Ontario, Canada. Negotiators from most states are currently discussing the draft of a worldwide treaty aimed at eradicating plastic pollution, marking the first instance of such negotiations.

Delegates and observers at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution regarded it as a positive development, and discussions have transitioned from conceptualization to the formulation of a treaty at this fourth out of five planned plastics summits.

The concept of internationally restricting the production of plastic is highly controversial. The document continues to exist despite the vehement opposition from countries and companies involved in plastic production, as well as oil and gas exporters. The majority of plastic is derived from fossil fuels and chemical compounds.

The Ottawa session was set for late Monday or early Tuesday. During Monday night’s meeting, there was a heated debate about whether the working groups should prioritize the issue of plastic manufacture before the upcoming and final meeting.

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Global Negotiations On A Treaty To End Plastic Pollution At Critical Phase In Canada

According to Stewart Harris, a representative of the International Council of Chemical Associations, the members are advocating for a treaty that specifically addresses the recycling and reuse of plastic, sometimes known as “circularity.”

Harris expressed the desire for the deal to be finalized. “We desire to collaborate with the governments in order to execute it.” The private sector has a significant responsibility to fulfill.

Many scientists from the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty attended the meeting to present scientific facts on plastic pollution to negotiators. Their objective was to counteract any misinformation that may be circulating.

Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg and coalition co-leader, stated that yesterday’s claim about the lack of microplastic data is factually incorrect. In reality, there have been 21,000 published articles on micro and nanoplastics. “It resembles the game Whac-A-Mole.”

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Global Negotiations On A Treaty To End Plastic Pollution At Critical Phase In Canada

According to her, scientists have been subjected to harassment and intimidation by lobbyists. She informed the United Nations that a lobbyist shouted directly at her during a meeting.

Ecuador’s lead negotiator, Walter Schuldt, stated that despite their divergences, the countries represented have a shared objective of advancing in the treaty process.

“In the interview, he emphasized that we are discussing the preservation of life in the future, encompassing not only human life but also all forms of life on Earth,” he stated.

He expressed his pride in participating in and contributing his small but meaningful effort to the worldwide initiative to tackle an environmental issue.

The negotiators’ objective is to finalize a treaty by the conclusion 2024. The topics given to expert working groups by tonight will progress to the final stage of discussions in autumn in South Korea.

Without undertaking this preparatory work in between meetings, it would be intimidating to successfully conclude the negotiations within this year. Several nations expressed their dedication to collaborating during the intervals between talks on Sunday evening.

The treaty negotiations commenced in Uruguay in December 2022, and Rwanda and Peru’s subsequent submission of the resolution initiated the process in March 2022.

Progress was sluggish at the Paris discussions in May 2023 and the Nairobi talks in November as countries deliberated about the process’s regulations.

Upon the arrival of numerous negotiators and observers in Ottawa, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, the committee chair from Ecuador, reminded them of their objective and urged them to exhibit ambition.

“We have a responsibility to create a new treaty that will stimulate and direct the necessary actions and global collaboration to achieve a future devoid of plastic pollution,” he stated. “We must not disappoint them.”

The delegates have discussed the treaty’s scope, chemicals of concern, problematic and avoidable plastics, product design, and financing and implementation.

Delegates also simplified the cumbersome assortment of choices from the previous meeting.

Many individuals journeyed to Ottawa from communities impacted by plastic manufacture and pollution. Residents residing near petrochemical plants and refineries in Louisiana and Texas distributed postcards to the U.S. State Department with the message, “We desire your presence.”

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Global Negotiations On A Treaty To End Plastic Pollution At Critical Phase In Canada

The members of the Break Free From Plastic movement journeyed collectively and urged negotiators to personally witness air and water contamination in their regions.

“This remains the most optimal choice we possess to witness transformation in our communities.” Corporations heavily influence them. Jo Banner, a St. John the Baptist Parish resident in Louisiana, expressed their inability to attend the local government. “It seems that this is my sole opportunity and source of optimism to assist my community in recovering and finding solace.”

Members of an Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus held a news conference on Saturday. They expressed concern that microplastics are polluting their food supply. They emphasized that this pollution threatens their communities and ways of life, which are guaranteed to them indefinitely. They perceived a lack of acknowledgment of their opinions.

“Our stakes are larger.” “These are our hereditary territories that are being contaminated with plastic,” Juressa Lee, a resident of New Zealand, expressed following the occurrence. “We are individuals or groups who possess legal rights, rather than individuals or groups with an interest or involvement in a particular issue.” We should be granted greater autonomy in expressing our opinions and judgments than individuals responsible for the issue.

