Podcasts about Asbestos

Ralph welcomes Judith Enck (founder and president of Beyond Plastics, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution everywhere) to discuss her new book “The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late.” Then, Ralph reflects on the 60th anniversary of “Unsafe at Any Speed.”Judith Enck is the founder and president of Beyond Plastics, whose goal is to eliminate plastic pollution everywhere. In 2009, she was appointed by President Obama to serve as regional administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and served as deputy secretary for the environment in the New York Governor's Office. She is currently a professor at Bennington College, where she teaches classes on plastic pollution. She is co-author (with Adam Mahoney) of The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It's Too Late.I support recycling…But the sad reality is that plastic recycling has been an abysmal failure. Always has, always will be…You cannot really accomplish high levels of recycling with plastics because you would literally have to do hundreds, if not thousands of different sorting. The people who know this the most are the plastic manufacturers. Yet they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars confusing and deceiving the public into thinking: “Don't worry about all your plastic, just toss it in your recycling bin,” knowing that most plastic never gets recycled.Judith EnckA lot of people feel overwhelmed and that it's hopeless and what can one person do? And that fails to acknowledge that the reason we're not making more progress on climate change is because of the political power of fossil fuel companies. On the plastics issue, we're taking on fossil fuel, chemical, and consumer brand companies and plastics companies. So it's a lot. It's amazing we get anything done. But people around the country are coming together and they're getting victories.Judith EnckI do think if you start paying attention to plastic in your own life, you see that there are alternatives. And then you climb the civic ladder. So you try to reduce plastic in your own home. Then you look at your kid's school. Then you look at your faith community. Then before you know it, you're at your city council asking what can the city do to reduce plastics. You're going to get a couple victories there. And then you find the statewide environmental groups that are working on this. This is for the long haul.Judith EnckThe important thing about [Unsafe at Any Speed] now is: sure, it saved millions of lives and the laws are still on the books, and even Donald Trump can't tear seatbelts and airbags out of our cars. But if we tried to do this again today, it wouldn't happen. And that's because the concentration of corporate power over Congress and the media is so much more intense now. And it's also because the decline of civic institutions and democratic institutions has been very pronounced over the last few decades. And that is sobering us up.Ralph NaderNews 12/5/251. Our top stories this week are on Venezuela. First, the BBCis out with a report on the American military build-up around the Latin American nation, which includes “air and naval forces…a nuclear-powered submarine and spy planes...a range of aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships capable of landing thousands of troops.” So far, the Trump administration has sent mixed messages on whether they plan to launch a full-scale invasion of the Bolivarian Republic, but Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro shows no signs of stepping down without a fight, having declared a “massive mobilisation” of 200,000 military personnel throughout the country. Most ominously, on November 29th, President Trump declared Venezuela's sovereign airspace closed, per the Wall Street Journal.2. However, American bellicosity towards Venezuela is unpopular at home. A CBS poll found that only 30% of Americans would favor the U.S. taking military action in Venezuela, compared to a whopping 70% opposed. Another question in this same poll found that only 13% of Americans consider Venezuela a “major threat” with 48% considering the country a “minor threat” and 39% report they don't think Venezuela is a threat at all. Unfortunately, the lack of popular support for war is unlikely to constrain the Trump administration much, but it is a notable difference from the lead-up to the Iraq War, when 70% of Americans favored an invasion. The American people want peace, even if the government does not. 3. Another key detail from the CBS poll is that “Three in four Americans…say Trump would need congressional approvalbefore taking military action in Venezuela, including just over half of Republicans.” In light of this fact, it is significant that a bipartisan group in Congress is pushing a War Powers resolution to “block strikes on Venezuela,” per the Intercept. This new push in the House is sponsored by stalwart progressive Congressman Jim McGovern and co-sponsored by dissident Republican Thomas Massie along with other progressives like Reps. Ro Khanna, Lloyd Doggett, and Joaquin Castro, among others. As the Intercept piece notes, this resolution must be acted on in the House within 15 days, but by then the administration may have already acted, pre-empting the resolution. A similar resolution has also been introduced in the Senate, primarily backed by Senators Tim Kaine and Rand Paul, with backing from other Senate Democrats, per the Hill.4. Of course, American aggression towards Venezuela is reverberating out into the international community in myriad ways. Generally speaking, while United Nations officials decry the actions, America's European allies have kept quiet – with many speculating that these countries would prefer Maduro's ouster in order to get ready access to Venezuelan oil and decrease their dependence on Russia. China however, has issued a stiff condemnation of American actions. The Iranian Students News Agencyquotes Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's statement at a Beijing press conference, which where in he stated, “China opposes any action that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter or infringes upon the sovereignty and security of other countries…[and] opposes foreign forces interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs under any pretext.” He added, “We urge all parties to keep the Latin American and Caribbean region a peaceful