SEA OF PLASTIC ALMERIA, EL EJIDO, SPAIN
HUNGER IS NOT ONLY CAUSED BY OVERPOPULATION. RATHER BY GREED OF BIG CORPORATIONS, BUYING GOODS FOR HARDLY ANYTHING, SELLING FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE WITH ONLY PROFIT IN MIND. LIKE IT HAPPENS IN MOST PARTS OF THE PLASTIC SEA IN ALMERIA WITH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. REGARDLESS OF THE EFFECTS ON THE SMALL FARMERS, WORKERS, LOCAL POPULATION AND CONSUMERS. THE GREENHOUSES, WHICH ARE BUILT IN A FORMER DESERT, ARE A PRIME EXAMPLE FOR INHUMAN WORKING CONDITIONS AND RECKLESSLY DEALING WITH RESOURCES, LIKE WATER.
SINCE THE 80IES THE SMALL COASTAL PLAIN HAS DEVELOPED THE LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF GREENHOUSES IN THE WORLD, COVERING 35,000 HECTARE WITH ROUGHLY 40.000 GREENHOUSES. MORE THAN HALF OF EUROPE´S DEMAND OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE GROWN UNDER THE PLASTIC SHADES, WHICH ARE OFTEN OWNED BY FAMILIES. MOST OF THEM HAVE TO WORK VERY HARD TO SURVIVE BECAUSE TRANSNATIONAL COMPANIES DUMP THE PRICES. GERMANY IS THE BIGGEST BUYER, CONSUMING MORE THAN 580 TONS A YEAR. EVEN THOUGH THE USE OF CHEMICALS IS UNDER STRONG CRITICISM, ITS USE IS EVIDENTLY CONTINUES. A LOT OF ILLEGAL WORKERS OR MIGRANTS ARE EMPLOYED BY THE GREENHOUSE OWNERS. NOT PAID A FAIR WAGE OR GIVEN PROTECTIVE SUITS FOR WORKING WITH PESTICIDES THEY USE ON THE PLANTS. LOTS OF THE MIGRANTS LIVE IN PLASTIC TENTS, MADE OF THE WASTE OF THE GREENHOUSES.
HOWEVER, IN THIS VAST PLASTIC SEA, FULL OF SECRETS AND CLOSED DOORS, WE FOUND ORGANIC FARMERS, AS WELL. THEY PRODUCE CLEAN, NON-TOXIC VEGETABLES THROUGH THE USE OF INSECTS FOR PEST CONTROL AND BUMBLEBEES FOR NATURAL POLLINATION. MAYBE THATS THE ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION HOW TO FEED 10 BILLION PEOPLE BY 2050?
THE SEA OF PLASTIC CONTINUES TO GROW
4962 KILOMETERS
VEGETABLES PRODUCED IN ALMERIA
SOLD IN NORWAYS SUPERMARKETS