Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20200616

locAl Tuesday 16 June 2020
A31

Black Lives Matter movement on Aruba

ORANJESTAD —Sunday, to discuss topics like ‘stop Brooks was shot and killed people say: “We Arubans of Trayvon Martin, an un-
June 7th Aruba joined in racism in all forms’, ‘unity by police last Friday. The grew up with all colors and armed African-American
on the global conversa- is strength’, ‘plan of pas- officer who killed Brooks nationalities, we do not dis- teenager killed in Florida
tion happening about sive action’, and ‘what was fired and the police criminate.” But discrimina- in July 2013. The move-
race. A group called Back measures to take to stop chief has stepped down. tion unfortunately exists ev- ment became more widely
Lives Matter Aruba gath- racism’. Anti-racist pro- An autopsy report released erywhere and therefore it is known and popularized af-
ered in honor and solidar- tests in the world continue by the Fulton County Medi- good to have a conversa- ter two high-profile deaths
ity towards the brothers to spread following the cal Examiner’s Office said tion about it and be open in 2014 of unarmed Afri-
and sisters in the US, The recent death of George Brooks was shot twice in the towards others. can-American men (Eric
Netherlands and around Floyd in Minneapolis, USA, back. Garner in Staten Island, NY
the world. To say: “Rest in leading to calls to defund Black Lives Matter is an ac- and Michael Brown in Fer-
Power”! police departments and Aruba’s people represent tivist movement which be- guson, MO). Neither of the
take down historic statues. more than 100 different gan as a hashtag (#Black- police officers involved in
Last Sunday, June 14th, a Dozens were arrested in At- nationalities and the island LivesMatter) after George their deaths were indicted
follow up gathering was lanta as protesters took to has been praised for its mul- Zimmerman was acquit- (i.e., formally charged with
organized in San Nicolas the streets after Rayshard ticultural society. As many ted in the shooting death a crime). q

Plastic Ban Ordinance per July 1st

ORANJESTAD — The Plastic Ban Ordinance for Aruba will go into effect
as of July 1st, 2020, together with the list of products that are prohib-
ited. The island’s government made a decision in 2017 to ban all single
use plastic bags and has now extended it to include items as plastic
cups and straws and Styrofoam boxes, such as disposable coolers.
Also, sunscreens containing oxybenzone is to be prohibited in Aruba.
The ban is effective in 2019, with a one-year transition period to a total
ban in 2020. The Plastic Ban Ordinance will go into effect as of July 1st
2020, together with the list of products that are prohibited.

Prohibited products
• Single use plastic bags with any type of handle;
• Single use plastic bags in supermarkets to pack fruit and veg-
etables; Single use plastic/styrofoam cutlery, cups and plates;
• Single use plastic stirrers and straws;
• Single use plastic/styrofoam containers used for immediate
consumption like fast food containers/food trucks;
• Suntan lotion/cream with Oxybenzone;
• Biodegradable products not mentioned in the list of exempted
products; Releasing of plastic confetti and balloons into the sky.

Products exempt until further notice
o Single use plastic straw for medical use;
o Single use plastic/styrofoam trays for cold cuts and raw meats;
Saran wrap;
o Plastic/styrofoam/biodegradable lids for containers/cups;
o Plastic food packages used for prepackaging products by lo-
cal food manufacture for wholesale.
• Import of the prohibited products; Manufacturing of the pro-
hibited products; Sale of the prohibited products;
Scope of the prohibition • To offer of the prohibited products.q