zone and not allow the situation to escalate further.” However, beyond these condemnations, it remains unclear what, if anything, China will do to check American aggression.5. Despite all of this however, House Democratic leadership is typically feckless. In a corollary to the increasing likelihood of strikes against Venezuela directly, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has stepped up the campaign of striking boats off the country's coast. Recently, the Washington Post revealed that after a strike in September which left survivors clinging to life, Hegseth ordered a second strike, directing Admiral Frank Bradley to “kill everybody.” This revelation led to calls for House Democrats to pursue impeachment against Hegseth on charges that he violated the laws of war. However, Axiosreports House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will not pursue a Hegseth impeachment. While true that such a push would likely be DOA, it sends a dark signal that the administration can do something like this and face virtually zero official condemnation. 6. Nevertheless, Republicans have taken such unpopular actions that it seems Democrats will retake the House, perhaps by a wide margin, in the 2026 midterms – or perhaps before. So far, 31 House Republicans have announced they will not seek re-election, with some retiring and others running for other offices. Still others however are signaling that they will resign their offices before the midterms, shaving the slim House GOP majority ever slimmer. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced she will retire in January 2026. Now, Congresswoman Nancy Mace is reportedly considering resigning early as well, though she has denied such rumors, per KOMO News. Either way, Democrats should be taking this moment to prepare an agenda for if and when they retake control of the chamber. 7. Turning to consumer protection news, Jalopnik reports Senate Republicans are seeking to rollback decades of automobile safety regulations. In a recent hearing held by the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation ostensibly to put the CEOs of the Big Three American car manufacturers, as well as Tesla, on the record as to why cars have become so expensive, Republicans on the committee used the opportunity to blame safety regulations. Jalopnik notes that Republican Senators specifically targeted “automated emergency braking, the requirements for which will not come into effect until 2029 and have no bearing on current car prices…[and] back-seat alarms to remind you if you've left a child or pet back there. According to Kids and Car Safety, since 1990 at least 1,165 children have sweltered to death in hot cars, and another 7,500 survived with varying degrees of injury.” The cost of these sensors will amount to about $50 per vehicle. In short, while there are many reasons cars have become considerably more expensive in recent years – including everything from tariffs to data centers buying up all electronic parts – blaming safety regulations is a tired canard. 8. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. is moving to kill a proposed Food and Drug Administration rule to test for asbestos in talc-based cosmetics, the Guardian reports. As this report notes, cosmetics companies have known about potential asbestos contamination of talc since the 1950s, but that fact, like so many other corporate secrets, was suppressed, only coming to light in the 1970s. Asbestos is a highly carcinogenic substance. It has been banned in over 50 countries and “No…level of exposure is considered safe.” However, attempts to ban the substance in the U.S. have been stymied by industry, beginning with the overturning of the EPA's 1989 ban.9. In more legal news, Reuters reports the British government has announced plans to “remove the historic right to trial by jury,” for defendants in criminal cases carrying potential sentences of under three years in jail. The government argues that this will help alleviate the tremendous backlog of cases before the British courts, despite the fact that the right to a jury trial in Britain dates back to the Magna Carta itself. Barbara Mills, chair of the Bar Council, which represents trial lawyers in the U.K., decried this move, stating ”there is no evidence that [the] removal [of jury trials] would reduce the backlog, nor has it been set out how an alternative system would be resourced…We urge the government to reconsider pursuing radical changes under the mistaken belief that radical equals effective.” 10. Finally, in local news, Washington D.C. Councilmember and Democratic Socialist Janeese Lewis George has officially launched her campaign to be the next mayor of the District of Columbia. Lewis George is the first serious candidate to announce a campaign to succeed unpopular three-term Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is retiring this cycle. Like Zohran Mamdani, Lewis George is prioritizing affordability in the increasingly expensive District as well as an emphasis on fixing city services like traffic safety improvement. According to the Washington Post, “Within hours of launching her campaign Monday morning, Lewis George's campaign said it had received enough money from enough D.C. residents to qualify [for the District's matching fund program], which provides public financing for campaigns that agree not to accept large-dollar donations and corporate contributions.” Within hours, “they had netted more than $110,000 in individual donations from 1,500 D.C. residents,” which after being combined with the matching funds, will total over $750,000.” However, many expect her main challenger to be Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, an ally of corporate interests and developers in the District, who will likely be bankrolled by those same interests. Whatever the future holds, this will surely be the most competitive citywide race the District has seen in decades. This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Kmart is walking back some of its product recalls following an asbestos contamination scare with kids play sand products. The retail giant is cancelling it's voluntary recall notice for three products. Kmart has informed the Ministry of Business that testing comissioned by the company confirmed no asbestos was found. However, a recall is still in place for some other products. MBIE's Product Safety Spokesperson Ian Cpalin spoke to Lisa Owen.

