Human-caused grievances also affect innocent living beings in particular. In Sri Lanka, large amounts of waste have accumulated in garbage dumps over the years. But because it also cuts into elephant habitats, the mammals inadvertently eat some of the plastic waste, especially single-use plastics. This is because the garbage is freely accessible to many elephants; there are more than 50 open garbage dumps in Sri Lanka. No barriers prevent the animals from seeking food in the dumps.

This consumption has serious consequences for the animals: over five elephants die each year as a result of plastic consumption. This fact could be established by experts based on autopsies of the animals. Elephants are already threatened with extinction in Sri Lanka; about 6,000 wild elephants still live on the island.

In addition, bottles, packaging and bags are blamed for clogging drains and causing flooding in cities, as well as fostering an increase in potentially deadly dengue fever, which is spread by mosquitoes that breed in stagnant water.

Protecting elephants by banning single-use plastic

The government of Sri Lanka tried to respond to these facts by banning the production and sale of single-use plastic since June 2023. Already six years ago, the sale of plastic bags made of non-biodegradable plastic was banned. Now it is extended; the sale of e.g. plastic cutlery, cocktail shakers, plastic tableware is now punishable.

Environmentalists doubt whether the laws will help. Attempts to curb waste have been made before, but even then the decrees were largely ignored as manufacturing companies continued to produce certain plastic items.

The economic crisis that began in late 2021 further exacerbated the garbage problem. Garbage began to pile up as garbage trucks lacked fuel.

Waste problem also dangerous for people

In this South Asian country of 22 million inhabitants, more than 1.5 million tons of plastic waste are produced every year, half of which ends up in canals, rivers and ultimately in the Indian Ocean. In addition, only three percent of plastic waste is recycled. According to a study by the Center for Environmental Justice, 15% of the waste is single-use plastics (e.g., straws, food wrappers, bags). This large amount of plastic waste and the fact that it is not disposed of properly correlates with the increase in dengue fever cases: from 35,000 cases in 2021 to 77,000 cases in 2022.

The laws are now intended to contribute to the waste problem in the country, so that hopefully no more elephants will have to die additionally and fewer people will be affected by the fever.

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On March 11, 2011, triggered by an earthquake, one of the worst nuclear accidents since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. It resulted in a power outage, which in turn was responsible for the cooling systems in each of the reactors failing within a short time of the disaster. The residual heat in the reactor core caused the fuel rods in the reactors to overheat, partially melting and releasing radioactive material (core meltdown).

The released radiation continues to preoccupy the region to this day. This is because the destroyed reactors still must be cooled by water. The contaminated water used mixes with rainwater and groundwater, which seeps in. More than 1.3 million tons of contaminated water are currently stored in about 1000 tanks. Tepco, the company that operates the plant, says it is now running out of space and the tanks are exposed to new potential earthquakes.

Contaminated water to be discharged into the sea through filtration

As a solution, Tepco proposed to first filter the contaminated water and then discharge it into the sea. However, the system cannot filter out the radioactive isotope tritium. According to Tepco and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), this would not be a danger because the tritium in small amounts is harmless to humans and the environment and the water is diluted. The concentration is expected to drop sharply. In case the amount of seawater would not be enough for dilution or the concentration would still be high, there would be an emergency valve that would stop the release.

While experts opinion are mixed, the IAEA has inspected construction of the disposal facilities and approved Tepco’s plan. The head of the nuclear agency, Rafael Grossi said that Japan meets international safety standards.

Criticism from various parties

In addition to the criticism of some experts, many fishermen in the region are also against Tepco’s planned disposal of the cooling water. They fear a worsening of the situation and would not be able to assess the consequences of the plans. Although they have received compensation payments from the government, they fear new damage to their reputation. In addition, the government has agreed to clarify the discharge of the water with all parties, but the fishermen have not been asked.

In neighboring countries such as China, Japan’s plans have met with rejection. The government of South Korea, which previously criticized Japan’s plans, now respects the IAEA’s findings. The disposal plans are to be launched as early as this summer.

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The Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhya, now occupied by Russia, has repeatedly been the starting point of security debates due to the large-scale invasion of Russian troops in February 2022, which confirmed the danger of a possible explosion, but in its scale was not comparable, for example, with the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

In recent days, the situation at the nuclear plant has been fueled by new rumors that Russian troops were mounting explosive devices at the plant. Officially, however, these rumors could not be confirmed. However, a possible blast is technically difficult to carry out, as the reactor units are fortunately equipped with several thick, fortified walls for protection. Likewise, the nuclear power plant has been shut down in the meantime, which would greatly reduce radiation exposure in the event of a potential attack, such as an explosion, and would probably be regionally limited. However, a risk remains.

