Geneva, Switzerland — Today, 187 countries took a major step forward in curbing the plastic waste crisis by adding plastic to the Basel Convention, a treaty that controls the movement of hazardous waste from one country to another. The amendments require exporters to obtain the consent of receiving countries before shipping most contaminated, mixed, or unrecyclable plastic waste, providing an important tool for countries in the Global South to stop the dumping of unwanted plastic waste into their country. After China banned imports of most plastic waste in 2018, developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, have received a huge influx of contaminated and mixed plastic wastes that are difficult or even impossible to recycle. Norway’s proposed amendments to the Basel Convention provides countries the right to refuse unwanted or unmanageable plastic waste.

6 May 2019, Paris: The world faces ecological collapse and mass extinctions unless dramatic action is taken to change social and economic systems, according to a global assessment launched today by The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The IPBES report is the most comprehensive scientific global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services to be adopted by Governments. It exposes the main drivers of global biodiversity collapse and calls for urgent regulatory change. The time has come to stop talking in terms of distinct crises, be it climate or biodiversity – and which is worse – rather we need tackle them all as one, with total system change, according to Friends of the Earth International’s assessment. 

Community members of Copley and Leigh Creek gathered at the Copley Hall to affirm their clear opposition to the Underground Coal Gasification project at the old Leigh Creek Coal Mine. The UCG trial of Leigh Creek Energy (LKE) project is due to end on May 7.

Water contamination, crop death, illness, and the open burning of plastic waste have all flooded into Southeast Asia along with the world’s “recycled” plastics, according to a report by GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) with data analysis on the global waste trade from Greenpeace East Asia.

On the day before the Federal election was called, the Government quietly announced changes to Australia’s Gene Technology Regulations that will allow a raft of new genetically modified (GM) animals, plants and microbes to enter our environment and food chain with no safety assessment and potentially no labelling. 

A dam collapses in Brazil killing hundreds and causing untold pollution. 21 million people work as forced labourers—many in global supply chains. 

Community members flooded the streets around the country on April 10 demanding changes to industrial law and Friends of the Earth was there to support. But why does FoE fight for workers’ rights?

A subsidiary of the Gina Rinehart owned Hancock Prospecting is encountering a number of problems in Ecuador. The subsidiary known as Hanrine Ecuadorian Exploration and Mining SA set up offices in Ecuador in 2017.  

Changes to Australia’s Gene Technology Regulations announced yesterday will allow a raft of new genetically modified (GM) animals, plants and microbes to enter our environment and food chain with no safety assessment and potentially no labelling. These include super-muscly pigs, non-browning mushrooms, and wheat with powdery mildew-resistance.

Friends of the Earth Australia and Stop Lynas Campaign Australia stand in solidarity with all Malaysians calling for Australian-owned rare earth miner Lynas Corporation to stop polluting Malaysia with its toxic radioactive waste and to start cleaning up the mess it has created.