Auto Scrap Piling Up in Developing Countries
March 8, 2020 - Even though the major carmakers are very conscious about recycling their vehicles already during the production, the auto scrap in the developing countries are now 393 million tons. This number has tripled during the last 20 years.
The introduction of End-of-Life Vehicle programs 15 years ago, where the producer of the car also is responsible for the recycling, is the reason that the recycling rate is now about 95% in the developed countries. Unfortunately, the developing countries are still to follow. The main issue for them is how to handle non-ferrous metals, plastics and rubber that are more difficult to recycle than steel and iron.
Although the high oil price, the number of vehicles worldwide has increased with more than 80% over the last 20 years to more than 1.4 billion, projected to pass 2 billion in year 2030.
Argument: According to the report Managing the Future - World Vehicle Forecasts and Strategies to 2020 the developing countries are facing an environmental challenge in taking care of their auto scrap by year 2020. The projected numbers of vehicles in 2020 and 2030 are from Vehicle Ownership and Income Growth, Worldwide: 1960-2030.
Questions: How long will it be until End-of-Life Vehicle programs have an effect in the developing countries? What other developments are to be expected in recycling cars?
December 15, 2030 - There's no doubt what the most popular Christmas present will be this year. Influenced by the launch of the first manned mission to Mars next month, you will most likely get a present with stars, a gift card for a spacetrip.
November 19, 2040 - Today was a historic day for Iceland when their President this morning at a symbolic ceremony officially shut down the last gasoline pump in the country. Iceland is a model country when it comes to the fuel transition from gasoline to hydrogen and became today the first country in the world to complete it.
September 21, 2050 - At a press conference today it was announced that the first tourist heading for Mars will be the 38-year-old US businessman Patrick Clifford. He will leave the earth in the launching window of June 2052 and set his foot on the surface of Mars in November, together with the other 6 astronauts assigned for the mission to further explore the planet.
September 12, 2035 - Are you kidding? Is it possible to beam myself? No, of course not, but you can now make a 3-D projection of yourself anywhere in the world. The first product for real teleimmersion has been released, the Telebeamer.
September 5, 2035 - More than 20,000 quadriplegics around the world have now got a BCI, a Brain Computer Interface. It gives them the ability to control their environment, from driving their own electric wheelchairs outside their house, to make their own dinner.
September 1, 2040 - From today you have your own therapist available 24 hours a day, always there if you need someone to talk to, always in a good mood, and remembers every word you have ever said. This is the first automated therapist, with the best knowledge known to mankind on treatment and rehabilitation. 
August 24, 2020 - The first full-length animated movie with realistic-looking humans, "Tickle" opens tonight. It is an intriguing thriller about a woman who gets framed by her husband, but the most intriguing is to see if you can spot the difference between real actors and these created by computers.
August 23, 2025 - Today a new chapter in space tourism was written. Rod Markham and his wife-to-be Susan Millster arrived safely to the moon to spend 5 days as the first guests at the Starbright Hotel that was set up for this purpose two years ago.
August 16, 2020 - For the first time a court case is based on a multi voice recognition transcript as the main evidence. It was when Frank Levin took part in a dispute with four people that resulted in a fired gun that killed Adam Denny. The three other all testified that Frank had pulled the trigger, while Frank claims that according to the transcript, it clearly states that he was not the one holding the gun.
