HRW denounces pollution caused by Perenco's oil exploration in the Democratic Republic of Congo

In the era of streaming services, where all content is available online via phones and televisions, many have forgotten the times when movies and music albums had to be purchased on CD or DVD discs. These discs, once considered a valuable treasure, often end up as useless clutter in home cabinets today.

If you have accumulated a pile of old CDs or DVDs, do not throw them in the trash. A little creativity can turn these useless discs into useful items, making the home more organized and functional. Below are eight ways to use old CDs and DVDs.

Practical Uses for Discs

Firstly, you can create stylish coasters by gluing several old CDs or DVDs together. This will prevent stains from tea, coffee, or water on the table. You can leave either the glossy side or the side with the image of your favorite movie or music album visible.

Secondly, old discs are excellent for organizing charging cables. By wrapping a mobile, laptop, or HDMI cable around a CD and securing it with a rubber band or Velcro, you can quickly find the right cord, avoiding tangles.

Garden and Kitchen Protection

In the third case, if animals such as pigeons, squirrels, rabbits, or other garden inhabitants damage plants, old CDs can help. They can be hung on trees or near plants on a string. When the wind blows, the shine of the discs scares away animals.

For the kitchen, old CDs can be used as a utensil holder. This will help avoid clutter on the countertop while cooking. After use, the holder can be easily cleaned with soap and water.

Additional Home Hacks

If you enjoy lighting candles, an old CD can serve as a base to prevent melted wax from spreading on furniture or tables. After the wax hardens, it can be carefully removed, and the disc can be used again.

To improve visibility outdoors, especially on long driveways or when parking at night, old CDs can be attached to the edges. They will sparkle brightly when hit by car headlights, making the path more visible.

For crafters who knit or crochet, there is a way to keep yarn tidy. By wrapping the thread around a CD and securing the end in the central hole, you can also write the project name or color on the disc to quickly find the desired yarn.

Creativity and Ecology

Furthermore, old CDs can be used as a palette for artists engaged in painting or craft projects. The smooth surface of the disc is ideal for mixing paints, and it is easy to clean after use.

In conclusion, one should think before throwing away any old item. With some ingenuity and creativity, old CDs and DVDs can simplify many small household tasks, contributing not only to home organization but also to reducing plastic waste.

As the Center failed to secure state support for demarcating ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats, despite six previous projects since 2014, a seventh notification has been released. This project proposes designating 56,825 sq km across various states as sensitive zones to restrict or regulate human activities that threaten the environment in this fragile region.

Geography and Objections

The Western Ghats constitute an important geological formation on the border of India's western coast, stretching approximately 1,500 km, and cover six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

The main objections to designating ESAs came from the peninsular states, particularly Kerala. They insisted that the proposed restricted zones would negatively impact livelihoods due to the prohibition of certain activities.

Latest Changes and Timelines

The seventh draft was published in the official gazette on Monday by the Ministry of Environment. It stipulates that the proposal will be 'considered' before the final ESA notification is published, which will not occur earlier than 60 days after copies of the gazette become available to the public.

Like the sixth project, the new draft allows for the phased adoption of the final ESA notification—either by individual states or through a single comprehensive notification. This approach may accelerate the process without requiring simultaneous consent from all six states.

History of the Issue and Project Details

The ESA issue has been pending since August 2011, when a central committee led by ecologist Madhava Gadgil recommended the Center declare a 'no-go zone' to preserve the fragile landscape across the six states. The first ESA notification draft was issued in March 2014, but the proposal has remained on paper since then.

The Ministry released five more drafts in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024 before presenting the latest on Monday. The Central Expert Committee conducted several discussions with the states, but a final agreed decision was never reached among the stakeholders.