A kindergarten operator says it will cost hundreds of thousands dollars to decontaminate several Wellington sites that have tested positive for asbestos in the wake of the kid's-coloured sand recall. Whanau Manaaki has tested 13 kindergartens around the motu that had been using the coloured sand that could be laced with asbestos. Three in Wellington have come back positive and need significant cleanup work. Whanau Manaaki CEO, Amanda Coulston spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Lower Hutt mum whose kids' Kmart play sand tested positive for asbestos says she's stressed out and worried about whether she's done enough to make sure her kids and house are safe. Several coloured sand products have been recalled over the contamination scare. Kmart is the main retailer involved and has sold 67,000 units of the potentially asbestos laced sand play sand. Keren Lee, who's sand has tested positive for asbestos, spoke to Lisa Owen. 

Today's Headlines: A CIA-trained Afghan asylum recipient shot two National Guard members in DC—one fatally—prompting Trump to announce (on his little app) a “pause” on all migration from “third world countries”. The administration is now freezing asylum and Afghan visas while somehow avoiding the question of why the National Guard is still posted in DC at all. Meanwhile, the Trump team is escalating its hunt for “sedition,” with the FBI now interviewing the six Democratic veterans who reminded troops not to follow illegal orders. And in the Department of Defense (War), Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered a second strike to kill survivors of a botched boat attack—something even a few Senate Republicans have decided is maybe a bridge too far. Trump also pardoned former Honduran president and convicted drug trafficker Juan Orlando Hernández, who immediately went home like it was checkout time at Club Fed. On the Ukraine front, Rubio, Kushner, and Steve Witkoff are still trying to spin their “peace plan,” which reporting suggests was always just a giant business deal in disguise. The drama deepened when Zelensky's chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak resigned after a corruption raid and announced he's headed to the front lines. In other news, the families of Americans killed or injured on Oct. 7 are suing Binance for allegedly helping fund Hamas and other militant groups—just weeks after Trump pardoned Binance's founder. Over in Israel, Netanyahu is trying to get a presidential pardon mid-trial because sure, why the heck not. Additionally, hundreds of New Yorkers blocked what looked like an ICE raid with their bodies and literal piles of garbage bags, Senate Republicans are gearing up to fight basic car-safety rules, and RFK Jr. just ditched asbestos testing for talc cosmetics because…MAHA. Finally, GOP Rep. Troy Nehls is retiring, but don't celebrate too hard—his identical twin is already lining up to take his spot. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: WSJ: National Guard Soldier Dies a Day After D.C. Shooting AP News: US halts all asylum decisions after shooting of National Guard members CNBC: FBI seeks to interview Sen. Mark Kelly, other Democrats Trump accused of seditious behavior WaPo: Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all The Hill: Senators vow oversight after report Hegseth told troops to ‘kill everybody' in boat strike AP News: Trump says he plans to pardon former Honduran President Hernandez for 2024 drug trafficking sentence AP News: Rubio says US-Ukraine talks on Russia war were productive but much work remains in search of a deal WSJ: Make Money Not War: Trump's Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine Kyiv Independent: Zelensky's ex-chief of staff Yermak says he's 'going to the front' after resigning amid corruption probe NY Times: Hamas Victims' Families Sue Binance, Accusing It of Aiding Terrorism The Jerusalem Post: Netanyahu's pardon bid tied to pressure on Israel's courts NYT: Several Arrested as Protesters Block ICE Agents From a Potential Raid in NYC WSJ: Senate Committee to Challenge Auto-Safety Mandates That Hurt ‘Affordability' The Guardian: FDA poised to kill proposal that would require asbestos testing for cosmetics Axios: Trump ally Troy Nehls joins growing group of retiring House members Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Victorian Christmas looks cozy on greeting cards—glowing candle-lit trees, shimmering tinsel, children gathered around the fire. But behind the snow-globe charm was a season of deadly house fires, toxic decorations, poisoned sweets, and experimental electric lights that turned “old-fashioned Christmas” into a very real nightmare. In this episode of Terrifying & True, we dig into the true history of how festive traditions nearly burned homes to the ground, poisoned entire families, and forced the world to rethink what “safe” even meant.Inside this episode:Candle-lit Christmas trees as ticking time bombs: How dry fir branches, open flames, and flammable Victorian fashion created instant infernos in parlors across Britain and beyond.Toxic snow, tinsel, and ornaments: From cotton “snow” that flashed into flame to lead-based tinsel and arsenic-dyed decorations that slowly poisoned anyone who touched or tasted them.Deadly toys and poisoned treats: The rise of arsenic greens, adulterated candies, and tainted puddings, and the chilling real-life stories of children who paid the price for “holiday cheer.”Early electric lights and new kinds of danger: How the “safe” alternative to candles—experimental electric light strings and overloaded wiring—brought shocks, sparks, and fresh fears to the Christmas season.From horror to reform: The fires, poisonings, and public scandals that pushed governments, scientists, and ordinary families toward modern safety standards, consumer protections, and fire codes that still save lives today.This Christmas, as you plug in your UL-listed lights and hang shatterproof ornaments, remember the people who learned these lessons the hardest way possible—and the ghostly echoes of Victorian Christmases that still haunt our holidays. We're telling that story tonight.

In this episode, our last Season 3 episode of the year, we zoom in on our featured Operator and Food, the two test tube toting thigh-high touting Silcence, who's exact number of arms and wings remains a true mystery, and the science-scared silken softie Vanilla Muffin, who is definitely NOT a horse and NOT from Umamusume, and we fixate on a translation question: Why is he called vanilla muffin? Why specifically vanilla muffin I NEED TO KNOW I— Ahem. Then, a throuple, with Jieyun, Asbestos, and Udon, asking: Can women be twinks? Because she does t— Wait, I can't say that in the description either? EDITOR'S NOTE: We were both very sick recording this episode and I was very sick editing it. I tried really really hard to edit out as many gross mouth noises as possible I really tried Follow along:  https://arknights.wiki.gg/wiki/Silence,  https://food-fantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Vanilla_Muffin,  https://arknights.wiki.gg/wiki/Jieyun,  https://arknights.wiki.gg/wiki/Asbestos, https://food-fantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Udon Support the show:  https://ko-fi.com/ivyfoxart Follow the show on Tumblr:  https://soul-mates-podcast.tumblr.com/ Follow the show on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Soul-Mates-Podcast Listen to Together We'll Shine: An Utena Rewatch Podcast:  https://bunnygirlbrainwave.substack.com/archive Art by Ryegarden:  https://www.instagram.com/ryegarden Music by Sueños Electrónicos:  https://suenoselectronicos.bandcamp.com/ Follow and support ash:  https://ko-fi.com/asherlark

