We're talking about NGTs, New Genomic Techniques, new genetic engineering techniques. Multinationals want to free themselves from any risk assessment, control and labelling (as required by the current Directive 2001/18/EC which regulates GMOs) products engineered with these techniques. By introducing organisms on the market on which sufficient studies and research have not been done, the risk is that they may subsequently have negative effects on the environment and health. We will discuss this very shortly, in January 2024, to the European Parliament in plenary session.
We thank the guests who attended: Francesco Panié of the Centro Internazionale Crocevia, the agricultural geneticist Elisa d’Aloisio, Cristina Guarda – Councilor of the Veneto Region, Filiberto Zaratti, Green Europe member of the Italian Parliament.
Giovedì 4 h18 April we will meet to plan the next initiative of the Green Brigade. Who is interested will be able to reach the Policlinico Metro B, Coffee Volpini, Via Regina Margherita 316. E’ a bar-pastry-table immediately hot out of the € ™ of the Metro exit.
I returned yesterday from the countryside of Portogruaro (VE) where it took place at the Center for Permaculture The Boa course on building straw bale homes, wood, lime and clay.
The course lasted two days and was theoretically, the aim was to give an overview of the topic for those who had an idea to build a House like that.
Straw bale houses, wood, lime and clay are called in many different ways with vague terms like eco-label, bio, sustainable: in the end though it is concretely of homes "in planned saving".
These houses are not a bucolic charm: are homes that, If done knowingly, have a project behind which aims at optimizing energy use, especially that provided free of charge from the land: solar energy, wind power, thermal, trying not to waste unnecessarily.
If you build from foundations, These houses should for example:
– be positioned in such a way as to maximise the angle of the Sun's rays, considering the seasons, to be heated (passive solar house is named);
– possibly, through goods manufactured in Windows that you can attach to your House (they are often called bioclimatic greenhouses) leverage the influence of heat to heat the home or to create a vegetable garden heated.
– create a heating system that is as well researched as possible (example: a thermal heat for cooking kitchen wood which creates, for hot water laundry service, health and whose dishwasher hoses, passing in the walls, heat directly the House).
These houses are not who knows how much cheaper than a conventional House: the fact is that you can save if some parts are made in self and if you make a good project for home heating. We say that is a House that can cost a 15-20% in less than a conventional, who then will (If done well) ineffective management and maintenance costs.
The straw bales in itself doesn't cost much, but in choosing you consider that you will have to buy from some farmer and that you recognize the right price to the job that he did, collecting the straw, creating the bales and which we store in a dry place in a haystack.
Straw houses are built with natural materials, more breathable than. Interesting thing: often there is concern that the home is protected from humidity, but the humidity is especially created by the life inside the home. I.e., If the House is built with materials and techniques that make it look like a plastic bag, inside you will create condensation and moisture will produce mold etc..
The other important thing: Choose the designer and the company that probably will have to carry out work. Many architects or engineers have no specific training on houses in straw, simply follow the market and often improvise.
So you have to make sure that the designer has a real knowledge of materials, I've done various courses, I've already built many houses made of straw and that these are actually being made to rule. Some architects have launched in organizing courses on thatched houses after having just read some books. Attention, Therefore.
The same goes for construction companies: These work with concrete and then act with that mindset. Also working to hurry, to finish early jobs. The realization of a project should be followed, You should review the work of the firm (Although by law in the pipeline nor the customer may enter). And anyway, what you will never want to check out if you don't know how to build a House of straw?? Therefore, If you would like to join this adventure, additional first courses to learn theoretical and practical level, and how you have to build a House like. You will learn both what needs to be done but also, no less important aspect, What should be avoided!
Construction mistakes might create energy efficiency problems or they might let you rot the straw bales.
In conclusion: build a House of straw is an extra effort compared to build or buy a conventional House.
You have to have pretty clear ideas, patience and trust professionals whose experience in thatched cottages is truly certain and verifiable.
In 2018, with the entrance of Open Scope, will increase the volume of Eee, resulting in a significant increase in waste outbuildings. The unclear regulations could slow down an important opportunity for the circular economy?
For over 3 years, the 15 August 2018 is a date circled in red on the calendar of those working in the energy sector and waste. Was the 14 March 2014 When it was issued a Legislative Decree (49) that transpose the European directive 19/2012, finalized to regulate the waste electrical and electronic equipment, the so-called WEEE, with a novelty: the expansion of the target.
Fuses, thorns, terminal blocks, extension cords, all those little electronic or electrical devices for which the law does not provide a written exclusion, you will combine the large and small household appliances, to computers, to television screens or tablets and so on. In essence, these electrical and electronic equipment will double. And therefore they will double even the slag.
This extension is called Open Scope, Open System. And bring with them new targets, that at the time, Despite a trend of the management of WEEE growing, seem very prohibitive for Italy.
Electronic ones are a type of waste which in itself, accomplice technological development and the increasingly widespread dissemination of electrical parts and devices in everyday objects public and private, grow faster than traditional. In the years immediately following the Decree 49/2014, the Italy overcame brilliantly the first lens place from Europe: collect at least 4 kg per capita within the 31 December 2015.
