Philippines: Envi-health Group Asks P-Noy to Keep All Hospitals Malinis at Mabango
Health Care Without Harm SE-Asia – Responding to the 1st initiative of the Department of Health (DoH) to keep all state-run hospitals stink-free and clean in support of P-Noy’s clean governance, Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia asks the President to include all hospitals in the mandate by ordering mercury importation ban and to shun away from revisiting medical waste incineration. more

Philippines: Envi-health Group Raises Alarm on Planned Revival of Incinerators
Health Care Without Harm SE-Asia –A week before the celebration of the Hospital Week, envi-health group Health Care Without Harm-Southeast Asia (HCWH-SEA) raises alarm on the Department of Health (DoH)’s proposal to revive the use of incinerators calling it revival of the unfittest. more

Indonesia: Government to Report on Hazardous Medical Waste
The Jakarta Post – The Environment Ministry said it will report on healthcare waste practices and allegedthat some hospitals have been dumping untreated – and potentially hazardous – medical waste into rivers. The ministry said it had assessed waste management practices at 30 hospitals across the country using a corporate environmental performance rating system and would announce its results in October. more

South Africa: Dead Babies Found in Medical Waste
Iol.co.za – Police will continue to investigate how the bodies of two dead full-term babies were found among medical waste. Paramedics and police were on Wednesday called to a waste removal company in Airport Industria after two babies, a boy and girl, were found among the medical waste which was about to be incinerated. more

Indonesia: Moves to Outlaw Mercury Use in Indonesian Medical Sector
The Jakarta Globe – Environmental health activist Yuyun Ismawati is hardly a fan of mercury, so it came as a shock to her to find out that her dental fillings contained high concentrations of the heavy metal. Faye Ferrer, from Health Care Without Harm pointed out that most developed countries now ban or strictly regulate the use of mercury in the medical sector. more

Philippines: Mercury-tainted Cosmetics Still Being Sold
GMA News – Mercury-tainted cosmetic products are still being sold in several areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces despite a health ban, an ecological group said. During random test buys, EcoWaste Coalition managed to purchase cosmetic products banned by the Food and Drug Administration. more

US: Climate Change Should Be Billed As a "Health" Not "Environmental" Disaster
The Ecologist – Public may be more likely to accept responsibility for climate change and support mitigation action if they see it as a threat to human health, suggests research. If the human health impacts of climate change were explained in more detail to people they might be more willing to accept tougher action to reduce its impact, according to a US study. more

UK: Clean Water Bottle Wins UK Leg of James Dyson Award
BBCNews – A bottle that uses ultraviolet light to sterilise drinking water has won the UK leg of the James Dyson Award. The Pure bottle eliminates the need for chlorine and iodine tablets which take 30 minutes to work and can leave an unpleasant taste. more

UK: Europe Breaking Electronic Waste Export Ban
BBCNews – Old televisions and computers containing hazardous substances are still being exported from Europe despite a ban aimed at stopping the trade, which poisons workers at makeshift recycling plants in Africa and Asia. Instead of proceeding to Ivory Coast, these goods will be impounded, checked and most likely sent back to Germany, from where they arrived. more

International: General Assembly Declares Access to Clean Water and Sanitation is a Human Right
UN.org – Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water. The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone. more

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