Riddled with anxiety, no sleep and no answers, some parents are still waiting to hear back from retailers about asbestos-contaminated children's coloured play sand. During the past two weeks there's been rolling recalls of the magic sand used by children and schools across the country, raising concerns about imported children's products. Parents say they're worried about the long-term impacts of exposure and the costs of testing and removal. Bella Craig reports.

There's an issue burning away at the moment, affecting thousands or tens of thousands of us that I don't think is getting anything like the attention it deserves. Three additional coloured sand products tested positive for asbestos contamination this week. Two on Monday, another on Thursday. Additional brands sold at discount shops around the country to add to the products already announced in the recall earlier this month. I'll put my cards on the table: our 8-year-old is at a school that has been affected by the recall. They tested and found traces of asbestos and a number of classrooms have been affected. Even though the testing found no traces of asbestos in the air, for at least the remainder of the year, the school has been thrown into a situation where they're trying to teach the same number of kids in far fewer classrooms. It means ad-hoc, cramped learning spaces. In two classrooms they're going to have to remove all the carpet, wall coverings, and soft furnishings. Other classrooms require professional deep-cleans. It's not clear if the work will be finished in time for term one next year and the clean-up is going to cost tens-of-thousands of dollars. But as we were informed in a letter home this week —surprise, surprise— no one wants to pay for it. The school's insurance won't cover it. The Ministry of Education won't cover it. Kmart, which in the school's case had sold the dangerous product, has directed them to the manufacturer in China. As it stands, the school is expecting to have to cover the cost of the clean-up. Money that should have been spent on educating children will not be repaid. How many New Zealand schools face a similar situation? All we know is that as of yesterday, nine schools or early learning centres had tested positive for asbestos. 129 were still waiting to confirm testing results, although the Ministry of Education says it's just a voluntary reporting system at the moment (which seems inadequate!), so the number could be higher. You can hardly blame the schools for the situation. They weren't negligent. It's not like they knowingly painted their classrooms with lead paint. They bought a children's product that should have been ideal for creative learning from reputable retailers with an entirely reasonable expectation that it would be safe. And now that this has been discovered, it's not like they can just ignore it. Schools that are testing are doing the right thing. Even if the risk is super low, what parent would allow their child to be taught in a classroom that was testing positive for asbestos? What teacher would teach in it? In my view it would be a great injustice if the schools that are doing the right thing in handling this crisis ended up significantly out of pocket. Surely under our consumer guarantee and product safety laws, retailers can't simply abdicate all responsibility and palm off the affected schools to distant manufacturers in China? And even if legally they can, then surely there is a moral responsibility to do the right thing. One obvious measure I think would help the affected schools is a collective legal effort, so they're not all fighting for redress or compensation in isolation. It's the sort of thing you'd reasonably expect the Ministry of Education to help with coordinating once testing results are confirmed everywhere. There's no telling where this whole thing will end up. But while at least their classrooms will be safe, if schools end up footing the bill for all the testing and clean-up of a product they reasonably trusted, at the end of the day it'll be our kids who pay the price. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retailers who have sold children's coloured play sand potentially laced with asbestos need to be held to account, according to Labour's consumer Affairs spokesperson. The contamination scare has prompted a recall of several brands, including another one just this afternoon. It's illegal to import any products with asbestos and its up to sellers to make sure any toys are up to safety standard. Labour Consumer Affairs spokesperson Arena Williams spoke to Lisa Owen.

Principals and a teachers union say they're stunned and disappointed there's no complete record of how many schools are finding asbestos from coloured sand. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

Some principals say their schools will be left tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for asbestos sand decontamination and refurbishment costs.

