News Presentation

1. News Presentation F.6A Scarlet Chan (3) Ida Lau (5) Daphne Law (16) Mary Law (18) Tracy Mak (22)

2. The expansion of Tseung Kwan O landfill into Clear water Bay Country Park  Hungarian Alumina Plant Accident

3. The expansion of Tseung Kwan O landfill into Clear water Bay Country Park

4. Outline How far is the expansion of Tseung Kwan O landfill into Clear water Bay Country Park effective compared with incinerators to treat waste? Sub-questions: What are the negative impacts brought by the expansion of landfill within a country park? Can the incinerator replace the expansion of landfill in waste treatment? Are there still any long-term solutions in waste treatment?

5. How far is the expansion of Tseung Kwan O landfill into Clear water Bay Country Park effective compared with incinerators to treat waste?

6. Background Information Lawmakers to keep fighting landfill plan (South Chin Morning Post, 7th October,2010)Lawmakers yesterday vowed to move ahead with a motion to repeal a chief executive’s order that would allow the Tseung Kwan O landfill to extend 5 hectares into the Clear Water Bay Country Park. ???? ???????????? (??, 10th October,2010)??????????????5??,????????????????,??????????????????? ???????????? (??, 11th October, 2010)??,??????????,?????????5????,?????????????????,?????????,???????????

7. What are the negative impacts brought by the expansion of landfill within a country park?

8. Negative Impacts Environmental Aspect Inhalation of toxic gases  At the top of the landfill?Gas: fermentation of organic material?Released: approximately equal quantities of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) & methane (CH 4 ) =GREENHOUSE GASES released. Mixed (unseperated) compostable waste(including kitchen and garden refuse)? a diverse range of other materials (some of which are potentially hazardous)

9. 2. Damage to plant and wildlife habitats  Loss of grassland and trees?Loss of habitats of water birds?Extinction of species?Lost of biodiversity ????????????????

10. 3. Devalued of environmental Air pollution: Common gaseous air pollutants: - carbon monoxide- sulfur dioxide- chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)- nitrogen oxides ? release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere

11. Noise pollution: Garbage trucks and machines in landfill?High-intensity sonar Water pollution: Release of waste products and contaminants? surface runoff into river drainage systems? groundwater, liquid spills,  wastewater discharges and littering. Soil contamination: chemicals are released by spill or underground leakage(Heavy metals brought by the wastes)

12. Political Aspect ???? ???????? ????? ??????? (?? 7th October 2010)?????????????????????????????,????????????14???2012?1?1?,??????????????????,???????,????????????????????,????????????????«??????»?14?,????????,?????????????????????,???????????????????????????????????????????????????????,???????

13. Development of landfill in Tsueng Kwan O ? Discussed for a long time ? have not came to a finally decision? No concrete and practical solutions are made? the government: weak administrative ability ? citizens lost confidence for the government? affect the aspiration of the citizens? Government’s & Chief Executive’s  popularity decreased

14. Social Aspect ??????????? (???? 11th October, 2010)?????????????,??????????????????????,???????????????????????,???????,??????????????????,??????????????????????????????????????,?????????,????????

15. Affect the living environment  Tseung Kwan O Residents endure the smell every day The smell more serious when Southeast wind blowing The smell are unhygienic Flies suffering Other district (e.g. Siu Sai Wan) Affected by the wind ? also smell the stench coming from Tseung Kwan O Landfill Flies flying at their home

16. 2. Affect the health of the people Spread of bad smell According to the views of the Department of Health: The smell will make residents ?feel restlessness ?headache ?nausea ?breathing

17. 2. Can the incinerator replace the expansion of landfill in waste treatment?

18. Basic InformationInceneration one of several waste-to-energy (WtE)technologies: - gasfication- Plasma arc gasification- pyrolysis- anaerobic digestion reduce the mass of the original waste by 80–85 % & the volume (already compressed in garbage trucks) by 95-96 % ? incineration does not completely replace landfilling ? significantly reduces the volume for disposal

19. Arguments for incineration ??:???????? (??, 13th October,2010) ????????????,?????????????????,??????????????????,??????????,???????,??????????,??????,???????????,???????,???????????

21. Incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW)? avoids the release of methane? Every ton of MSW incinerated? prevents about one ton of carbon dioxide  equivalents released to the atmosphere A 2008 Eunomia report: ? incineration causes less CO2 than other emerging technology combinations

22. Arguments against incineration Health effectsThe Scottish Protection Agency's (SEPA) comprehensive health effects research: - "inconclusively" on health effects- even though no conclusive evidence of non-occupational health effects from incinerators in the existing literature ? "small but important effects might be virtually impossible to detect". The highly toxic fly ash must be safely disposed of.  ? involves additional waste miles ? the need for specialist toxic waste landfill elsewhere 

23. Incinerators emit varying levels of heavy metals: - vanadium- manganese- chromium- nickel- arsenic- mercury- lead- cadmium ? toxic at very minute levels. Building and operating waste incinerators ? long contract periods ? recover initial investment costs ? a long term lock-in

24. produce fine particles in the furnace ? Even with modern particle filtering of the flue gases ? a small part of these is emitted to the atmosphere.  visually undesirable ? require a visually intrusive chimney stack. cut out viable work for local economies ? 1 million people making a livelihood of collecting waste.

