A "green" display dresses up a morning meeting at the 16th meeting of the Forum of Environment Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean. Photo by Alexandra Pope.
Picture 1 of 2
SANTO DOMINGO.- Dominican Republic must prioritize waste treatment and place it at the center of public policy, Environment minister Omar Ramirez said today.
Speaking on the third day of the 16th Meeting of the Latin America and Caribbean Environment Ministers Forum, Ramirez cited as an example the Duquesa open-air garbage dump, which receives 4,000 tons of solid refuse daily from Santo Domingo. He said the Duquesa dump urgently needs to be transformed into a sanitary landfill with a recycling depot.
He said the country’s more than 9 million inhabitants produce 1.8 kilos of trash per capita on average, of which 70 percent is organic and the other 30 percent inorganic. The problem, he said, is that plastics and other non-biodegradable materials aren’t being properly recycled or broken down. "The plastic isn’t being treated here, but sent to the environment."
Ramirez also asked the private sector to take action and propose investment initiatives in solid waste management.
The Environment Ministers’ Forum wraps up tomorrow.
From: Dominican Republic
Sr. Ramirez;
Sir, the FIRST THING that must be done is teach your popple in this country NOT to throw their trash about willy-nilly.
THAT'S the source of 95% of your trash. A person here buys a candy bar at tehe Colmado, walks outside and disposes of the wrapper right on thefround when there is a TRASH CAN right beside him.
Results of a lack of respect and simple tunnel vision. He wasn't thinking of disposing of the wrapper.
Besides, he's not being paid to put the wrapper in the trash can. Someone else must wait on him in that regard.
This habit cn be changed in the CIVICS classes of Kindergarten and/or Lower schools to begin with.
Better yet, start at home with parental responsibilities.
TB
Written by: joop2, 31 Jan 2008 6:26 PM
From: Dominican Republic, San Pedro de Macoris
"the lack of education" .. standard goverment issue ..
Written by: Belial, 31 Jan 2008 8:31 PM
From: United States, Texas
"Environmental dumping is the practice of transfrontier shipment of waste (household waste, industrial/nuclear waste, etc.) from one country to another. The goal is to take the waste to a country that has less strict environmental laws, or environmental laws that are not strictly enforced. The economic benefit of this practice is cheap disposal or recycling of waste without the economic regulations of the original country."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_dumpingoooo
I can't quote data for the DR. Contrary to the charade about domestic waste, I'll bet that the DR bourgeoisie and its imperialist friends are accepting for a paltry fee the household, industrial, medical, and nuclear waste from the USA and Canada to be stored in DR landfills and burned in incinerators.
If the experience of the US is any indicator, the free-market bourgeoisie will build residential communities on top of these contaminated spaces because the land is often cheap.
Written by: Belial, 31 Jan 2008 8:50 PM
From: United States, Texas
CAFTA gives the US imperialists the power to cancel the DR's environmental laws, if there are any, by means of international arbritration panels composed of reactionary experts who always rule for imperialism and lassiz faire capitalism. To start the fraud, all the US imperialists have to do is to complain in writing to Leonel that a given DR environmental law or regulation violates the principle of free trade or hinders market forces.
DR's sovereignty is worthless "DR, you all got to take our lethal and diseased waste, if we pay ... you all or our agents in the DR ... the market value for the storage."
All of these "waste management contracts" between the dumper and dumpee have confidentiality clauses that silences the dumpee from sniveling in public about the deaths and diseases that the dumping genrerates.
So, it makes sense to keep the health care system as primitive and backward as possible to preserve the confidentiality of the filthy operation.
From: Dominican Republic
Belial:
Sorry, but you're WAY OFF BASE with your commentary.
Sr. Ramirez was and is referring to the trash produced within the DR.
Since the US "imperialist" government doesn't send any of it's refuse to other countries through ANY "Trade Agreements" your argument as such, is totally erroneous and without foundation.
I do have to admire yoiur perserverance in pursuing your denegration of the Capitalist World, specifically the US, however misplaced. But, wouldn't it be also beneficial to your cause if you used correct arguments in support of that agenda?
Thus far, you have only suceeded in alienating a vast majority of the poster in these columns. It really would behoove you to change your "modus operendi" to factualy based arguments instead of going off on a tangent with every issue. Your commentaries are in thenature of a broken record without substantive and factual sources. And I'm not talking about your references solely to "left leaning" periodicals.
TB
Written by: Belial, 1 Feb 2008 12:19 AM
From: United States, Texas
"trash produced within the DR"
Blockhead, if that's all he was worried about, then he doesn't have problem.
"the US "imperialist" government doesn't send any of it's refuse to other countries ..."
Do you have to be consistently ignorant about everything?
http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2006/060316_dominican_rep.htmlThis "government," about which you speak, dumps nuclear waste in other countries. Most of the non-nuclear dumping is done by the US imperialists in the private sector who are protected by the imperialist regime in Washington.
" you have only suceeded in alienating a vast majority of the poster in these columns ..."
Are you their self-appointed spokesman?
"your references solely to "left leaning" periodicals."
Among others, I've cited and given links to the CIA, US State Department, and Dominican Today periodicals.