Historically, plastic was not present, but currently, in the Bay of Plenty, the sediment and shellfish, which serve as their seafood supply, are contaminated with little plastic particles. Lee stated that they consider nature’s “resources” as valuable assets.

“Indigenous methods can serve as a guiding force,” Lee stated. “The current approach we are taking is evidently ineffective.”

Vi Waghiyi journeyed from Alaska to advocate for the rights and interests of Arctic Indigenous communities. She emphasizes to decision-makers the need to ensure that this pact provides long-term protection against plastic pollution for future generations.

She stated that their purpose in being here is to serve as the moral compass, ensuring that the decisions made are in the best interest of all individuals.

SOURCE – (AP)

WASHINGTON – On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed Elon Musk’s appeal about a deal with securities authorities. The settlement mandates that Elon obtain prior approval for some tweets related to Tesla, the electric vehicle firm he heads.

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Supreme Court Rejects Musk Appeal Over Tweets That Must Be Approved By Tesla

The justices refrained from making any comments and upheld the lower court’s findings against Musk. Elon said that the requirement constitutes a “prior restraint” on his expression, which he believes violates the First Amendment.

The case arises from tweets Musk sent in 2018, in which he asserted that he had obtained the necessary funds to privatize Tesla. The tweets significantly increased the company’s stock price and prompted a temporary suspension of trading.

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Supreme Court Rejects Musk Appeal Over Tweets That Must Be Approved By Tesla

As part of the agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, it was mandated that his tweets must receive prior approval from a legal representative at Tesla. Additionally, it demanded that Elon and Tesla be subjected to monetary penalties for the tweets in which Elon claimed to have “secured funding” to privatize Tesla for $420 per share.

Tesla still needs to obtain the necessary capital to continue to be a publicly-traded company.

The SEC’s initial enforcement action against Elon claimed that his tweets on the privatization of the company violated antifraud provisions of securities laws.

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Supreme Court Rejects Musk Appeal Over Tweets That Must Be Approved By Tesla

The agency initiated an investigation in 2021 to determine whether Musk breached the settlement by failing to obtain prior clearance before soliciting his Twitter followers, currently numbering X, for their opinion on whether he should sell 10% of his Tesla shares.

In 2022, Elon purchased Twitter.

SOURCE – (AP)

European Union authorities are investigating Meta because they worry that the firm has not taken sufficient measures to safeguard the next EU elections or address the issue of foreign disinformation on its platforms. This investigation could result in significant fines or other types of punishment.

On Monday, the European Commission revealed that the new investigation specifically focuses on management of fraudulent and foreign actors interfering in elections advertising. The investigation will also look into Meta’s decision to discontinue a tool that journalists and researchers frequently use to keep an eye on facebook’s platforms.

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EU Investigates Meta Over Fears Of Election Interference And Foreign Disinformation

The probe represents the most recent instance of European regulators asserting their authority over US tech firms in response to implementing a series of new regulations to curb their power.

Authorities have stated that the inquiry brings attention to evident breaches of the Digital Services Act, Europe’s prominent legislation regulating internet platforms. If the crimes are verified, they might result in substantial fines amounting to 6% of Meta’s worldwide turnover.

As part of the investigation, officials are examining if Meta’s efforts to reduce the ranking of political information in users’ feeds may breach the transparency regulations of the DSA. Furthermore, Meta’s options for users to report illicit content do not seem to comply with the criteria of the DSA.

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EU Investigates Meta Over Fears Of Election Interference And Foreign Disinformation

The probe follows Meta’s submission of necessary documentation to the European Commission last autumn, detailing its approach to addressing perceived hazards associated with its products. The probe conducted on Monday shows the European Union’s doubt that Meta has effectively mitigated such risks.

The study places a lot of emphasis on Meta’s decision to stop using CrowdTangle, a tool that civil society organizations had previously used to keep an eye on hot topics on Facebook and Instagram.

According to the European Commission, in the absence of it, users and researchers may encounter less transparency regarding the operations of Meta services, which could limit their ability to spot and address instances of foreign election manipulation.

The company announced earlier this year that CrowdTangle will cease to be accessible after August 14.

The European Commission has stated that discontinuing support for CrowdTangle without a suitable alternative could harm civic discourse and electoral processes. This includes tracking and identifying mis- and disinformation, detecting voter interference and suppression, and providing real-time transparency to fact-checkers, journalists, and other stakeholders involved in elections.

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EU Investigates Meta Over Fears Of Election Interference And Foreign Disinformation

A spokeswoman from Facebook stated that the company will collaborate with the investigation.

The representative stated that our platforms have a firmly established procedure for identifying and reducing hazards. “We anticipate maintaining our collaboration with the European Commission and furnishing them with additional specifics regarding this project.”

SOURCE – (CNN)