Collection

A global plastics treaty is being negotiated in Ottawa this week – here’s the latest

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, April 23, 2024

To make matters worse, the global trade in plastic waste tends to push waste to parts of the world with the least capacity to manage it.

Key Points: 
  • To make matters worse, the global trade in plastic waste tends to push waste to parts of the world with the least capacity to manage it.
  • The global plastics treaty focuses on ending plastic pollution, not eliminating the use of plastics.

Divisive positions

  • Negotiators must make rapid and significant progress this week towards a comprehensive treaty.
  • There is a broad division between countries, ranging from “low-ambition” countries which have hindered progress to a high-ambition coalition (led by Rwanda and Norway).
  • Or will it be a weaker treaty, with voluntary and country-led measures that focus mainly on waste management and pollution prevention (the “downstream” stages)?

Voices in the room

  • There is ongoing dialogue regarding which voices are in attendance and influencing governments.
  • If industry has such a large presence, there is considerable work to be done to amplify the voices of civil rights groups, NGOs and evidence-based contributions from academics.

Financing implementation

  • Without financial support, there is a significant risk that even well-intentioned measures could falter.
  • A well-structured financial framework could ensure transparency and accountability through a mixture of private and public finance or novel mechanisms such as plastic pollution fees.

Shifting away from waste management

  • There is a strong argument by the petrochemical and fossil fuel industry and some lower-ambition countries that the treaty should focus on waste management, improved collection, recycling and removal technologies.
  • But plastic production is so great that solutions to prevent or manage plastic waste and pollution cannot keep up, and will only reduce global plastic pollution by 7% in the long term.

Reuse as a potential early victory

  • Not to be confused with recycling or refill, reuse emphasises the repeated use of items in their current form, curtailing the demand for new plastic production for single-use products or packaging.
  • Reuse would be relatively agreeable for most countries, especially when compared to divisive measures such as caps on production or outright bans on certain items or materials.


Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 30,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.
Antaya March receives funding from the Flotilla Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme. Cressida Bowyer receives funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Steve Fletcher receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Flotilla Foundation, the UK Government and the United Nations Environment Programme. He currently serves as the NERC Agenda Setting Fellow for Plastic Pollution.

What doesn’t kill you makes for a great story – two new memoirs examine the risky side of life

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, April 23, 2024

She questions whether women like herself – that is, the well-educated, sexually liberated beneficiaries of second-wave feminism – are really better off than their 1940s counterparts.

Key Points: 
  • She questions whether women like herself – that is, the well-educated, sexually liberated beneficiaries of second-wave feminism – are really better off than their 1940s counterparts.
  • But it isn’t quite the avant-garde art crowd looking for anonymous vaginas to cast in their latest 16mm masterpieces either.
  • Reconstructed from the travel diary the author kept at the time, the adventure is everything you could possibly hope for in a road trip – provided you (or your daughter) aren’t the one taking it.
  • Datsun Angel proves the old adage about time and tragedy making for champagne comedy.
  • It self-consciously situates itself as a cross between the substance-induced exuberance of Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson, and the provincially impassioned politics of Australian novelist Xavier Herbert.
  • For all her progressivism, there is a note of nostalgia ringing through Broinowski’s recollections.
  • Datsun Angel harks back to a looser – dare I say, more enjoyable – university experience.
  • The narrative promises, against well-intentioned assurances to the contrary, that what doesn’t kill you will, at the very least, make for a good story later on.
  • Broinowski goes part way towards acknowledging as much when she ends her postscript with: “If you’re male and reading this, kudos.