Zone Distribution by State

The project proposes designating 20,668 sq km of ESA in Karnataka; 17,340 sq km in Maharashtra; slightly over 9,993 sq km in Kerala; 6,914 sq km in Tamil Nadu; 1,461 sq km in Goa, and 449 sq km in Gujarat, where certain human activities will be restricted or regulated. Furthermore, the project clarifies that agricultural and plantation practices will not be affected, and the actual area will be determined based on recommendations from the states, opinions of stakeholders, and the expert committee.

Time loss in traffic is a significant challenge for residents of large metropolises, driving investments in urban mobility solutions. A notable example is smart traffic lights, which have been implemented at 1,677 intersections in the city of São Paulo. According to City Hall data, this technology resulted in a 12.16% decrease in slowdown rates in the covered areas, while simultaneously increasing vehicle circulation capacity by 5.72%.

Technology Expansion

Besides São Paulo, other cities such as Curitiba and, in the future, Belo Horizonte, are adopting this innovation. This technology aims to offer benefits to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, allowing an understanding of the functioning and practical impact of smart traffic lights in the urban environment.

Definition and Functioning

A smart traffic light consists of a software and equipment system that manages the signaling of one or more intersections with adaptive capability. This adaptive system was created to manage road traffic dynamically and on demand.

Unlike traditional models, which rely on predefined schedules and timings, smart traffic lights automatically adjust the opening and closing time of signals in real time. This variation occurs according to the number of vehicles and pedestrians present at the location, aiming to optimize circulation, reduce congestion, prevent unnecessary stops, and ensure faster and more predictable travel.

Operational Mechanisms

The set of devices and software uses traffic data to determine the intervals between green, yellow, and red lights, as well as coordinating the 'green wave' in entire corridors. The essential functionality lies in a control model that responds to real changes in flow and communicates with other traffic lights or a management center.

There are different levels of implementation of this technology:

• Simple: The traffic light operates on demand, using sensors to detect vehicles or pedestrians and release phases when appropriate.
• Intermediate: Involves corridor coordination, with dynamic adjustments to cycle, offset, and time distribution.
• Advanced: Incorporates adaptive algorithms and, in some cases, artificial intelligence with prediction of vehicle convoy arrivals, in addition to decisions made individually at each intersection.

General operating factors include continuous data collection by cameras and sensors, real-time processing of this information, automatic adjustment performed by algorithms (such as SCATS, used in São Paulo), prioritization of more congested roads, synchronization of sub-areas, and maintaining a fixed time for pedestrian safety.

Additionally, the system allows for the application of the 'Green Wave,' programming traffic lights in an open sequence to facilitate the passage of many vehicles without interruption, provided the road is unidirectional and uniform.

Crucial Differences

The main distinction between smart and traditional traffic lights is flexibility versus fixed programming. While conventional ones follow rigid tables based on day or time, smart ones constantly self-regulate. In terms of infrastructure, old models use asphalt sensors, vulnerable to repairs, whereas the intelligent system is integrated into monitoring centers and is monitored in real time by operational teams, such as the Traffic Engineering Company (CET), which enables remote management of unforeseen events.

Results in São Paulo

The São Paulo City Hall confirmed that the benefits of the technology were observed in all macro-regions analyzed by CET. The Southeast and East zones showed the best results, with a 12.05% increase in circulation capacity and a 26.04% drop in slowdown.

Some specific corridors showed even more significant improvements: Indianópolis Avenue registered a 66.2% decrease in slowdown and a 5% growth in flow; Paes de Barros Avenue had a 57.1% reduction in congestion, accompanied by a 16.7% increase in circulation. Other roads, such as Rua dos Trilhos (50%), Avenida dos Bandeirantes (29%), and Avenida Salim Farah Maluf (22.6%), also recorded a reduction in queues.

The city's goal is to reach 2,583 smart intersections, with a projected investment of R$ 725.5 million. Currently, 217 intersections are in the final phase of implementation, and 689 have had their executive projects approved, concentrating mainly in the subprefectures of Sé, Vila Mariana, Pinheiros, Lapa, Ipiranga, Mooca, and Santo Amaro.