25. Examples ???????:???? ??,?????????????,????????????????????????????????,????3???????????,????????? ??,??????????????????,??1????????????????,????????????????,????????????? ???????????????,?????????,???????????????????????,?????????????????????????

26. Advantages ???????? ????????????????????? ? ???????????????????? ? ????????????????? ? ?????????????? ????????? ??????????,??????????? ? ????????,???????  ?????? ??????????? ? ????????? ? ????????????,????  ? ????????,????????? ? ?????????

27. Disadvantages ??????????????,??????????????????????????????????????????,????????  ??????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????,???????????????? ? ???????? ??????????????????????????????????,?????????????? ???? ??,????????????????

28. Examples of other countries ????,?????,??????????,?????????????????????????,?????????,?????????????????,??????????????? ??????21???????????????????4? :- ????????- ???????- ???????- ?????????

29. 3. Are there still any long-term solutions in waste treatment?

30. Recycling schemes ? ????????????????????? ? ?????????????????????- ????????????: ???????????????????- ??????(World Watch Institute)??? ?????:  ??????????????????????Taiwan- ??????????????????????? ? ????????? ? ???????,???????? ? ?????????????? Separation of waste products???????(????)???????????

31. ??????? & ???????Taiwan???????????,????? ??????????????????? ???????????,???????? ???????????????????: ??????????????????,??????? (????) ?????????,??????

32. References: Lawmakers to keep fighting landfill plan (South Chin Morning Post, 7th October,2010) ???? ???????????? (??, 10th October,2010) ???????????? (??, 11th October, 2010) Five Years on, several opportunities wasted to cut dumping (South China Morning Post, 7th October, 2010) ???? ???????? ????? ??????? (??, 7th October 2010)??????????? (???? 11th October, 2010) ??:???????? (??, 13th October,2010) http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200510/26/P200510260184.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution http://www.ust.hk/~webpepa/pepa/lecture_notes/Pollutions/land.htm http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/rivers/gt%20stour%20case%20study-pages/plln-lfll.html http://www.foe.org.hk/ http://www.hkheadline.com/news/html_wnn/html/2008/2/13/wnn44280.html?section_name=wnn

33. Hungarian Alumina Plant Accident Red Sludge spill in Hungary4 October 2010

34. Outline How can the effects of Hungarian alumina plant accident being regarded as a global issue? Sub-questions: What are the impact brought about the Hungarian alumina plant accident ? How does this issue turned from local to global scale? What is the significance of this issue? (Reflection) Conclusion 

35. What is red sludge? Red sludge is ….. A type of industrial waste a by-product of the process (Bayer Process) purifying bauxite ore into aluminium oxide (?????). Contains toxic materials and heavy metal

36. Background 4th October, 2010 in Akja, Hungary MAL Hungarian Aluminium Company Dam breakdowns of the waste reservoir Outflow of a million cubic meters of hazardous red sludge(as many as the Gulf oil spill since April) Red sludge released 2m to 3.6m waves (Tsunami like) Engulfing (??) several towns and villages 8 deaths, 150 people were injured 40 square km of land were affected The spill reached the Danube river (???) on 7 October

38. People’s response “I looked outside and all I saw was the stream swelling like a huge wave” “When I heard the rumble of the flood, all the time I had was jump out of the window and run to higher ground” Hungarian interior minister Sandor Pinter referred to MAL’s justifications about red sludge is harmless, “They should take a swim in it and then they’ll see.” “Tsunami of sludge, and the road to hell!”

39. What are the impacts brought by the Hungarian alumina plant accident?

40. Environmental – Ecological disaster Hydrosphere Sludge contains heavy metals (e.g. arsenic ??) Rivers e.g. the Marcal connecting Danube river seriously affected. High erosive (????) alkaline level ? serious river contamination -> complete loss of aquatic lives and plants e.g. fish Entire ecosystem destroyed Without food (fishes) and clean water-> Animals which live one aquatic lives starved to death -> extinction of species -> lost of biodiversity ???????????? ?? 10?07?

41. Lithosphere Through infiltration of red sludge, soil became rich in heavy metals and toxic elements->soil contamination. Extra chemical fertilizers are needed to increase the fertility. It is irreversible and lead to a vicious cycle. Land must became useless. ???????????? ?????,???????????????