Detachment

  • Let me borrow one instead from the middle-aged Elmore Leonard fan whom Gordon encounters in the State Library Victoria early in the book: “dickhead”.
  • Yes, that about captures it: the protagonist of Excitable Boy is an unequivocal, grade-A dickhead.
  • Fortunately for Gordon (and dickheads more generally), the affliction may be chronic, but it need not be terminal.
  • This denotes an overriding structure or cohesion that I felt somewhat lacking from the work as a whole.
  • Detachment characterises much of Gordon’s storytelling as he kicks his younger self around the back alleys of Melbourne like a half-squashed can of Monster Energy Drink.
  • To be honest, I still haven’t made my mind up if Gordon’s aversion to Aristotelian catharsis is one of the book’s virtues or vices.
  • Detail has to be controlled by some overall purpose, and every detail has to be put to work for you.
  • Detail has to be controlled by some overall purpose, and every detail has to be put to work for you.
  • It is often difficult to gauge what overall purpose the details are serving in these essays, beyond fidelity to memory.


Luke Johnson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Nowcasting consumer price inflation using high-frequency scanner data: evidence from Germany

Retrieved on: 
Dienstag, April 23, 2024
Consensus, Online, Cream, Honey, Tax, Glass, MAPI, Consensus Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Milk, Shower, Low-alcohol beer, Autoregressive–moving-average model, Infant, C3, Islam, Wine, Core inflation, Research Papers in Economics, National accounts, Kálmán, Barcode, Journal of International Economics, Communication, Royal Statistical Society, COVID19, Kohl (cosmetics), Natural disaster, Business, Observation, Paper, VAT, European Economic Review, Diebold Nixdorf, Blancmange, Calendar, Sunflower oil, Annual Review of Economics, Hand, C4, DESTATIS, NBER, Tinning, Razor, Forecasting, Gasoline, Coffee, European Economic Association, Cat, Journal of Monetary Economics, Journal of Applied Econometrics, Medeiros, Architecture, Oxford University Press, Producer, GfK, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Margarine, NCBS, Starch, Political economy, Consistency, COVID-19, Consensus decision-making, Website, MIDAS, Behavior, Deutsche Bundesbank, PPI, World Bank, Collection, Medical classification, Orange, Eurozone, Butter, FMCG, Noise, Travel, Clothing, History, Inflation, Liver, International economics, Journal of Political Economy, BSI, OLS, Statistics, Consumer, PDF, University of Chicago, Classification, ECB, Fats, Policy, Multi, WOB, Outline, C6, Mincing, Canadian International Council, Social science, Perfume, University of California, Berkeley, Journal of Forecasting, Federal Reserve Bank, JEL, L1, Journal, Research, Candle, Food, TPD, Credit, Spice, LPG, Janssen, Marmalade, Superior, Literature, Chocolate, Beef, Kiel University, European Central Bank, Natural gas, HICP, Monetary economics, Yogurt, Section 5, ILO, Bermingham, Price, GTIN, Cheese, Macroeconomics, Growth, Beck, XJ, Government, De Beer, Supermarket, Ice cream, Naturally, C53, Corn flakes, BIS, Biscuit, LASSO, Petroleum, A.2, Poultry, Accuracy and precision, Application, White, Lettuce, Risk, ESCB, University of Siegen, OECD, Chapter One, Lipstick, Sack, XT, BIC, Garlic, Consumption, Sokol, Meat, VAR, Database, Section 3, Rusk, American Economic Journal, Royal, Curd, Overalls, Lamb, Great Lockdown, Fruit, Economy, COICOP, International Journal of Forecasting, Aftershave, Section 2, Nonparametric statistics, Attention, Conference, CPI, Heat, Public economics, Common sunflower, Nowcasting, American Economic Review, Computational Statistics (journal), GFK, COVID-19 pandemic, Exercise, Shock, Running, UNECE, Edible, Gambling, Banco, Rigid transformation, European Commission, Frozen, C.2, PRISMA, Official statistics, Concept, Drink, Transaction data, Somatosensory system, Punctuality, Altbier, Food prices, Response, GDP, Index, E31, Cabinet of Germany, Holiday, Machine learning, Series, Green, Whisky, Vegetable, Cola, Journal of Econometrics, Sadik Harchaoui, University, Aggregate, World Bank Group, B.1, Use, Book, Economic statistics, Civil service commission, 1L, Apple, Bread, Filter, Central bank, Brandeis University, Economic Modelling, Bank, Barkan, Roulade, Dairy product, Neural network, Reproduction, IMF, Section, ID, Data, D4L, Cryptocurrency

Key Points: 

    ‘It could be the death of the museum’: why research cuts at a South Australian institution have scientists up in arms

    Retrieved on: 
    Freitag, April 19, 2024

    “It could be the death of the museum,” says renowned mammalogist Tim Flannery, a former director of the museum.