Allen covers positive developments like EDF’s 261 MW Serra das Almas wind farm in Brazil, Ørsted’s offshore progress in the US, and Shell’s hydrogen deal in Germany. Then the troubling stories: a Nordex technical manager caught mining cryptocurrency inside turbines, and the discovery of asbestos in Goldwind turbine brake pads across multiple Australian wind farms. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly email update on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary Barnes’ YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! The wind industry is having quite a week. Some stories are blowing in the right direction. Others… well… you’ll see. Let’s start with the good news. In Brazil… EDF power solutions just powered up the Serra das Almas wind farm. Two hundred sixty-one megawatts. Fifty-eight Danish Vestas turbines spinning in Bahia state. Six hundred thousand homes… now running on wind. Up in the United States… Ørsted is making waves with two offshore wind projects. Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind. Cable installation is underway. Offshore substations are being commissioned. By next year… more than sixteen hundred megawatts will be flowing into Connecticut… Rhode Island… and New York. Over in Germany… Shell is turning wind into hydrogen. They’ve signed a five-year power deal with Nordsee One. Starting in two thousand twenty-seven… offshore wind will feed a one hundred megawatt electrolyzer. Clean electricity making clean fuel. To power everything from trucks to chemical plants. But now… the other stories. In the Netherlands… a technical manager at Nordex wind farms thought he’d found the perfect side hustle. He had the keys. He had the access. He had giant wind turbines spinning out free electricity twenty-four hours a day. And he had a plan. Between August and November of two thousand twenty-two… the man installed three cryptocurrency mining rigs at the Gieterveen wind farm. He plugged them straight into a Nordex router. Inside a substation. Then he drove to Waardpolder. Another wind farm. He climbed inside the turbines. And he hid two Helium network nodes. Connected them to Nordex’s internal network. Month after month… while the turbines spun… his crypto wallet grew. Nobody noticed. Why would they? He was the technical manager. He belonged there. But then… Nordex got hit with something much worse. A ransomware attack. The Conti cybercrime crew. The company was scrambling. Investigating their networks. Looking for breaches. That’s when they found his mining rigs. The courts heard the case earlier this month. The prosecutor was not amused. This wasn’t just theft. This was a man who’d been trusted with critical infrastructure. Giant turbines. Automated systems. Industrial networks. The prosecutor wanted two hundred forty hours of community service. But the judges saw something else. A first-time offender. A man suffering from depression and burnout. Someone who admitted everything. They cut the sentence in half. One hundred twenty hours. Plus four thousand one hundred fifty-five euros in damages. About forty-four hundred dollars. And if he doesn’t pay? Fifty-one days in custody. If he doesn’t complete his community service? Sixty days in jail. The court made one thing crystal clear. He’d shown no concern for the potential disruption to the turbines. No concern for the company’s trust. No concern… that he was running a side business… inside critical infrastructure. But here’s the story that’s really stopped the industry cold. In Tasmania… at the Cattle Hill wind farm… inspectors made a disturbing discovery. Asbestos. In the brake pads. Inside the turbine tower lifts. Now… Tasmania is just the beginning. The turbines were built by Goldwind… And Goldwind supplies turbines to wind farms all across Australia. New South Wales. Victoria. Queensland. WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW confirmed Friday… asbestos has been found at multiple wind farm sites. White Rock. Gullen Range. Biala. Clarke Creek. Moorabool. Stockyard Hill. The brake pads were imported into Australia. Importing asbestos has been illegal there… since two thousand three. Beijing Energy International says the risk is extremely low. Access to affected turbines is restricted. They’re working with regulators. Testing is underway. But here’s what everyone’s thinking… Last week… asbestos was found in colored sand products from China. Schools shut down. Childcare centers closed. In the Australian Capital Territory. Queensland. South Australia. Now it’s wind turbines. So the wind industry had quite a week. Clean power spinning up in Brazil. Offshore cables going down in America. Hydrogen flowing in Germany. Cryptocurrency crimes in the Netherlands. And asbestos… hiding inside turbines… from China. And that's the wind industry news for the 24th of November 2025. Join us tomorrow for the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast.

Once used extensively in schools, hospitals, and housing, asbestos has taken the lives of millions. Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster (Repeater, 2025) by Tom White traces the international history of the asbestos disaster — from mining operations in apartheid South Africa to the factories and shipyards of the UK – and tells the story of the activists and workers who took on a once indomitable industry. Illegal for the past quarter century, much asbestos still remains in place today, slowly degrading and placing us all at risk. Bad Dust reveals that the asbestos disaster has in fact only just begun, and that far from being a problem solved, the fight urgently needs to be taken up once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

**Unmasking the Secrets of Home Improvement with Gary Sullivan**Ever wondered what really goes into refinishing hardwood floors or tackling those mysterious home issues? This episode of "At Home with Gary Sullivan" dives deep into the DIY dilemmas that homeowners face every day, offering expert guidance that balances professional standards with practical reality.Gary fields calls from homeowners struggling with everything from refinishing red oak floors to testing for asbestos and mold. With his trademark blend of technical knowledge and real-world experience, he helps listeners understand when to tackle projects themselves and when to call in the professionals.**Timestamps and Key Takeaways:**12:05 - Refinishing hardwood floors: The difference between drum sanders vs. orbital sanders and when to use each18:30 - Asbestos testing options and when remediation is necessary25:40 - Professional mold testing vs. DIY kits and the "10 square foot rule"32:15 - Repairing damaged particle board furniture with wood hardeners and epoxy41:20 - Gas fireplace maintenance and proper log stacking to prevent soot buildupThe conversation about wood refinishing particularly stands out, as Gary walks through the different approaches to bringing floors back to life without compromising their integrity. His explanation of "refreshing" versus completely refinishing offers hope to DIYers intimidated by drum sanders.Ready to tackle your own home improvement challenges? Listen now for practical solutions that could save you thousands while giving you the confidence to maintain your biggest investment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

