Environmental issues in Iran

1. I work at a company that has to use a certain coating on equipment designed and used in offshore at a gas refinery in south of Iran for purpose of preventing corrosion on them. This coating is considered quite toxic due to its chemical chain which has isocyanate. Once I was assessing the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of that coating I came across part 6 of it, which enumerates about Spill and leak procedure. What is stated on that MSDS paper is as follows:

Precautions: Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Do not breathe vapor. Put out fire and remove sources of ignition. No Smoking. Take precautionary measures against static discharge. Evacuate and ventilate the spill area. Take care that the area is well ventilated. Close the leak only when there is no danger to -do so. In a closed area well a full-face positive pressure breath-mask. Wear protective clothing. Avoid release to the environment. Spillages should be contained by, and covered with large quantities of sawdust, sand or another absorbent. Dike larger spills to prevent contamination of ground and surface water.

In the company I work there is a health and safety officer who takes care of related works like aforementioned tasks. In her memo to his direct boss and a carbon copy to the owner of the company she explains about the danger of stated coating and danger to dispose it into environment. Her direct boss, however, in return gets angry and summons her to his office. He reprimand her for writing such a warning letter and tells her to never ever write such a letter(s) again. He even suggested for its disposal, put up the container in the middle of the quad and he will shoot it like a soccer ball (I think he was joking, he never did it)!! However, she does not get discouraged. She asked me to write an e-mail to the European based company which supplied the chemical asking for help and methods of disposing.

So I wrote to the supplier and asked them to provide me a means of disposing the leftovers and spillages of stated coating. I received the following reply. In the end of her fax the following sentences was shinning:

“Containers must be disposed as any paint according [to] local regulations. In Europe paint must be disposed to an official chemical waste facility.”

After receiving the stated reply she looked into local environmental agencies for recycling and reusable materials for disposing the chemical containers. She talked to Associate Research of that agency Mr. M. Mr. M provided her with a phone number of where she could get information from. The place is called Research Center of Environment; office of Soil and Water. After many follow-ups via phone calls a high rank employee was to be found. Mr. A. from Research Center of Environment; office of Soil and Water explained that they used to have a program to dispose toxic materials. However, the entire program stopped about 2 years ago and it is no longer in process. The only solution was provided as follow: returning the toxic containers to the supplied company with help of Center providing the vendor’s company pays the fee for transportation and insurance!!

What makes me wonder in all along this bureaucracy there was no single person who would take responsibility for our environment. On the other hand, no one cared. It is heart aching to see that in year 2004 there is no real recycling and disposing program in Iran! I wish to ask if there is any responsible for such an important issues. This week is considered week of preserving environment. So, how came we do not pay attention to the most basic fact of our life methods to dispose our waste in a country of 70 millions!

2. Iran National soccer team lost to Jordan. The final result was one to zero for Jordan. I watched the entire game live on TV. Iranian team did not show any planed strategy. It seemed that Iranian players were beheaded chickens running around the soccer field. Providing that all legionnaires were in Iranian national team. I could only say that even in the second half that is called coaches half, Iran coach could not open up this confused team. So, Iran lost to its own strategy.

3. Traffic, Traffic and more traffic. Most of Tehrani drivers have no understanding of correct driving. They do not know how to rightly left turn. How to correctly switch lanes. Commuting and road Police has been on Tehran’s streets with full force for the past 2 months. And are continusly handed in fines to offender drivers. I personally believe we truly needed this type police force and expensive fines. This type of actions must continue until we, drivers, learn to obey traffic rules and respect other drivers right of yield and avoid dangerous actions. I know that Tehran is suffering from enough parking area. But believe me that many of this existing traffics can be avoided if just consider other drivers right.

ABBA...

1. I was in my friends car then I heard the following song from ABBA group.
The winner takes it all
don't wanna talk
About the things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I'd be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain
Why should I complain

But tell me does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name
Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide
The likes of me abide
Spectators of the show
Always staying low
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all

I don't wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all

It took me back to the time that I used to go more often to broadway shows like Mamma Mia! which I saw it in 2002. To my surprise it is still on in Royal Alexandra Theatre of Toronto where I watched it, too.

2. This site is quite interesting and at the same time hilarous. It is about
strange Sex laws in different part of worlds! Enjoy it!