    Key Points: 
    • “It could be the death of the museum,” says renowned mammalogist Tim Flannery, a former director of the museum.
    • “To say research isn’t important to what a museum does – it’s sending shock waves across the world,” she says.

    What’s the plan?

    • According to the museum’s website, this skeleton crew will focus on “converting new discoveries and research into the visitor experience”.
    • Others have tackled global questions such as the evolution of birds from dinosaurs, how eyes evolved in Cambrian fossils, and Antarctic biodiversity.

    What’s so special about a museum?

    • Their remits are different, says University of Adelaide botanist Andy Lowe, who was the museum’s acting director in 2013 and 2014.
    • Unlike universities, he says, the museum was “established by government, to carry out science for the development of the state”.
    • “They’re crucial for what goes on above; you need experts not second-hand translators,” says University of Adelaide geologist Alan Collins.
    • He wonders what will happen the next time a youngster comes into the museum asking to identify a rock.
    • The museum’s Phillip Jones now uses this collection in his research, delivering more than 30 exhibitions, books and academic papers.

    Continuity and community

    • Without attentive curation and the life blood of research, the collections are doomed to “wither and die”, says Flannery.
    • That raises the issue of continuity.
    • In Flannery’s words, the job of a museum curator:
      is like being a high priest in a temple.
    • Over Jones’ four decades at the museum, his relationships with Indigenous elders have also been critical to returning sacred objects to their traditional owners.
    • Besides the priestly “chain of care”, there’s something else at risk in the museum netherworld: a uniquely productive ecosystem feeding on the collections.
    • Here you’ll find PhD students mingling with retired academics; curators mingling with scientists; museum folk with university folk.
    • In the year ending 2023 for instance, joint museum and university grants amounted to A$3.7 million.

    DNA and biodiversity

    • The museum has also declared it will no longer support a DNA sequencing lab it funds jointly with the University of Adelaide.
    • “No other institute in South Australia does this type of biodiversity research,” says Andrew Austin, chair of Taxonomy Australia and emeritus professor at the University of Adelaide.
    • “It’s the job of the museum.” The cuts come while the SA government plans new laws to protect biodiversity.


    Elizabeth Finkel does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    From sumptuous engravings to stick-figure sketches, Passover Haggadahs − and their art − have been evolving for centuries

    Retrieved on: 
    Freitag, April 19, 2024

    The Jewish festival of Passover recalls the biblical story of the Israelites enslaved by Egypt and their miraculous escape.

    Key Points: 
    • The Jewish festival of Passover recalls the biblical story of the Israelites enslaved by Egypt and their miraculous escape.
    • Every year, a written guide known as a “Haggadah” is read at the Seder table.
    • The core text comprises a description of ritual foods, the story of the Exodus, blessings, commentaries, hymns and songs.

    An illustrated classic


    One of the greatest examples our library has of this blending of cultures was printed in Amsterdam in 1695.

    • The Amsterdam Haggadah was illustrated by Abraham Bar Yaakov, a German pastor who converted to Judaism.
    • In addition, he incorporated a pull-out map of the route of the Exodus and an imaginative rendering of the Temple in Jerusalem.
    • The text, traditionally written in Hebrew and Aramaic, included instructions in Yiddish and Ladino, the everyday languages for Jews in Europe.
    • The Amsterdam Haggadah proved to be incredibly influential on later versions, with its illustrations copied into the modern era.

