Sweden may be forced to lift ban on mercury
TT/Clara Guibourg · 21 Apr 2012, 10:00
Published: 21 Apr 2012 10:00 GMT+02:00
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“Frankly I’m incredibly irritated by this. We’re running global negotiations to phase out mercury all over the world. Sweden is very active in these negotiations, with the support of the EU commission. Because it’s a highly dangerous environmental toxin,” Minister for the Environment Lena Ek told Sveriges Radio (SR).
Mercury was banned in Sweden in 2009. The rest of the European Union is trying to move toward a similar ban, but Belgium is blocking a ban, citing the need for mercury in certain measuring instruments, reported SR.
This means that Sweden must now open its market for certain products that contain mercury.
“The fact that the commission is unable to keep it together, that EU regulations are worse than the tough demands we’re making in global negotiations – it’s just crazy,” said Ek.
Sweden is now considering demanding a national exception, by means of EU:s environmental guarantee.
This has been done once before, for the wood preservative creosote.
“Sweden is going to stand by its ban, so if need be we’ll take the conflict with the commission,” said Ek.
Your comments about this article
One can, however, install such a maze of bureaucratic red tape covering such things as:
a licence to purchase
a precise record of the geographic location and useage
a licence to dispose,including all necessary fulfillment of miljo regulations.
An annual report as to the condition of the mercury containing instrument,including,if necessary,independant testing and approval.
All the costs for these things being born by the purchaser/owner of the mercury containing instrument.
There is no better way to educate people into finding alternative instrumentation than cost and red tape factors.
Swedish Government already likes CFLs with their mercury
- even though the same Lena Ek talked about the
"Acute Crisis" of dumped CFL mercury recently !! =
http://dunday.com/2011/12/swedish-environment-minister-acute.html
to be compared to eat fish which in my world is a infantile way to fool the sheeples.
The ban implemented with one hand at same time as the other decides about injecting mercury which is a neuro toxin proves my statement.
Trim ones sails to every wind is typical when it comes to meet the interests behind certain actions. Is it Lena Eks mission to heal some of the damaged caused?
Mercury is toxic and MOST of NECESARY things made with mercury have also a "safe" way to be made.
All goverments of almost every single country on earth have at some point shown "no respect to anyone else, especially not to their own population" in matters that affect that population in a muuuuch bigger extend than the mercury thing in Sweden and you compare SE with North Korea?
You are wise. You have just succinctly described one of the ways the environmentalists have gone too far. The very idea that a state or consortium of states can selectively ban elements of the periodic table to protect the environment is essentially bizarre because that's where they come from.
So in view of your wisdom, maybe you can tell me if and when this green tyranny will end? They seek to ban carbon even though that's what we're made of, what we emit when we exhale, and what fuels our biological machinery. Do they seek to ban us from existence? I don't get it. Maybe you do.
As to comparing Sweden with the 'slightly communistic' state of North Korea, then rolfkrohna is perhaps talking out of the back of his neck.
What i REALLY REALLY REALLY appreciate is that, sometimes, when a regulation or a a choice required by EU is in clear contrast with national interest and more advanced regulations, the answer is "WHO CARES"