At the same time, the ICRC assesses the risk of a radiation leak as high despite safety precautions. It arrives at this assessment because the likelihood of direct or accidental damage to a reactor or other critical components that enable safe operation of the facility, as well as human error by personnel working under increasing stress and strain, would remain.

At the same time, the ICRC estimates that the risk of radiation leakage is high despite safety precautions. It arrives at this assessment because the likelihood of direct or accidental damage to a reactor or other critical components that enable the safe operation of the facility, as well as human error by personnel working under increasing stress and strain, would still exist.

In the event of potential damage to the facility, the surrounding region could be impacted for centuries by radioactive cesium or strontium contaminating the environment. This is because the released material would have an impact on ecosystems, agriculture, food security, and human health, including for generations to come.

Although opinions on the risk of damage may diverge, it can be stated that the danger or possibility of real damage exists.

The destruction of the Ukrainian dam on June 6, 2023, near the Russian-occupied southern village of Kakhovka has far-reaching consequences for the region, the extent of which cannot yet be assessed. The dam is part of a series of six dams along the Dnieper River and the last before opening into the Black Sea. The dam produced electricity, cooled the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, and provided water for local people.

The destruction caused the floods to reach the city of Kherson, which is located on the delta of the Dnieper River and about 100 kilometers away from the destroyed infrastructure. A total of 24 localities have been affected by the floods. So far, about 3000 people could be evacuated on both sides of the front. Currently, it is roughly estimated that on the right bank of the river, which is controlled by Ukraine, 40,000 people are affected by the floods, while in the Russian-occupied territories on the other side 25,000.

The floods have already caused great damage to the population, infrastructure, nature and animals. The potential consequences from the destruction of the dam will continue to increase. Dropping the water level in the Kakhovksa reservoir to a certain level may mean water shortages for 200,000 people. The laying out of mines along the river may mean that they will now be newly washed into places not expected. Fecal matter or chemicals from factories entering the water can cause epidemics or diseases. Oil was stored in the dam’s power plant, which has now also entered the water, and many fishes have already died from the contaminated water. In addition, habitats of animals such as birds are destroyed. The consequences of the dam burst are therefore manifold, extensive and will unfortunately shape the region for a long time.

While the EU and European countries have already pledged support worth 170 million, about 800 rescuers inside Ukraine and volunteers are providing assistance on the ground. Green Cross Switzerland has been active in Ukraine since 2022 with pragmatic relief actions for the population. In addition to providing water treatment systems to those affected, e.g. in Kherson or Mikolayev, and other assistance, we have supported rescuers of the State Service for Emergency Situations after floods during the spring in the north of Ukraine with a boat engine. Green Cross Switzerland is currently reviewing the possibilities for further assistance to the population affected by the floods in the region around the destroyed reservoir.

The 26.04.2023 marks the 37th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. At 01:23 on April 26, 1986, radioactive material was released in unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as a result of a reactor accident. The released material reached Western Europe, but contaminated the surrounding regions the most. To this day, people and the environment in the areas of present-day Belarus, Russia and Ukraine suffer from the consequences of this disaster. In addition to the negative health effects caused by the released radioactivity, the reactor accident also led to social and economic neglect in the regions.

As early as the 1990s, Green Cross Switzerland began to implement aid projects for those affected by these man-made disasters in the three heavily radioactively contaminated countries. For this purpose, the SOCMED program (Social and Medical Care and Education) was established, which offers support on a medical, psychological and social level and focuses on “helping people to help themselves”. For example, therapy camps were organized for children and young people, and medical examinations were carried out by the Green Cross Bus in remote villages.

These assistance services could be guaranteed until 2022, but were severely restricted or terminated for the time being due to the war in Ukraine. In the country of the nuclear disaster, no projects can be implemented in the Chernobyl region at the moment due to the war. Nevertheless, Green Cross Switzerland provided urgently needed humanitarian aid to the population there at the beginning of the war, for example by delivering medicine or food. In addition, preparations are again underway in Belarus for Social Gardening, which will be carried out again in 2023. This project aims to make the diet of children from precarious backgrounds more varied, nutritious and healthy by providing fresh vegetables and fruit from social gardens.

The war in Ukraine also led to a reactivation of what happened in Chernobyl. The occupation of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant from February 24 to March 31 by the Russian army continues to show the dangers to people and the environment posed by the nuclear power plant. Green Cross Switzerland takes the day of the nuclear disaster as an opportunity to remember the victims and those affected by the reactor accident and the war.