    A Haggadah for everyone

    • Modern Haggadah illustrations also reflected developments in the art world.
    • In 1920s Berlin, a Jewish art teacher, Otto Geismar, reinterpreted the story of the Exodus using plain, black-and-white, modernist “stick figures” – another Haggadah in our collection.
    • Geismar even injected elements of humor: A child is shown asleep at the table, and in another scene a family of stick figures is engaged in animated conversation and debate.
    • In his depictions of ancient Israelite slaves, stick figures appear especially burdened with heavy loads on their backs.

    Wine – and coffee

    • Meanwhile, some suppliers sensed an opportunity to adapt it for their own needs.
    • Owner Sam Schapiro savvily linked his products to the Seder, during which participants drink four small cups of sacramental wine.
    • Wine, seen at this point as a luxury item, also symbolized freedom.
    • Schapiro’s Haggadah fulfilled the commandment to relate the story of the Exodus for a new generation – but the opening pages also provide a tribute in Yiddish to Sam Schapiro’s 40-year-old company.
    • Here Schapiro’s is praised for being the place where religious men and intellectuals alike could get together over a good glass of wine.


    Rebecca J.W. Jefferson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    Press release - New EU rules to improve urban wastewater treatment and reuse

    Retrieved on: 
    Donnerstag, April 18, 2024

    - Better monitoring of chemical pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance

    Key Points: 
    • - Better monitoring of chemical pollutants, pathogens and antimicrobial resistance
      - Producers of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics and member states will have to finance costs of additional treatment for micro-pollutants
      - Wider reuse of treated urban wastewater to prevent water scarcity
      On Wednesday, MEPs approved new EU rules for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater.
    • the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus) will be applied in all wastewater treatment plants covering 150,000 p.e.
    • An additional treatment removing a broad spectrum of micro-pollutants ('quaternary treatment') will be mandatory for all plants over 150,000 p.e.
    • EU countries will be required to promote the reuse of treated wastewater from all urban wastewater treatment plants where appropriate, especially in water-stressed areas.

    Press release - European Parliament Press Kit for the Special European Council of 17 and 18 April 2024

    Retrieved on: 
    Donnerstag, April 18, 2024

    In this press kit, you will find a selection of the European Parliament’s press releases reflecting MEPs’ priorities for topics on the summit agenda. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

    Key Points: 


    In this press kit, you will find a selection of the European Parliament’s press releases reflecting MEPs’ priorities for topics on the summit agenda. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

    Draft guideline on good agricultural and collection practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin - Revision 1

    Retrieved on: 
    Donnerstag, April 18, 2024

    REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 14

    Key Points: 
      • REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 14

        29

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 3/14

        30

        EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

        31
        32
        33
        34
        35
        36

        This guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin

        37

        1.

      • Due to the inherent
        complexity of medicinal plants and herbal substances the quality of these starting materials requires an
        adequate quality assurance system for the collection and/or cultivation, harvest, and primary
        processing.
      • (either outdoor, indoor or in greenhouses) should be carefully considered, since each of the mentioned
        types could have several problems and advantages.
      • The used cultivation method may be dependent on
        the final application of the herbal medicinal product.
      • primary processing of herbal substances that are used for the preparation of herbal medicinal products.
      • medicinal plants and herbal substances, ensuring that they are handled appropriately throughout all
        stages of cultivation, collection, processing and storage.
      • their preparations are exposed to a large number of environmental contaminants of both biotic and
        abiotic origin.
      • to existing wildlife habitats and must adhere to CITES (Convention on International Trade in
        Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
      • https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/bd537ccf-9271-4230-bca1-2d...
        4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/fd318dd6-2404-4e67-82b0232...
        3

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 5/14

        104

        4.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

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        147
        148
        149

        8.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 7/14

        185

        7.

      • Where possible, stable varieties and cultivars naturally
        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 8/14

        227
        228

        resistant or tolerant to disease should preferably be used.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 9/14

        268
        269
        270
        271
        272
        273

        The application should be carried out only by qualified staff using approved equipment.

