Under siege

India, seen as a dumpyard by the developed countries for toxic wastes, is under pressure not to ratify the Basel Ban

Drawing the waste-line

The national committee to look into the management of hazardous wastes met for the first time in New Delhi

Basel Ban Amendment becomes law

Croatia became the 97th country to ratify the ban, which was adopted by the parties to the Basel Convention in 1995, to protect human health and …

Deadly generosity

Eighty-four nations may have 'agreed' to ban the export of poisonous wastes, but major players in the trade like Germany could ruin the …

In the dumps

Despite international regulations and campaigning by environmentalists, hazardous waste continues to be dumped in India

Indecent proposal

In urging free import of zinc ash, which is often contaminated, Planning Commission member G Thimmiah has shown scant respect for the environment

Slipping through

Late reaction to toxic oil imports by state Pollution Control Board (Read full article)

Recycle waste 'In-my-Backyard'

The business of recycling only works when it discounts the costs of health and environment of poor people working in dangerous conditions

Dealing with waste

On the 10th anniversary of the Basel Convention, member states reiterate the need to minimise the generation of hazardous waste

Talking in riddles

A recent protocol on compensation to victims of hazardous waste permits the generators to go scot-free

Nations discuss ban on toxic exports

Ban Amendment seeks to curb export of hazardous waste by rich countries to the poor, but has not been brought into force since 1994

Environet

This column will bring you an update on various groups and individuals working in fields related to environment, development and the sciences. …

Green signals from cellphone companies

Manufacturers sign declaration at the Sixth Conference of Parties (CoP-6) to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of …

Battle for turf

If the South wants to protect its interests against the power of the Bretton Woods institutions and WTO, it will need its own, equally powerful forum

Polluter says' principle

GEF should have been a liability fund, rather than a 'guilt fund' set up by the North to make up for the global damage it had caused

Free, not fair

Does a country have the right to demand that its domestic standards on environmental protection be applicable to all countries?

Wood-headed proposal

After almost 10 years of fighting for or against a forest convention, there is not even a common view on why forests are under threat and what …

Toxic travellers

Developing countries are wary of the proposed treaty as chemicals like DDT are still used in many malaria-prone regions for vector control

Rio's stepchild

Northern countries still see desertification as a local problem caused by population pressures rather than international trade patterns and …

Biodiversity

To energise the biodiversity convention, the world will have to first deal with difficult countries like the US

Boiling point

Climate change negotiations get emotional because carbon dioxide emissions are closely related to individual lifestyles - and to national …

Meta Outstripped

The pace of construction at a controversial copper plant in Goa has not slackened despite protests from the people and the church

Coming out of coma

A decline in its funds and erosion in its mandate have made the United Nations Environment Programme virtually ineffective. Bharat H Desai looks …

Push to strengthen Basel Convention regional centres

Centres in turn will assist in ratifying ban on toxic exports from rich nations to the poor

Supreme Court reserves verdict on Exxon Valdez for July 30

'Gujarat authorities violated apex court order banning entry of ship into Indian waters'