However, by January 2016, It was estimated that the collection of WEEE reached in close around the 45% products entering the market during the previous three years. The Italy, almost two years after the conclusion of this objective, It is just above the 40%. That's not all. Within the 2019, minimum collection rate established by the EU must be equal to 65% the average weight of EEE put on the market between the 2016 and the 2018. A challenge that still need to figure out how to win.
Yet the WEEE fundamental not only for the environment, But first of all for the national economy. In 2015, the savings on the purchase of raw materials, avoided thanks to the recovery of materials contained within WEEE, According to a perspective of circular economy, was approximately 120 million annually. If you are unable to reach EU targets, you would reach a annual savings of 390 million in 2025. In the same year, According to Remedia, greenhouse gas emissions, that thanks to the correct management of WEEE decreased by 1,1 million tonnes equivalent in 2015, they would lower by 2,5 tons.
In addition, not to mention a detail: the electronics industry is growing. According to the data provided by the EU for developing circular economy in our country, among the 2025 and the 2030 industry consumption will increase by 50%. Expected about 15,000 new jobs. Assuming that everything is working properly, the crisscross effect of industrial development and the European directive is an opportunity to exploit.
However, as is often the case, long-term incentives seem to lose value in a society that, starting from the political sphere, It gives too much weight to this, It is a mandate or an economic objective to be achieved in the near. Everything at once. And the present, In this case, translates into higher costs. The change of legislation will affect 7000 new companies that will be involved. Manufacturer, importers and distributors of WEEE are called, in accordance with the law of recent update, to organize, Finance and retrieve new WEEE. In essence, to manage the system. And his expenses.
Considering the deadlines of the directive, and the scope of change, in terms of industrial processes, and consequent adjustment, the entire industry, It would be desirable to hope for swift clarity regarding the same. Instead, at a distance of 3 and a half years from 49/2014, the situation is at a standstill in the debate. We're still in comparison, to understand who and what will be affected by the legislation, to define the boundaries of its application. For which, among other things, Europe itself is not yet so clear responsibility of companies operating purposes e-commerce.
Little time. Distant goals. The feeling is that the European directive is perceived as a problem, When might instead be an economic and employment opportunities. But there is still a margin so that it becomes a positive change can give new vigour to the circular economy of waste.
Sunday 10 November 2013, during the initiative "Guided tour of the former factory, at the Parco delle Energie and al lake Ex-Snia", to more than 200 residents were denied the guided visit to that part of the SNIA Viscose factory and the lake, already publicly owned.
With a canoe we have conquered the center of the lake and we have regained what is due to us, claiming the right to access the pond area
The entire area is intended as a master plan for public parks and services and should have already been park; it would appear that a quarter has already been expropriated for the expansion of the Energy Park towards Casal Bertone, the property pretended not to know anything, and closed the entrances preventing the passage as servants, but not only…
After last 12 October, when a large group of inhabitants had already come down to the pond, the property has illegally excavated the slope bordering the park, putting the entire pine forest above at risk and has made a descent to the lake for the unloading of materials, deforesting a part of the shore.
The Parco delle Energie and the pond are the only patch of green that has already been subtracted from building speculation for twenty years, in one of the most densely populated areas in Europe and with the lowest rate of green per capita, suffocated by traffic and infrastructure, with a very high degree of air pollution.
Today a new speculation in the area, by the already known Palazzinaro Pulcini, he wants to attack the territory further, forever erasing the lake and its habitat, with the construction project of 4 towers of 30 floors each, taller than 100 meters that will rest on tuff and incoherent river sediments ... In addition, this will result in the pouring of hundreds of cubic meters of concrete for new housing developments and an increase in environmental pollution (fine dust, smog, particulate matter,…) and acoustic.
The accomplices of speculation, responsible in the years of this havoc, and the green remains confined to pure and ridiculous decoration:
– The Veltroni administration, which does not complete the expropriation procedure, giving Pulcini the time to present and win the appeal to the TAR against the demolition of the remains of the abusive shopping center that was never completed. -The Municipality of Rome which does not provide the TAR judges with essential elements to confirm the complete demolition. -The Alemanno junta which launched the tender to rebuild the former industrial areas and allowed the builder Pulcini to present the project "of the towers" ... -The Polverini that with the regional law on the house plan increases the building volume and tries to circumvent the restrictions on protected areas. -The rector Frati, who just took office, ditches the project for the construction of the scientific campus in the area of the former factory, renouncing the acquisition of the area by La Sapienza. -The Municipal Council of the former VI Town Hall that since 2012 was aware of the project and did nothing to make it public and hinder the process.
Today, with a canoe we have conquered the center of the lake and we have regained what is due to us, claiming the right to access the pond area, natural heritage that belongs to the whole territory with the hope that many other canoes and sails can sail those waters. During the assembly following the guided tour, it was decided to create the first three working groups (link, urban and naturalistic) who will evaluate all the tools to stop this project.
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The Green Brigades took part in this event. In the morning they participated in the cleaning of a part of the area from which you have a view of the pond and then, together with other people, they expressed their desire not to want more concrete in the Largo Preneste area, but to hope for the creation of a park and the maintenance of the natural lake within the area of the Ex-Snia Viscosa.
Cleaning to have a view of the pond From the left: Andrea Caggese, Stefano Antonelli, Sarah Menouer
Pond, looking in the direction of Largo Preneste
Pond, looking in the direction of Portonaccio Street / Via Tiburtina / nightclub Qube
