden acknowledged Gaza and the lack of a ceasefire for the ongoing war. “Just as the people of Lebanon deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza,” Biden said. “They too deserve an end to the fighting and the displacement. The people of Gaza have been through hell. Their world is absolutely shattered. Far too many civilians in Gaza have suffered far too much.”

Biden pledged that the United States would make another push to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, along with Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel; one that would see an end to the violence and the release of all hostages. The United States has vetoed Security Council resolutions that would have called for a ceasefire in Gaza on four separate occasions, most recently this November.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Am Mittwochmittag wird ‘Team von der Leyen’ mit seinen 26 EU-Kommissaren wohl vom EU-Parlament bestätigt werden. Dass die Wunschbesetzung damit nahezu reibungslos durchkommt, ist auch der geschwächten Mitte nach den Europawahlen geschuldet, die insbesondere den Sozialdemokraten die Schlagkraft genommen hat.

Swapo's Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is seeking to become the country's first female president.

The Conference of Presidents has formally brought the hearings process of Commissioners-designate to a close and authorised the publication of all evaluation letters.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The Conference of Presidents has formally brought the hearings process of Commissioners-designate to a close and authorised the publication of all evaluation letters.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The Conference of Presidents has formally brought the hearings process of Commissioners-designate to a close and authorised the publication of all evaluation letters.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The Conference of Presidents has formally brought the hearings process of Commissioners-designate to a close and authorised the publication of all evaluation letters.

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Le retour de Trump à la Maison Blanche signifie-t-il un affaiblissement des liens entre les États-Unis et le continent ?

Le retour de Trump à la Maison Blanche signifie-t-il un affaiblissement des liens entre les États-Unis et le continent ?

Wednesday, 27 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Wednesday, 27 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Wednesday, 27 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Wednesday, 27 November

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Aujourd'hui dans l'Expresso : Manfred Weber, l'homme fort du Parlement européen ? UE-Mercosur : la Pologne et la France affichent un front commun contre l’accord commercial, les pays du G7 soutiennent le cessez-le-feu au Proche-Orient, mais divergent sur les mandats d’arrêt de la CPI.

Trumps Drohung, zusätzliche Zölle auf Waren aus Mexiko, Kanada und China zu erheben, sollte ein „lauter Weckruf“ für Europa sein, sagte Siegfried Russwurm, Chef des Bundesverbands der Deutschen Industrie (BDI). Europa könnte als Nächstes von neuen US-Zöllen betroffen sein.

Budapesti rendőrök látványos üldözés során fogtak el egy körözött férfit az M0-ás autópályán. A férfi a rendőri intézkedés elől menekülve először a főváros utcáin száguldozott, majd az autópályára hajtott. A vadul száguldó járművet a rendőrök követték, végül az M0-son sikerült utolérniük.

A szökés drámai fordulatot vett, amikor a férfi a mozgó autóból kiugrott, és a vadvédelmi kerítésen át próbált megszökni. A rendőrök azonban gyorsabbak voltak és rövid időn belül elfogták a férfit.

A 25 éves F. Norbert ellen több körözés volt érvényben, többek között lopás és jármű önkényes elvétele miatt. Az autójában talált kábítószergyanús anyag miatt kábítószer birtoklása vétség gyanúja miatt is eljárás indult ellene. A férfit őrizetbe vették.

The post Vakmerő szökés vége: Elkaptak egy körözött férfit az M0-son appeared first on Biztonságpiac.

UNICEF distributes critical generator oils and filters to Gaza. Credit: UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 27 2024 (IPS)

Following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for deliberate war crimes committed on the people of Gaza, there has been a considerable surge in hostilities, mostly concentrated in the enclave’s northern regions. The humanitarian crisis is expected to deteriorate as the availability of essential resources, such as water, food, fuel, and electricity has significantly dwindled over the past few weeks due to sustained blockages by Israeli authorities. Additionally, levels of civilian casualties and displacements have reached new peaks.

Despite repeated claims from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that the airstrikes are meant to target Hamas members and infrastructure only, there have been frequent airstrikes on residential areas hosting displaced Gazan civilians. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, there have been over 44,000 civilian casualties in the past 13 months of this conflict. Hopeless, Starving, and Besieged, a report by the Human Rights Watch, estimates that roughly 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced.

On November 21, a series of overnight strikes ravaged a residential neighborhood in Beit Lahiya, causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure. Gaza’s Health Ministry has confirmed that there have been at least 66 civilian casualties from this attack. Many are reportedly still buried under rubble. The victims were rushed to the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital, which has been severely strained due to the influx of patients and dwindling resources.

The director of the hospital, Hussam Abu Safia, informed reporters that the majority of the casualties are women and children. Abu Safia added that hospital staff rushed to the scene to retrieve bodies from underneath rubble, observing that many bodies hung from the walls and ceilings of the destroyed settlement.

“A very large number of casualties has arrived, and there are still many bodies hanging on the walls, ceilings. We are already operating with the bare minimum resources, that is why most of our staff are now busy rescuing the injured due to the lack of ambulances and resources. The situation is honestly very dire. We cannot cope with this massive number of injuries and casualties,” said Abu Safia.

Health officials have warned that inadequate reserves of fuel are responsible for an imminent failure of Gaza’s healthcare system. Margaret Harris, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed specific concern for the Kamal Adwan Hospital due to the rising intensity of the airstrikes and the wide scale of needs.

Marwan al-Hams, director of Gaza’s field hospitals, informed reporters on November 22 that “all hospitals in Gaza will stop working or reduce their services within 48 hours due to the occupation’s (Israel’s) obstruction of fuel entry.”

The Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Muhannad Hadi, warned on November 21 that continued hostilities threaten to bring humanitarian operations in Gaza to a “standstill.” Essential resources for displacement shelters- such as food, water, and medical supplies- have been nearly completely depleted.

According to Hadi, the IDF has banned all commercial imports for over six weeks, deepening the widespread levels of hunger, disease, and suffering, particularly in northern Gaza. Bakeries, which have acted as lifelines for millions of Gazans throughout the crisis, have been closing “one after the other” due to a lack of flour to bake bread and fuel to power generators. Approximately 2 million people are predicted to be affected.

OCHA reports that as of November 26, 41 attempts were made by the UN to reach Palestinians in the besieged areas of Northern Gaza with humanitarian aid, yet none of them were facilitated by Israeli authorities. 37 missions were rejected by the authorities, and the four that were approved were only partially successful as they faced challenges on the ground.

On November 22, the WFP released the Global Outlook 2025, a report that examines issues in global food security. According to figures in the report, Gaza is critically dependent on humanitarian aid for survival, with approximately 91 percent of the population facing acute food insecurity. 16 percent are living under catastrophic conditions.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

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Bulgarien steht weiterhin vor einer schweren politischen Krise, die das Land nun zu den achten Parlamentswahlen innerhalb von vier Jahren zwingt. Boyko Borissov, der Vorsitzende der größten Partei GERB, erklärte, dass er nicht für das Amt des Ministerpräsidenten kandidieren werde.