PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, August 5: As the plastic pollution summit begins in Geneva, Libération highlights the little-known but devastating scourge of plastic pellets ravaging the planet. Also, Silicon Valley’s shift into a new “hard tech” era reflects a changing political climate; former CNN journalist Jim Acosta sparks controversy after interviewing an AI avatar of a school massacre victim. And, the press pays tribute to Stella Rimington, the first woman chief of MI5. Negotiations kick off in Geneva today, aiming to establish a global treaty to end plastic pollution. As the talks begin, French newspaper Libération shines a light on a lesser-known pollutant: plastic pellets, also called “mermaid tears.” These tiny pellets are deliberately small to ease transport and are classified as primary microplastics, used in products ranging from single-use water bottles to televisions. Often released en masse from industrial sites via pipes or land spills, these pellets accumulate on coastlines and riverbanks worldwide. In the EU alone, around 184,000 tonnes of plastic pellets escape into nature each year. One particularly devastating incident occurred in 2021, when a cargo ship sank near Sri Lanka, releasing 11,000 tonnes of industrial plastic into the sea. The environmental impact was severe – sea turtle eggs were crushed beneath the weight of the plastic debris. As these pellets travel, they attract toxic chemicals on their surfaces, which are then ingested by fish and crustaceans, entering the food chain and ultimately affecting larger animals and humans. In tech news, The New York Times explores why Silicon Valley has entered a “hard tech” era. Veteran tech reporter Mike Isaac explains the ideological shift happening today. A decade or s... Go on reading on our web site. Visit our website: http://www.france24.com
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