Diogo & Luís Martins, Portugal – 13 and 16 years old During this period of social confinement, the world stopped, but did we stop to think about the positive aspects and mitigate […]
The world stopped…the world changed?
Coronavirus – Sustainability imposed on humanity!
Portugal is currently in quarantine due to the coronavirus, which has created chaos worldwide. Despite having to stay in his forties, it seems to be something simple, it becomes a harsh reality for which society has woken up and has shown difficulties in dealing with this new challenge that has been posed to us.
However, this new reality has revealed signs that some pollution indicators have decreased dramatically, motivated by the slowdown in industrial production and mass tourism. However, there is an aspect that is in the minds of many, the excessive exposure to external dependence on essential products. In light of this, there are small solutions that could make our society more sustainable. Some of these solutions include having a vegetable garden at home or even a chicken, which could alleviate the frenzy that causes hoarding acts that we can all easily observe.
China vs. World. Pollution vs. Depollution
Since November 2019, COVID-19 has strongly hit China and, shortly after, the whole world. Portugal was one of the affected countries. Europe even more. The USA even more than Europe. An epidemic that quickly became a pandemic changed the behavior of almost everyone.
Portugal imports hospital waste in times of pandemic
The Sobrado landfill, in Valongo, continues with the business of importing waste, but this time there is an added concern as it is receiving hospital waste from various parts of the north of the country and also from Italy. This situation caught the attention of the “Jornada Principal” association, which, for fear of the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak, demanded, as a way of mitigating risks to public health, the incineration of such waste with a classification related to its hazardousness of Group 1 and 2 (Group 1 being the lowest degree of danger).
Hospital waste: the collateral damage of coronavirus
It was relievingly that this week the much awaited Antonov plane landed in Porto with medical help to support the national health system. This time 3.5 million masks, 300,000 caps, 100,000 gowns and other protective materials arrived for the doctors, urses and other health professionals who are on the front line in fighting against covid-19. These 80 tons of disposable personal protective material will end up in a landfill and this will obviously have various repercussions.
COVID-19: an opportunity for the environment?
The recent outbreak of Coronavirus, a disease declared a pandemic, has had enormous repercussions not only at the national level, but also worldwide. From stopped cities, closed borders to paralyzed factories, there are numerous obvious consequences that the “plague” has caused.Despite these misfortunes, it is possible to verify some positive impacts, environmental issues, showing an opportunity to rethink our lifestyle.
Coronavirus: destruction or salvation?
Advantages and disadvantages of a pandemic that has made 25 countries declare a state of emergency.
A silent pandemic occurs at sea… Fight it!
In the fight against the pandemic all ways have been used with a human effort never seen before in the world, proving that the human being is able, when united, to overcome many challenges ahead. This noisy epidemic contrasts with the epidemic that happens at sea and that influences the life of all living beings on the planet. The sea needs solutions, not problems!
COVID-19: Solving environmental problems or worsening them?
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new coronavírus (SARS-COV-2). This pandemic started three months ago and we are already feeling changes in our lives. But, what’re the environmental impacts of it?
Montijo: An option for the future or an announced crime?
“There is no plan B for the Montijo airport”, said António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, to TSF radio when one more blockade was imposed to the construction of the new Portuguese aerial platform, this time coming from the city council. In the last few months, the progress in the works of the construction of the new airport has been none, and the oppositions, in a huge number.
Young Reporters for the Environment 