42. Biosphere Vegetations absorbed moisture through the contaminated soil ? vegetations killed ? plants unable to grow on toxic soil -> wildlife lost habitat and food -> extinction of species -> lost of biodiversity. Poisonous red sludge fatally wounded wildlife or even killed or drowned to death. Without tree roots to hold the soil -> more surface runoff -> more soil erosion -> landslide => flooding

43. Atmosphere As the trees and vegetations die, there are less evapotranspiration -> less condensation -> less clouds -> less precipitation. When the red sludge is evaporated, acid rain will be created. => Acid deposition

44. Social Aspect The lethal torrent of toxic red sludge destroyed towns in Hungary -> burning villagers through their clothes. (???????) 8 people were killed, 6 people were missing and at least 150 people injured. Serious health damaged ->omitted toxic noxious smell People must wear masks and protection gear. Inundated homes -> people lost their homes and properties

45. Hungary toxic sludge death toll reaches 7 (CNN | October 8, 2010) Locals in Hungary: We can never return after toxic spill (CNN | October 13, 2010) ??????? ????? (??)2010?10?9? ???

46. Economic Aspect Huge financial loss estimated Tens of millions of Euro Hungarian government:made an urgent request to the European Union for financial help ? Impose heavy taxation for reconstruction ? widen the wealth gap. As the river is contaminated, there will be biodiversity loss as fish will die. This will affect the income of the fishermen.

47. Many Hungarians engaged in farming Farmlands destroyed -> crops can no longer grow -> lost of agricultural value (no production) -> land can never be used -> hence abandoned -> lost of land and income -> unemployment -> paralyze the agricultural industry -> financial loss -> borrow money from the European Union -> foreign debt Swept cars off the roads and damaged bridges -> paralyze transport network -> economic loss in reconstruction->loss of investments->financial loss->vicious cycle Pristine vistas of Marcal and Raba River destroyed -> tourists will not visit -> loss of tourism investments and income

48. How does the issue turn to global issue?

49. Local scale to transnational scale

50. ?????????????????? ???? ????? (???)2010?10?9?  ???????????? Toxic red sludge reaches the Danube World Press 7 October On October 7, a toxic red sludge that burst out of Hungarian aluminum factory's reservoir entered the Danube, threatening an ecological disaster. 

51. Importance of Danube Danube is 2850 kilometer long passes through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine Moldova and Romania. Ecological importance towards Eastern Europe The source of life of various forests e.g. Black Forest Homes to thousands of species.

53. “Water is a global issue, and it affects all of us” International food safety crisis Under globalization, transnational companies (TNCS) of food production are common. The contaminated fish might export to other countries and cause potential large scale food safety. -> Cross-contamination

54. The river side European countries are seriously affected. Red sludge will destroy all the great forests (Black Forest of Germany) Important site of commercial logging and tourism Lost of income and national treasure Members of the European Union -> GDP ? drastically. The economy of European Union declines. Major trading partners (China) will suffer China lose its important export market in Europe. ?China trade volume a big exporting country Whole of the Asian Pacific Rim e.g. United Arab Emirates and Brazil, America affected Hence international financial crisis occurred.

55. International financial crisis

56. Forests e.g. Black Forest near the Danube river Rich and major oxygen (carbon dioxide consuming) source. If most of them are killed in the red sludge incident. There are less trees for producing oxygen and hence, there are much less trees to cope with the combustion of fossil fuel (greenhouse gases). Then, this will worsen the problem of global warming

57. Ecological Significance of Europe “Ecological significance, wilderness in Europe provides strong and sustainable economic, social, cultural and spiritual benefits………crucial roles of preserving ecological values and conserving biodiversity on a continuing basis, wilderness areas not only represent a solid source for long-term research with the opportunity to learn about natural ecosystem dynamics, but also offer a great venue for visitors to gain first-hand experience about natural processes.”WWF Ecological Footprint of EU  .

58. The lost of biodiversity of Europe will in turn made the whole world suffer. Extinction of species and loss of biodiversity -> chain effect. One specie extinct, another species can’t escape from its terrible faith -> extinction E.g. if Europe’s insect eaters extinct, plus global warming – a favorable breeding ground; led to rapid increase of harmful pests such as mosquitoes and poisonous arachnids (spiders). These pests will spread across the world through transportations and so on. Mosquitoes bring about widespread of diseases globally

59. What is the significance of this issue?

60. Raising public awareness Learned a lesson and paid a high cost. Raising awareness towards toxic waste reservoir near the rivers The irreversible damage The possibility in having another catastrophic red sludge spill. Hungarian government and the local Hungarian become the watchdog of the high-risk industry, highly alert.