You are so reactionary that even the CIA is "left-leaning" in your crazy head.
Written by: KSilva, 1 Feb 2008 5:44 AM
From: United States
Texasbill and joop2 are 100% right on their first comment. People there need to be educated regarding the impact of all the trash they throw out in the environment. When I was there last year it really got on my nerves all the times when my cousins and my friends threw all kinds of garbage out of the car window or just after eating something throwing the wrapper or the bottle on the ground. I asked them why they did that. I tried to explain to them why it is important not to contaminate the environment, but every time they gave me this look like I was crazy. It's a shame how the Malecon shore looks, literally filled with garbage. I think the Duquesa dump comes second when compared to how full of garbage, raw sewage, etc the seas and rivers (specially the Ozama) are in D.R. This has to stop now! Think about the food chain for a minute, the fishes are eating this garbage and are/or being mutated by it, then those same fishes are being consumed by people. That's just an example
Written by: Escott, 1 Feb 2008 10:37 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Sosua/Cabrera
I have to agree that education is the KEY to solving the problems of waste. Recycling is key along with becoming civilized and placing garbage where it should go. There is absolutely no respect by most Dominicans for their own country and even their front yards.
Written by: Belial, 1 Feb 2008 11:49 AM
From: United States, Texas
Should US imperialists pay the $80 million claimed by the DR for this so-called "domestically" produced waste?
[82,000 TONS of coal ash shipped by AES to the DR from Puerto Rico and dumped unceremoniously on a beach]
http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2006/060316_dominican_rep.html"Oh no, for God's sake, oh no! The US imperialists should not be forced to pay for their environmental dumping in a country like the DR. Blame the DR people for it," USA reactionaries argue.
The only reason this story surfaced is that the US imperialists didn't even try to hide the dumping on the beach.
Written by: Jander, 1 Feb 2008 3:50 PM
From: Dominican Republic
This explains it all..
Belial
Thanks to wikipedia he is Satan..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BelialBelial (also Belhor, Baalial, Beliar, Belias , Beliall, Beliel, Bilael; from Hebrew ???????????? B?liyyá?al; also named Matanbuchus, Mechembuchus, Meterbuchus in older scripts) is an evil being in Jewish apocrypha, and also a term used to characterize the wicked or worthless.
The etymology of the word is uncertain but is most commonly translated as "without worth".[1] Some scholars translate it from Hebrew as "worthless" (Beli yo'il), while others translate it as "yokeless" (Beli ol), "may have no rising" (Belial) or "never to rise" (Beli ya'al). Only a few etymologists have assumed it to be a proper name from the start.[2] In the Book of Jubilees, uncircumcised heathens are called "sons of Belial".
Written by: Belial, 1 Feb 2008 6:14 PM
From: United States, Texas
"Jander" means a salivating kisser of big behinds or a behind-kisser who cleans up the rear.
I'm not a Hebrew. So, their etymology is worthless and pointless to me.
From: Dominican Republic
According to you, Everything is worthless and pointless if you don't embrace it.
What about the REST OF THE WORLD, oldson. Is,should it be "worthless and pointless" tothem also???
Get a life.
You aren't the only one occupying God's Green Earth.
TB
Written by: Belial, 1 Feb 2008 6:40 PM
From: United States, Texas
"Jander ... is a gold Elf vampire helped stop the vampiric plague of Daggerdale but was infected with the curse of undeath. Jander abhorred his condition and constantly fought against it but performed many evil deeds despite making an effort to feed off only animals."
http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Jander_SunstarToday, Jander no longer sucks blood ... or other objects ... out of people, his main interest in people lies in performing janitorial services in the rear and the middle of the human body.
Written by: Belial, 1 Feb 2008 6:45 PM
From: United States, Texas
Because of the peculiar nature of Jander's expertise, the worldwide demand for his services is extraordinarily high.
Written by: dagtan, 1 Feb 2008 7:11 PM
From: United States
Not only do people need education on how to dispose of garbage, but the country needs to provide the necessary infrastructure to allow for easy disposal from the different sources of garbage in the country. When you have a garbage truck coming every week and not on daily basis, you expect people to behave the same way. Mr. President, the best way to teach adults is to lead by example, implement an effective garbage collection system and the people will respond in a positive way. Also, think of the effect that importing garbage would have in a country already struggling to court its own garbage. To allow these multi-purpose plants to come into the country and have the U.S. export their garbage over there makes no sense, when you have no control of your own garbage.
Written by: avocado, 1 Feb 2008 7:28 PM
From: United States, Minneosta
not only is it an environmental issue, but also consider the health risks. i know too many people whose homes are built along side their neighborhood dump. many families suffer from colds and illnesses. if waste was properly disposed of, it would be interesting to note the health improvements.
Written by: Jander, 1 Feb 2008 7:44 PM
From: Dominican Republic
Ohhh looks like I hit a nerve
Intersting what jander means, good one!
really is just a abrev..
