Documentary to ban mercury in the Philippines

On Wednesday September 15, environmental watchdog organisation BAN Toxics and IUCN NL released the documentary ‘Banning Mercury’. The documentary aims to raise awareness on the mercury flows in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector in the Philippines, along with the risks posed by mercury exposure to human health and the environment.

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Mercury is a highly toxic substance which poses health risks to humans and the environment. The World Health Organization names it as one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern ^[1]World Health Organization. (2017). Mercury and Health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mercury-and-health, 13.09.2021. The ASGM sector has been identified as the main anthropogenic source of mercury pollution, accounting for 37% of the total emissions in the global atmosphere ^[2]AMAP/UN Environment. (2019). Technical Background Report for the Global Mercury Assessment 2018. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, Oslo, Norway/UN Environment Programme, Chemicals and … Continue reading.

Study on illicit mercury trade

In April 2020, BAN Toxics, in partnership with IUCN NL, published a study on the illicit mercury trade in Mindanao, as well as the various governance practices for mercury in the study areas. The report makes part of a global study commissioned by IUCN NL, which highlights similar experiences from developing countries dealing with illicit mercury trade.

Documentary

In line with the results from the study, BAN Toxics produced the short documentary ‘Banning Mercury’, in partnership with IUCN NL.