Most of us were taught some economic principles in school and later in other studies. For some years a lot of people, also economists, were doubting whether growth should be the ultimate goal of our economy. This movie which is just an introduction, gives a perfect idea what is happening in our society and how stupid it looks if you think about it. It looks there are no limits but now finally we are starting to realize that there are limits. Look at this movie and go to the website of storyofstuff to see more. 

Putting on your fresh, dry-cleaned clothes, have you ever noticed that sweet odor? It is not enough to bother many people, and after a few minutes as you rush off to work you likely will forget about it, but it’s not something that should be forgotten: it is toxic, it is chemical, and you are wearing it next to one of your body’s most sensitive organs: your skin. … 

PERC, long used as a solvent in dry cleaning, can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, and irritations of the skin, eyes, nose and throat in some people. It has also been linked, in high doses, to ground water contamination as well as liver and kidney damage and cancer in humans. But now there's a non-toxic alternative. More and more dry cleaners are going organic, using a food-grade level of carbon dioxide instead. Carbon dioxide is normally a gas at room temperature. But put under high pressure, it converts into a liquid and can act as a carrier of biodegradable soaps in much the same way that water does in a washing machine. And when the dry cleaning cycle stops, it turns back into a gas, much of which is reused. Clothes cleaned in this organic process dry instantly, are cool to the touch and have no odor. It's better for the consumer as well as those who work in the local store and the organic cleaning plant. An added plus: there's no shortage of carbon dioxide in the world, and these machines operate at lower temperatures, saving energy

Tetrachloroethylene (Perc) is widely used for dry-cleaning fabrics and metal degreasing operations. The main effects of tetrachloroethylene (Perc) in humans are neurological, liver, and kidney effects following acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure. Adverse reproductive effects, such as spontaneous abortions, have been reported from occupational exposure to tetrachloroethylene (Perc)

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted regulatory amendments that protect air quality by gradually phasing out the use of a chemical common in dry cleaning. By 2023, dry cleaners will replace perchloroethylene, or perc, a solvent used in dry cleaning, with safer alternatives already available on the market.(Source: http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/latest/812)
 

Here in St. Maarten we have also Dry Cleaners that use also PERC. Most Dry Cleaners do not have a hindrance permit with regulations about the storage of Perc and disposal of it. Ventilation and disposal is also very important and perhaps pregnant women working in a place like this should get extra attention. The hindrance permit can be used to change this and it can also be used to phase out this dangerous chemical. Regulations can change in time when better options are available.

See a video about an other alternative: wet washing. 

The Caribbean Foundation for Sustainability is considering filing a complaint at the police station and the prosecutor's office to prosecute the island government for having an illegal dump that poses a serious health hazard to a growing number of residents due to the continuing fires with their toxic smoke. The Lt. Governor and ROB department were warned in the past and are fully aware of the situation but for some reason this issue even after a proposal from the Fire Department to tackle this issue was never considered a top priority or the government did not communicate their efforts to the public. The government has a very important exemplary role for the community to adhere to the - unfortunately scarce and outdated -  environmental regulations that are put in place by the same government to protect the health and quality of life of the community.

Despite all the talking about cleaning up the dump in the nineties the community is still faced with the this growing toxic dump so close to town. But the residents should also look at themselves as they never have taken a serious interest in protecting their own environment. If it is election time nobody even bothers with a serious government plan so what is there to complain?

It is important to notice that due to the small scale of the island everything is political which makes proper enforcement impossible. This is the reason the Caribbean Foundation for Sustainability has put enforcement in their statute as well and we are looking at ways to assist with enforcement.

Vobrid is the new company behind the Biofuel and will demonstrate how it works during our eco expo June 7 and 8. They have assured that their oil is not competing with food production but what they use is wasted veggie oil.

From research it appears that certain important elements of the emission is reduced while others increase. At a whole it is more favorable then the old diesel which is much more harmful then the veggie oil. Of course it is not considered the best environmental solution but the emissions improve a lot. It is a pity that government is not imposing at least emission guidelines. In St. Maarten we could perfectly re-use the restaurant oil for this biofuel and I suppose this will be done.