From: United States
As usual beliah throws in a red herring to obscure the facts. There is no agreement to ship garage to the DR, unless one takes into consideration the trash put forth by beliah, which should rightfully be designated as toxic waste. Waste is a huge problem for all countries, and as the DR becomes more affluent, the problem will continue to grow here as well. There are solutions however. Education is one piece of the puzzle. Another, more important ,piece is an organized netwok of sanitary landfills, operated efficiently and economically. Some well-operated landfills actually make money by harvesting the methane gas they produce. Others sustain themselves through recycling. There are several methods of operation, and it takes a little research to find the most effective method for a partcular area. The time to start is now. Every second lost chasing beliah's ridiculous theories is a second gone to waste.
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Sir, the FIRST THING that must be done is teach your popple in this country NOT to throw their trash about willy-nilly.
THAT'S the source of 95% of your trash. A person here buys a candy bar at tehe Colmado, walks outside and disposes of the wrapper right on thefround when there is a TRASH CAN right beside him.
Results of a lack of respect and simple tunnel vision. He wasn't thinking of disposing of the wrapper.
Besides, he's not being paid to put the wrapper in the trash can. Someone else must wait on him in that regard.
This habit cn be changed in the CIVICS classes of Kindergarten and/or Lower schools to begin with.
Better yet, start at home with parental responsibilities.
TB
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_dumping
oooo
I can't quote data for the DR. Contrary to the charade about domestic waste, I'll bet that the DR bourgeoisie and its imperialist friends are accepting for a paltry fee the household, industrial, medical, and nuclear waste from the USA and Canada to be stored in DR landfills and burned in incinerators.
If the experience of the US is any indicator, the free-market bourgeoisie will build residential communities on top of these contaminated spaces because the land is often cheap.
DR's sovereignty is worthless "DR, you all got to take our lethal and diseased waste, if we pay ... you all or our agents in the DR ... the market value for the storage."
All of these "waste management contracts" between the dumper and dumpee have confidentiality clauses that silences the dumpee from sniveling in public about the deaths and diseases that the dumping genrerates.
So, it makes sense to keep the health care system as primitive and backward as possible to preserve the confidentiality of the filthy operation.
Sorry, but you're WAY OFF BASE with your commentary.
Sr. Ramirez was and is referring to the trash produced within the DR.
Since the US "imperialist" government doesn't send any of it's refuse to other countries through ANY "Trade Agreements" your argument as such, is totally erroneous and without foundation.
I do have to admire yoiur perserverance in pursuing your denegration of the Capitalist World, specifically the US, however misplaced. But, wouldn't it be also beneficial to your cause if you used correct arguments in support of that agenda?
Thus far, you have only suceeded in alienating a vast majority of the poster in these columns. It really would behoove you to change your "modus operendi" to factualy based arguments instead of going off on a tangent with every issue. Your commentaries are in thenature of a broken record without substantive and factual sources. And I'm not talking about your references solely to "left leaning" periodicals.
TB
Blockhead, if that's all he was worried about, then he doesn't have problem.
"the US "imperialist" government doesn't send any of it's refuse to other countries ..."
Do you have to be consistently ignorant about everything?
http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2006/060316_dominican_rep.html
This "government," about which you speak, dumps nuclear waste in other countries. Most of the non-nuclear dumping is done by the US imperialists in the private sector who are protected by the imperialist regime in Washington.
" you have only suceeded in alienating a vast majority of the poster in these columns ..."
Are you their self-appointed spokesman?
"your references solely to "left leaning" periodicals."
Among others, I've cited and given links to the CIA, US State Department, and Dominican Today periodicals.
You are so reactionary that even the CIA is "left-leaning" in your crazy head.
[82,000 TONS of coal ash shipped by AES to the DR from Puerto Rico and dumped unceremoniously on a beach]
http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2006/060316_dominican_rep.html
"Oh no, for God's sake, oh no! The US imperialists should not be forced to pay for their environmental dumping in a country like the DR. Blame the DR people for it," USA reactionaries argue.
The only reason this story surfaced is that the US imperialists didn't even try to hide the dumping on the beach.
Belial
Thanks to wikipedia he is Satan..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belial
Belial (also Belhor, Baalial, Beliar, Belias , Beliall, Beliel, Bilael; from Hebrew ???????????? B?liyyá?al; also named Matanbuchus, Mechembuchus, Meterbuchus in older scripts) is an evil being in Jewish apocrypha, and also a term used to characterize the wicked or worthless.
The etymology of the word is uncertain but is most commonly translated as "without worth".[1] Some scholars translate it from Hebrew as "worthless" (Beli yo'il), while others translate it as "yokeless" (Beli ol), "may have no rising" (Belial) or "never to rise" (Beli ya'al). Only a few etymologists have assumed it to be a proper name from the start.[2] In the Book of Jubilees, uncircumcised heathens are called "sons of Belial".
I'm not a Hebrew. So, their etymology is worthless and pointless to me.
What about the REST OF THE WORLD, oldson. Is,should it be "worthless and pointless" tothem also???
Get a life.
You aren't the only one occupying God's Green Earth.
TB
Today, Jander no longer sucks blood ... or other objects ... out of people, his main interest in people lies in performing janitorial services in the rear and the middle of the human body.
Intersting what jander means, good one!
really is just a abrev..