Our special report uncovers the Roma communities forced to scavenge toxic e-waste in Paris. Photo: Steven Wassenaar

November 2010 Printable Subscribers Newsletter

Ecologist

November 2nd, 2010

This month we investigate the scandal of the Roma people forced to scavenge e-waste; uncover how pirate fishing is fuelling the European immigration crisis plus examine the complex workings of the much talked about Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. To access this exclusive content plus other articles, log in and scroll down to the bottom of the page...

President Sarkozy’s recent (highly controversial) crackdown on Roma communities in France received widespread coverage across Europe. Much less reported was the story of how these highly persecuted people struggle to scratch a living on the margins of many large cities, including Paris.

For an Ecologist special report we commissioned Carolyn Lebel and Steven Wassenaar to investigate how Roma communities in and around Paris are being forced to survive by ‘recycling’ the city’s growing mountain of unwanted and highly toxic e-waste. Their startling report and photo story reveals both a health and environmental time bomb waiting to explode – and poses some awkward questions about France’s recycling and waste policies.

Sticking with the toxic theme, in a highly passionate commentary, campaigner Georgina Downs accuses the previous Labour administration of gross inaction over the usage of pesticides in the UK – ruining lives and the environment – and calls upon David Cameron’s Government to urgently act to remedy the situation. Watch this space…

Also this month, we sent Christopher Pala to closely scrutinise the recently announced...

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