**Unmasking the Secrets of Home Improvement with Gary Sullivan**Ever wondered what really goes into refinishing hardwood floors or tackling those mysterious home issues? This episode of "At Home with Gary Sullivan" dives deep into the DIY dilemmas that homeowners face every day, offering expert guidance that balances professional standards with practical reality.Gary fields calls from homeowners struggling with everything from refinishing red oak floors to testing for asbestos and mold. With his trademark blend of technical knowledge and real-world experience, he helps listeners understand when to tackle projects themselves and when to call in the professionals.**Timestamps and Key Takeaways:**12:05 - Refinishing hardwood floors: The difference between drum sanders vs. orbital sanders and when to use each18:30 - Asbestos testing options and when remediation is necessary25:40 - Professional mold testing vs. DIY kits and the "10 square foot rule"32:15 - Repairing damaged particle board furniture with wood hardeners and epoxy41:20 - Gas fireplace maintenance and proper log stacking to prevent soot buildupThe conversation about wood refinishing particularly stands out, as Gary walks through the different approaches to bringing floors back to life without compromising their integrity. His explanation of "refreshing" versus completely refinishing offers hope to DIYers intimidated by drum sanders.Ready to tackle your own home improvement challenges? Listen now for practical solutions that could save you thousands while giving you the confidence to maintain your biggest investment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once used extensively in schools, hospitals, and housing, asbestos has taken the lives of millions. Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster (Repeater, 2025) by Tom White traces the international history of the asbestos disaster — from mining operations in apartheid South Africa to the factories and shipyards of the UK – and tells the story of the activists and workers who took on a once indomitable industry. Illegal for the past quarter century, much asbestos still remains in place today, slowly degrading and placing us all at risk. Bad Dust reveals that the asbestos disaster has in fact only just begun, and that far from being a problem solved, the fight urgently needs to be taken up once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/architecture

Once used extensively in schools, hospitals, and housing, asbestos has taken the lives of millions. Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster (Repeater, 2025) by Tom White traces the international history of the asbestos disaster — from mining operations in apartheid South Africa to the factories and shipyards of the UK – and tells the story of the activists and workers who took on a once indomitable industry. Illegal for the past quarter century, much asbestos still remains in place today, slowly degrading and placing us all at risk. Bad Dust reveals that the asbestos disaster has in fact only just begun, and that far from being a problem solved, the fight urgently needs to be taken up once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

Once used extensively in schools, hospitals, and housing, asbestos has taken the lives of millions. Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster (Repeater, 2025) by Tom White traces the international history of the asbestos disaster — from mining operations in apartheid South Africa to the factories and shipyards of the UK – and tells the story of the activists and workers who took on a once indomitable industry. Illegal for the past quarter century, much asbestos still remains in place today, slowly degrading and placing us all at risk. Bad Dust reveals that the asbestos disaster has in fact only just begun, and that far from being a problem solved, the fight urgently needs to be taken up once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once used extensively in schools, hospitals, and housing, asbestos has taken the lives of millions. Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster (Repeater, 2025) by Tom White traces the international history of the asbestos disaster — from mining operations in apartheid South Africa to the factories and shipyards of the UK – and tells the story of the activists and workers who took on a once indomitable industry. Illegal for the past quarter century, much asbestos still remains in place today, slowly degrading and placing us all at risk. Bad Dust reveals that the asbestos disaster has in fact only just begun, and that far from being a problem solved, the fight urgently needs to be taken up once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once used extensively in schools, hospitals, and housing, asbestos has taken the lives of millions. Bad Dust: A History of the Asbestos Disaster (Repeater, 2025) by Tom White traces the international history of the asbestos disaster — from mining operations in apartheid South Africa to the factories and shipyards of the UK – and tells the story of the activists and workers who took on a once indomitable industry. Illegal for the past quarter century, much asbestos still remains in place today, slowly degrading and placing us all at risk. Bad Dust reveals that the asbestos disaster has in fact only just begun, and that far from being a problem solved, the fight urgently needs to be taken up once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

The new trend of 'underconsumption core' is taking on Black Friday, but is this thrifty, anti-consumerist vibe even achievable for parents who are the ultimate victims of the 'stuff' economy? Special guest host Luca Lavigne joins Stacey Hicks and Monique Bowley to unpack. Plus, casual nudity is slowly disappearing from the public pool and gym change rooms but what does this mean for our kids? Welcome to the era of physical prudes but emotional nudists. And, we're stumbling into Spotify Wrapped season, the annual moment of profound parental shame. We unpack the need for a 'Parent Incognito Mode' that censors results because nobody wants their friends seeing 9,000 hours of Chicken Boonana or KPop Demon Hunters. Our Recommendations:

The head of the Principal's Federation is calling for the government to pay for asbestos testing and clean-ups in schools after a contamination scare with kids play sand. Retail giant Kmart has sold 67,000 units of the potentially asbestos laced sand. It's being recalled along with 4000 unites of other similar products. President of the New Zealand Principals' Federation Leanne Otene spoke to Lisa Owen.

