The Basel Convention on the Control of

Transboundary Movements

of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal

By: Markie Ryckman

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Overview:

Global Hazardous Waste Crisis

Events that pushed for action

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal, 1989

Issue cannot be resolved until Basel Ban (Annex VII) is ratified

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WAIT!

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Basel Convention, 1989

1) Minimize the production of hazardous waste

2) Disposing of hazardous waste as close to the source of production as possible

3) Reducing movement of waste

3 Objectives:

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legitimizes

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rather than

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prohibits

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ATTENTION!

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ATTENTION!

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ATTENTION!

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“About 150 million television sets, washing machines, refrigerators, air-conditioners and computers are discarded every year in China... Only 10 percent gets recycled.”

-- 2007 China Daily report

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“When the original Basel Convention was adopted in 1989, it was primarily an instrument to monitor the transboundary movement of hazardous waste rather than to prevent and reduce them.”

-- 2008 Daily News, Sri Lanka

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“Some parties [of the convention] say that the export of used e-products into Nigeria is a way to address the digital divide and to provide more jobs for the people. In reality, a lot of these items are useless and end up in waste lots and burned.”

-- 2008 Daily News, Sri Lanka

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“The improper treatment of electronics creates serious pollution that takes more than a century to dissipate, exposing the men, women, and children of the countryside to major health hazards.” -- 2009 China Daily report

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“Tens of thousands of tonnes of toxic waste from Scotland are being illegally dumped in Africa and Asia every year... threatening the environment and endangering the health... This is about ensuring that Scottish waste isn’t dumped on developing nations which have insufficient facilities to deal with it.”

-- 2010 Sunday Herald Newspaper, Scotland

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“The Basel Ban Amendment which prohibits the export of toxic waste from developed countries such as the European Union to developing countries can further enhance the control that is needed to prevent toxic wastes ending up in Asia. Asian governments will be well placed against this threat if they ratify the Basel Ban”

-- Richard Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific office of the Basel Action Network, 2010

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Photo Sources (numbered excluding non photo slides)

Slide 1: http://www.rachelnador.com/newpages/indivprojects/cartoon_room.htm, http://lymenaide.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/countdown-to-may-week-2-who-gets-the-psa/, http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/objects-equipment/2160161-laptop.php?id=2160161, http://www.clipartpal.com/clipart/cartoon/cartoon_265263.htmlSlide 2: http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/42-18675476.html, http://mobilereview24.com/blackberry-9000-bold-review/, http://www.yugatech.com/blog/tag/ipod-nano/, http://www.levoltz.com/2009/07/23/5-things-to-look-for-when-buying-a-digital-camera/, http://www.medical-supply.ie/giftcollection.shtml, http://www.mountaintopmtg.net/car-loans.htm, http://www.peoplesoft-planet.com/ERP_Related_Industry_Advice_Articles.htmlSlide 3: http://www.news-record.com/blog/52940/entry/67155, http://www.microscopyu.com/museum/firstnikon.html, http://industrialrevolutionresearch.com/industrial_revolution_steam_engine.php, http://www.ehow.com/how_5726112_count-binary-number-system.html, http://markjowen.wordpress.com/tag/innovation/, http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2006/4/8/81320/22829, http://www.zunal.com/index-matrix.php?Curriculum=110&Grade=104&page=7Slide 4: http://storyofstuff.org/electronics/Slide 5: http://www.mysafetylabels.com/Safety-Stickers/chemical-safety-hazard-labels.aspxSlide 6: http://newyork.inetgiant.com/Albany/AdDetails/Free-Small-Business-Advertising-Videos/10044728Slide 7: http://www.ban.org/photogallery/index.htmlSlides 8-17: Washington Post archives: http://proquest.umi.com.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/login?COPT=U01EPTYmSU5UPTAmVkVSPTImREJTPTI2OEE@Slide 17: http://www.geographicguide.com/africa-map.htmSlide 18: http://www.ban.org/photogallery/index.htmlSlide 19: http://proquest.umi.com.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/login?COPT=U01EPTYmSU5UPTAmVkVSPTImREJTPTI2OEE@Slide 20: http://www.zerowastevancouver.org/are_you_a_concerned.html

Photo Sources (numbered excluding non photo slides), indicated in bottom right corner or slides

Slide 21-24: http://proquest.umi.com.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/login?COPT=U01EPTYmSU5UPTAmVkVSPTImREJTPTI2OEE@Slide 25: New York Times Archive: http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?srchst=nyt&&srcht=a&srchr=nSlide 26: http://www.basel.int/convention/basics.html, http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/co2-carbon-dioxide-center/the-abcs-of-climate-change/Slide 27: http://www.clipartof.com/gallery/clipart/screaming.htmlSlide 28: http://storyofstuff.org/electronics/Slide 29: http://storyofstuff.org/electronics/, http://greenixlive.blogspot.com/Slide 30: http://storyofstuff.org/electronics/Slide 31: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/uk-s-own-ghost-ship-in-india/, http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/toxfreeasia/updates/june5.html, http://www.pollutionissues.com/A-Bo/Activism.html, http://poietes.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/where-is-my-vote-protest-sign-in-iran/green-peace-sign/Slide 32: http://storyofstuff.org/electronics/Slide 33: http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00524/baselconvention.htmlSlide 34: http://www.ban.org/photogallery/index.htmlSlide 35: http://herinst.org/BusinessManagedDemocracy/government/privatisation/watercartels.htmlSlide 36: http://becomingmighty.com/Excerpts/3BB8B922-E818-4E23-8852-4C77F6E91284.htmlSlide 37: http://proquest.umi.com.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/login?COPT=U01EPTYmSU5UPTAmVkVSPTImREJTPTI2OEE@Slide 38: http://giftfreshmangos.com/, http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=91165, http://raisingchildren.net.au/verve/_resources/girl-eating-mango.jpg, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skull_and_crossbones.png, http://www.mapsorama.com/satellite-photo-of-north-america/, http://kelsocartography.com/print/maproom/Slide 39: http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/CON1679.php

Quotation Sources

1: http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2007/070129_grim_reality.html2: http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2008/080701_harder_to_control.html3: http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2008/080701_harder_to_control.html4: http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2007/070129_grim_reality.html5: http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2010/100926_poisoning_africa_and_asia.html6: http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2008/080926_toxic_waste_exports_in_asia_alarming.html