61. International shock and fear The whole world shocked The whole world (esp. LDC) foreseen this might happened in their own country. Greenpeace, “This is definitely going to happen again in the future, it can be any moment and across the globe” This alerts international concern on the risky location of toxic waste reservoir. Governments may reinforce laws on administrating these industries Fostering close international cooperation on issues of environment

62. The drawbacks of diverse environmental policies European countries realized that diverse policy will in term affect other countries. No one can be left unaffected. International cooperation and unity in environmental policies Necessary to environmental conservation. Through the river channels several Eastern European countries’ ecosystem was threatened. Not bounded by national boundaries, instead it is transnational. -> Uniform policy is necessary to protect the treasure – Danube river.Not only the European Nations, but the whole world should.

63. Dilemma: Economy or Environment? Environmental protection sacrificed under Economic benefits. Government considered more on financial income than ever Hungarian government is desperate in rising the economic status and influence in Europe. Hungarian Economic Aim, Hungary must further reform its economy in order to meet the 2012–2013 target date for accession to the euro zone. Rapid industrialization is occurred in order to meet the target.  WWF have discovered minor leak of the toxic waste reservoir months before the accident and warned the government. Yet nothing was done as Economy goes first.

64. In China, environmental policies hindered by economic development. Many factories located near rivers such due to geographical inertia. Common among developing countries. If the incident happened in China: The red sludge will destroy River Chang Jiang. The whole southern china will be in chaos Million gallons of drinking water is contaminated Hong Kong will suffer as well.  Apart from the huge economic lost; we ourselves and the Mother Nature suffer. Money might seem almighty yet it can never save the damaged environment. 

65. Conclusion The Regional Disaster Relief Agency, the Greenpeace and numerous sludge fighters has came to make effort. Not much can be done. Greenpeace stated that they can only lower the alkaline level by pouring 1000 tonnes of acid and gypsum Try to stop the sludge from running towards the Danube -> it’s all in vain. Sludge fighters rush to barricades Monday, October 11, 2010Life ends in poisoned river Friday, October 08, 2010 Standard

66. Conclusion The entire ecosystem of the Marcal River has been destroyed because the very high alkaline levels have killed everything in its way.” Tibor Dobson, head of the regional disaster relief services "We've tried to lower the alkaline levels at several points on the Marcal with acid and gypsum. But it's been in vain." Environmental disaster is irreversibleWe can only prevent but cannot recover!

67. 2010-2011 Policy Address

68. D. Quality Life Environmental Protection Combating Climate Change Wider use of cleaner and low-carbon energies and fuels in power generation Enhance energy efficiency Promote green building Advocate electricity saving Facilitate low-carbon transport Develop facilities to turn waste into energy

69. Air Quality improving gradually roadside air pollution ? the concentration of nitrogen dioxide Franchised Buses1. Major cause of roadside air pollution on busy corridors2. fuel consumption :  ? hybrid buses are superior to ordinary diesel buses ? replace diesel buses on a large scale within a short period ? fund the full cost of procuring six hybrid3. Catalytic reduction devices ? meet Euro IV nitrogen oxide emission standards4. Designate pilot low-emission zones in busy districts Eg: Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok ?increase as far as possible the ratio of low-emission franchised buses

70. Pilot Green Transport Fund Land and sea transport are the second largest sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions To encourage the transport sector to test out green and low-carbon transport means and technology ? Government plans to set up a $300 million Pilot Green Transport Fund this year

71. Improving Water Quality in Victoria Harbour $17 billion for the full-speed construction of relevant facilities ? treat the remaining untreated sewage, about  450 000 cubic metres a day, discharged from Hong Kong Island. advanced the construction of some disinfection facilities? improve the water quality in the western part of the harbour and the beaches in Tsuen Wan

72. Ban on Trawling Hong Kong's marine environment has been affected by pollution and capture fisheries ?resulting in a declining quality of fish catches To protect our precious marine resources and ecology? implement a basket of management measures: - banning trawling in Hong Kong waters through legislation ?restore our seabed and marine resources as early as possible To assist the fishermen affected?launch a voluntary trawler buyout scheme? grant an ex-gratia allowance to eligible Provide training and technical support for affected fishermen?switch to other sustainable fishing operations (aquaculture and leisure fishing)

73. Nature Conservation Tai Long Sai Wan incident ? highlighted the need to take prompt action to regulate land use in the vicinity of country parks to forestall human damage? drafted Development Permission Area plans for Sai Wan, Hoi Ha, Pak Lap and So Lo Pun? remaining 50 sites adjacent to country parks include them into country parks? meet conservation and social development needs

74. Environment and Conservation Fund Government injected $1 billion into the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF)? expanded its scope with a view to encouraging more organizations to undertake conservation research and technology demonstration projects. 

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