A national recall for imported coloured play sand contaminated with asbestos has expanded its impact. There are now school closures and remediation efforts across South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania over concerns about the contamination. Experts suggest the potential for long-term harm depends on the specific type of asbestos found and whether the sand is free-flowing enough to allow for inhalation. - अस्ट्रेलियामा आयातित केही रङ्गिन ‘प्ले स्यान्ड'मा एसबेस्टोस भेटिए पछि देश भर गत हप्ता चेतावनी जारी गरिएको थियो। साउथ अस्ट्रेलिया, एसिटी र टास्मेनियाका विभिन्न स्थानमा विद्यालयहरू पूर्ण वा आंशिक रूपमा बन्द गरिएका थिए। विशेषज्ञहरू भन्छन् कि यसको दीर्घकालीन असर बुझ्नका लागि, कस्तो प्रकारको एस्बेस्टोस फेला परेको हो, र त्यो श्वासप्रश्वास गर्दा कत्तिको सजिलै फोक्सोमा जान्छ भन्ने कुरामा भर पर्छ। एक रिपोर्ट।

ການເອີ້ນຄືນດິນຊາຍຫລິ້ນສີທີ່ນຳເຂົ້າ (Imported coloured play sand) ທົ່ວປະເທດ ທີ່ປົນເປື້ອນດ້ວຍ Asbestos ໄດ້ຂຍາຍຜົນກະທົບຂອງມັນກວ້າງຂຶ້ນ. ບັດນີ້ ມີການປິດໂຮງຮຽນ ແລະຄວາມພຍາຍາມໃນການແກ້ໄຂທົ່ວSouth Australia, ACT ແລະ Tasmania ເພາະຄວາມເປັນຫ່ວງກ່ຽວກັບການປົນເປື້ອນ.

It has been revealed Kmart has sold tens of thousands of potentially asbestos laced children's play things. The retail giant confirmed it has sold 67,000 units of coloured children's sand that are now part of massive recall that was expanded even further today. That number doesn't include suspect products sold through different retailers. Some councils have now set up drop-off sites for the recalled products. MBIE's Product Safety Spokesperson Ian Caplin spoke to Lisa Owen.

As schools and homes continue to dispose of asbestos contaminated play sand - the government is being urged to investigate how this happened. Chris Peace, a Senior Lecturer in Workplace Health and Safety at Victoria University spoke to Corin Dann.

Asbestos, lead, coal dust. All of those posed big health hazards to workers before legal protections finally rolled out. Now, thousands of stoneworkers in California who make our kitchen and bathroom countertops are breathing in something so toxic, nearly 50 had lung transplants. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Farmworker communities and environmental groups across the state are calling for stronger protections from a pesticide they say endangers public health. Reporter: Gabriela Fernandez, KCBX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A national recall for imported coloured play sand contaminated with asbestos has expanded its impact. There are now school closures and remediation efforts across South Australia, the ACT, and Tasmania over concerns about the contamination. Experts suggest the potential for long-term harm depends on the specific type of asbestos found—and whether the sand is free-flowing enough to allow for inhalation. - 輸入品のカラーサンドからアスベストが検出されとし、オーストラリア競争・消費者委員会（ACCC）が全国的な回収を発表しました。これを受けキャンベラやブリベン、タスマニアでは一部学校が閉鎖され、除去作業が進められた他、南オーストラリア州内では、これまでに100か所以上で、対象となるプレイサンドが確認されています。

A west Auckland primary school has told parents the coloured play sand it's been using is positive for asbestos. It's arranging decontamination and air quality tests. The sand is part of a major recall of mulltiple products. Meanwhile, 23 schools and 12 early learning services around the country are temporarily closed or planning to close. John O'Regan, the Principal of Enner Glynn school in Nelson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Hiện đã có nhiều trường học tại Nam Úc, ACT và Tasmania phải đóng cửa để triển khai việc xử lý sau khi phát hiện loại cát đồ chơi trẻ em bị nhiễm asbestos. Các chuyên gia cho rằng mức độ ảnh hưởng lâu dài phụ thuộc vào loại amiăng cụ thể được phát hiện, và liệu cát có nhuyễn đến mức để có thể bị hít vào người hay không.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) national recall notice has been issued after imported coloured play sand was found to contain asbestos. Schools across South Australia, ACT, and Tasmania have been closed or partially closed as remediation efforts begin. Experts say the health risk depends on the type of asbestos and the level of exposure. Authorities are prioritising student and staff safety as they work to remove the contaminated materials.

Asbestos is highly carcinogenic, is banned and can't be imported in Australia. But in the last week it's been found in various children's coloured sand products from China, causing a major alarm across the community. The discovery has led to the closure of dozens of schools and products have been recalled from stores including Kmart, Target and Officeworks.Today, Associate Professor Anthony Linton from the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute on the health risks the sand poses and why every state is dealing with it differently.Featured: Anthony Linton, academic and research director at the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute

Product safety rules for kids toys and craft materials are not fit for purpose, with the rise in giant e-commerce retailers according to Consumer NZ. The safety of children's play things is centre stage after a recall of several coloured sand products due to an asbestos scare. Several schools that use the products closed while they worked out what cleanup is required. Meanwhile Consumer NZ says the changing way people shop and the sheer volume of products is making safety tough to police. Head of research and advocacy Gemma Rasmussen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Dismayed parents are grappling with whether their homes could be contaminated as they try to rid them of play sand that could have traces of asbestos. They are angry and feel there has been no real responsibility taken for the dodgy sand, and that the buck has been passed. 24 schools and 16 early childhood centres have closed - or have plans to - after a significant recall last week of educational colours rainbow sand, creatistics coloured sand and four products from K-Mart. They're going through special testing, but some parents want to know why the same isn't being offered to them. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

The clean-up requirements for the potentially asbestos contaminated colourful kids play sand are a bit of a grey area according to professionals doing the job. Chris Saunders is the president of the New Zealand Asbestos Removal Association and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A national recall for imported coloured play sand contaminated with asbestos has expanded its impact. There are now school closures and remediation efforts across South Australia, the ACT, and Tasmania over concerns about the contamination. Experts suggest the potential for long-term harm depends on the specific type of asbestos found—and whether the sand is free-flowing enough to allow for inhalation.