      • The following should be noted:

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 10/14

        309
        310

        ?

        311
        312
        313

        ?

        314
        315
        316
        317

        ?

        318
        319
        320

        ?

        321
        322

        ?

        323
        324
        325

        ?

        326
        327
        328

        ?

        Damaged plants or plant parts need to be excluded or limited in accordance with a specific
        pharmacopoeia monograph, where relevant.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 11/14

        347
        348

        directly to the sun (except in cases where there is a specific need) and must be protected from
        rainfall, insect infestation, etc.

      • The label must be clear, permanently fixed and made from

        6

        Reflection paper on the use of fumigants (EMEA/HMPC/125562/2006)

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 12/14

        386
        387

        non-toxic material.

      • Certain exudates that have not been subjected to a specific treatment are

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 13/14

        425
        426
        427

        also considered to be herbal substances.

      • European Pharmacopoeia General Monograph ?HERBAL DRUGS? 07/2017:1433

        Are obtained by subjecting herbal substances to treatments such as
        extraction, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration
        or fermentation.

    Draft guideline on good agricultural and collection practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin - Revision 1

    Retrieved on: 
    Donnerstag, April 18, 2024

    REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 14

    Key Points: 
      • REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................... 14

        29

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 3/14

        30

        EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

        31
        32
        33
        34
        35
        36

        This guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin

        37

        1.

      • Due to the inherent
        complexity of medicinal plants and herbal substances the quality of these starting materials requires an
        adequate quality assurance system for the collection and/or cultivation, harvest, and primary
        processing.
      • (either outdoor, indoor or in greenhouses) should be carefully considered, since each of the mentioned
        types could have several problems and advantages.
      • The used cultivation method may be dependent on
        the final application of the herbal medicinal product.
      • primary processing of herbal substances that are used for the preparation of herbal medicinal products.
      • medicinal plants and herbal substances, ensuring that they are handled appropriately throughout all
        stages of cultivation, collection, processing and storage.
      • their preparations are exposed to a large number of environmental contaminants of both biotic and
        abiotic origin.
      • to existing wildlife habitats and must adhere to CITES (Convention on International Trade in
        Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
      • https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/bd537ccf-9271-4230-bca1-2d...
        4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/fd318dd6-2404-4e67-82b0232...
        3

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 5/14

        104

        4.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 6/14

        147
        148
        149

        8.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 7/14

        185

        7.

      • Where possible, stable varieties and cultivars naturally
        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 8/14

        227
        228

        resistant or tolerant to disease should preferably be used.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 9/14

        268
        269
        270
        271
        272
        273

        The application should be carried out only by qualified staff using approved equipment.

      • The following should be noted:

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 10/14

        309
        310

        ?

        311
        312
        313

        ?

        314
        315
        316
        317

        ?

        318
        319
        320

        ?

        321
        322

        ?

        323
        324
        325

        ?

        326
        327
        328

        ?

        Damaged plants or plant parts need to be excluded or limited in accordance with a specific
        pharmacopoeia monograph, where relevant.

      • Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 11/14

        347
        348

        directly to the sun (except in cases where there is a specific need) and must be protected from
        rainfall, insect infestation, etc.

      • The label must be clear, permanently fixed and made from

        6

        Reflection paper on the use of fumigants (EMEA/HMPC/125562/2006)

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 12/14

        386
        387

        non-toxic material.

      • Certain exudates that have not been subjected to a specific treatment are

        Guideline on Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) for starting materials of herbal origin
        EMA/HMPC/246816/2005

        Page 13/14

        425
        426
        427

        also considered to be herbal substances.

      • European Pharmacopoeia General Monograph ?HERBAL DRUGS? 07/2017:1433

        Are obtained by subjecting herbal substances to treatments such as
        extraction, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration
        or fermentation.

    Transactional demand for central bank digital currency

    Retrieved on: 
    Donnerstag, April 18, 2024

    Key Points: