When recycling turns toxic in Africa

This issue takes a close at battery recycling plants in Africa and what they do to our health and environments, the controversial Peruvian decision that released former President Fujimori from prison that set off a human rights dilemma in the Americas, and a drone strike that accidentally killed dozens of people in Nigeria, raising serious questions about the military's operations in general. Plus, a "ghost" village built from the sea in the United Arab Emirates is open for business, how we humans might be building ourselves a (AI) god, and some ruminations on anti-patriarchal exercise in India. Plus, so much more.

Indian companies are bringing the world's most polluting industry to Africa, and people are getting sick

What happened:
The Examination, a news outlet, uncovered that Indian companies running battery recycling operations in several African nations are seriously harming local families and the environment. They're releasing lead fumes and other dangerous waste, and I'm zooming in on one man's story from the Republic of the Congo.

Why this matters:
Battery recycling is known as one of the most polluting industries globally. It's not just about the immediate smoke, dust, and chemicals -- these emissions can harm the environment and human health for years to come. The industry is booming in Africa, expected to hit over US$6 billion soon. Interestingly, while India has been regulating this industry for over two decades, many African countries, including the Republic of the Congo, haven't followed suit.

Tell me more:
The report was published in partnership with The Museba Project, Ghana Business News, and Grist. The team talked to residents living near these factories in the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and Ghana. It found that many are suffering from respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis, with doctors linking it back to the pollution.

Tell me about one concrete example:
Meet Cyrille Traoré Ndembi from Vindoulou, Republic of the Congo. He's living in the shadow of a giant battery recycling plant run by Metssa Trading, a big name in Central Africa's recycling scene. This isn't just a little inconvenience -- we're talking serious air pollution and health risks. Ndembi and his neighbors are battling lung issues, and blood tests reveal high lead levels. This is super risky for kids, as lead exposure can lead to long-term health problems. His youngest daughter's test showed more than 53 micrograms of lead -- nine times higher than the World Health Organization's recommendations for intervention, putting her at risk of learning disabilities and brain damage. Ndembi said he doesn't have money for medical care. The treatment often recommended for severe lead poisoning, known as chelation, can be expensive.

• For comparion, at that level, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a child should undergo an x-ray, a neurological exam and consider admission to a hospital. For anything above 45 micrograms per deciliter, the New York State Department of Health says, "Your child needs medical treatment right away."

What's the response of the government?
Well, it seems like the government isn't stepping up enough. There's clear proof that this pollution is harmful, but not much is being done about it. Looks like money talks louder than health concerns.

Are all battery recycling operations the same?
Depends. You've got over 29,000 battery recycling sites worldwide, where adults and children (!) work without government authorization or protective equipment. But in places like the U.S. and China, they've really upped their game. Pollution control technology makes all the difference. "We know this is feasible and doable. It can be expensive, but it's not rocket science," said Perry Gottesfeld, executive director of Occupational Knowledge International.

• Did you know that car batteries are actually super recyclable, like almost the whole thing can be reused? That's why recycling them can be cheaper than getting new lead from the ground. And that's why this industry is booming.

What's next?
The people of Vindoulou are fighting back in court. Over 150 residents filed a lawsuit to shut down the factory and get compensation. Their first try didn't go so well, but they're not giving up. They're back in court, saying this is a real emergency. These are local courts, however. "India --- unlike the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other major corporate hubs --- has no specific legal tool for victims of corporate misbehavior overseas," writes the report. Yet.

After 16 years, Peru's top court ordered the release of ex-president Alberto Fujimori

What happened:
The country's top court, the Constitutional Court, has made a surprising move by ordering the release of their former president, Alberto Fujimori (watch his release here), going against international human rights law. Now 85 years old, Fujimori was serving a 25-year sentence for some pretty serious charges. The Court's reasoning? Fujimori has already done about two-thirds of his time, and he's really old and not in the best of health.

Why this matters:
This is a critical moment for human rights organizations and advocates worldwide. Fujimori's release sets a significant precedent in international human rights law, raising concerns about the accountability of former leaders and the protection of human rights globally. If countries can ignore international court rulings and release convicted leaders, it might weaken the global human rights framework. In simple terms: If one country can ignore international rules and nothing happens, other countries might think they can do the same.

Tell me more:
Fujimorii was the president of Peru from 1990 to 2000 and was later found guilty of some serious human rights violations during the early '90s. We're talking about things like ordering killings without a trial and abducting people. Earlier this year, Fujimori even had to be hospitalized due to heart issues. Back in 2017, he was given a pardon by another former president, but that pardon kept getting overturned due to pressure from human rights groups and victims' families. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), a major player in human rights issues in the Americas, has been particularly vocal against this pardon. But here's where it gets tricky: Peru's own Constitutional Court has decided to release Fujimori. And this wasn't just a straightforward decision. Judge Manuel Monteagudo, one of the members of the court, says the ruling wasn't even on their official schedule and was kind of done on the sly.

• Details: Fujimori was sentenced for human rights violations in 1991 and 1992, including his role in the extrajudicial execution of 15 people in the Barrios Altos district of Lima, the enforced disappearance and murder of nine students and a teacher from La Cantuta University, and two abductions.

Tell me more about his legacy
It's a mixed bag with Fujimori. Some people think he was a hero for saving Peru from economic collapse and a violent armed group called the Shining Path. Others, however, see him as a dictator who committed terrible crimes. He was impeached in 2000 for "moral incapacity" and fled to Japan, resigning by fax (yeah, fax!). He later went to Chile, from where he was...