Specialist outreach teacher, Stephanie Pye, has been trying to find the right way to get rid of the sand but no one seems to know how. Stephanie spoke to Corin Dann.

i stuck my hand in my mouth at dinner, Carolyn planted some flowers & we watched the seinfeld where george got a chair for that security guard

Asbestos-contaminated coloured play sand has been identified at more than 100 sites in South Australia. Opposition leader Sussan Ley says the Coalition's approach to energy policy is not anti-renewables. - 国内の各地でアスベストに汚染されたプレイサンドが見つかっています。自由党とナショナル党による　連立政権は昨日、エネルギー政策を正式に発表し、2050年までのネットゼロ排出の目標を撤回し、手頃なエネルギー価格を新たな焦点とすると述べました。

More than 20 schools and childcare centres have closed, or plan to close, due to concerns about asbestos in contaminated coloured play sand that is sold in K-mart and a number of other stores. The scare has raised serious questions about safety checks for toys. The recall began last week - but escalated over the weekend; with a warning about four other products; a 14 piece sand castle building set and containers of blue, green and pink magic sand. MBIE's Product Safety Spokesperson Ian Caplin spoke to Lisa Owen.

Testing coloured play sand for asbestos contamination is set to continue, with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment expecting to have results in a few days. Laura Gemmell from Eco Choice Aotearoa spoke to Corin Dann.

Concern is sweeping the country admid a possible asbestos contamination of coloured play sands, with 120 schools and early play centers having contacted the Ministry of Education on this issue. Asbestos expert and co-director of the Environmental Innovation Centre Professor Terri-Ann Berry spoke with Jesse Mulligan on just how worried the public should be.

Ciidda macmalka ah ee carruurtu ku cayaarto oo hore looga helay walaxda Asbestos, ayaa laga helay in ka badan boqol goobood oo ku yaalla South Australia.

Remediation underway after the recall of asbestos-contaminated sand products, The Coalition attempts to win over voters with its energy policy, Jannik Sinner successfully defends his ATP Finals title.

MBIE says it's working hard to deal with issues regarding sand products potentially contaminated with asbestos. EC Rainbow Sand 1.3 kilos, Creatistics Coloured Sand, 1 kilo, and four Kmart NZ Magic Sand products have been recalled. MBIE Product Safety Spokesperson Ian Caplin says they are acting with an abundance of caution - and people shouldn't panic. "The potential impact of asbestos exposure is a long-term thing, people don't need to take immediate steps to manage their health." Anyone concerned about health effects should call Healthline. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we spoke to Justinian from asbestosclaims.law about asbestos. You can get more information about asbestos at their website asbestosclaims.law.  You can subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast app. Check out our home improvement videos on our YouTube channel Fix It Home Improvement. Download our e-books, Home Improvement Solutions: What Every Homeowner Should Know on Amazon. Email us at fixitpodcast@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram, Fix It Home Improvement. 

In this episode, I'm connecting the dots on a critical, game-changing update about talc. This isn't just about the J&J asbestos lawsuits anymore, it's about a new EU classification that's banning the talc mineral itself.There is a massive regulatory gap here, and it highlights a hard truth: we have to be our own regulators. I'm breaking down the recent $1 billion lawsuit, the EU's position on talc in cosmetics, and why "asbestos-free" is not it. I also share what to look for on labels and how to make sure this presumed carcinogen is NOT in your makeup bag. Chapters00:00:00 Introduction to Talc Concerns00:03:00 Johnson & Johnson Lawsuit00:06:00 EU's New Classification of Talc00:09:00 Health Risks and Consumer Responsibility00:12:00 Switch Natural App and ConclusionResources & LinksDownload the Switch Natural App (1-Week Free Trial): The easiest way to "Be Your Own Regulator." Scan products, check for talc (and thousands of other ingredients), and find safer swaps. Download here.Read the Full Talc Report: See all the sources, product examples, and my full deep-dive on the blog. Read it here.Follow on Instagram: @switch.naturalVisit my blog: www.switchnatural.comPlease support my show by following, subscribing, and leaving a 5-star rating and review. Thank you!!! -AndreaDisclaimer:The information in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Un número de escuelas de Camberra cierran por temor a la contaminación con asbestos. La líder de la oposición, Sussan Ley, defiende la aceptación internacional de su nueva política climática en contra de las cero emisiones netas. Escucha estas y otras noticias importantes del 14 de noviembre.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has kept the Liberals together by dumping net zero but faces criticism on the apparent contradiction of sticking with the Paris Agreement.