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Europe is proposing a ban on single-use plastic items such as cutlery, straws?and cotton buds in a bid to clean up the oceans.The European Commission wants to ban 10 items that make up 70% of all litter in EU waters and on beaches. The list also includes plastic plates and drink stirrers.The draft rules were unveiled Monday but need the approval of all EU member states and the European Parliament. It could take three or four years for the rules to come into force.The legislation is not just about banning plastic products. It also wants to make plastic producers bear the cost of waste management and cleanup efforts, and it proposes that EU states must collect 90% of single-use plastic bottles by 2025 through new recycling programs.The European Commission estimates that these rules, once fully implemented in 2030, could cost businesses over €3 billion (.5 billion) per year. But they could also save consumers about €6.5 billion (.6 billion) per year, create 30,000 jobs, and avoid €22 billion (.6 billion) in environmental damage and cleanup costs.The Rethink Plastic Alliance -- an association of environmental organizations -- called the proposals "a leap forward in tackling plastic pollution" but criticized some perceived shortcomings.The proposals do not set targets for EU countries to reduce the use of plastic cups and food containers, it said."This could result in countries claiming they are taking the necessary steps as long as any reduction is achieved, regardless of how small," the alliance said in a statement.The proposal also faced criticism from the plastics industry.Plastics Europe, which represents manufacturers, said it supported the "overarching objective" of the proposal but said there must be more resources dedicated to "waste management" to ensure better collection of used plastic."Plastic product bans are not the solution," it said in a statement, and noted that "alternative products may not be more sustainable."On a global basis, only 14% of plastic is collected for recycling. The reuse rate is terrible compared to other materials -- 58% of paper and up to 90% of iron and steel gets recycled.Research shows there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the world's oceans by 2050, which has spurred policy makers, individuals and companies into action.Last month a group of more than 40 companies including Coca-Cola, Nestle, Unilever and Procter & Gamble pledged to slash the?amount of plasticthey use and throw away in the United Kingdom.Starbucks also announced in March it was launching a  million grant challenge to solicit designs for a cup that's easier to recycle. 2689

Family, friends and the many admirers of Aretha Franklin packed Detroit's Greater Grace Temple on Friday to celebrate the life, legacy and music of the "Queen of Soul."It was a service fit for the Queen, who died earlier this month at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.The funeral was full of mourning and laughter, of rousing gospel music and soulful hymns befitting of the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, who won 18 Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other honors.Singers like Ariana Grande, Faith Hill, the Clark Sisters, Chaka Khan, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder rallied funeralgoers and brought them to their feet to dance and sing with Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "I'm Going Up Yonder," "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," and "Amazing Grace," to name a few.Stevie Wonder gave the last performance before Franklin's family exited the church. Whipping out his harmonica, Wonder played a musical rendition of the "Lord's Prayer.""Were it not for God's goodness, God's greatness, we would've never known the queen of soul," Wonder said after finishing with the harmonica. He ended with his 1976 song "As," which brought people to their feet.Spoken tributes and remembrances from religious and political leaders underlined the influence of a woman who stood on the front lines of the civil rights movement, with her music as a frequent anthem.Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson and former US Attorney General Eric Holder were among those who came to pay their respects and offer kind words and remembrances.Former President Bill Clinton fondly recalled the last time he saw Franklin, when she greeted him with, "How you doing, baby?"It was a star-studded occasion, but it wasn't about who was or wasn't famous. Her former neighbor, Ron Moten, told the story of the time his friend Aretha gave a concert at his mother's assisted living facility on her 90th birthday.And fans around the world collectively followed the funeral for more than six hours, using the hashtag #ArethaHomegoing.All those gathered had come to say their last goodbyes to a woman and an artist who profoundly impacted each of them, the city of Detroit and the world. "She gave us pride," Sharpton said during his remembrance. "And she gave us a regal bar to reach, and that's why we're all here."We don't all agree on everything," he said. "But we agree on Aretha." 2485

Employees at the Buffalo Museum of Science found something they didn't know they had in their collection.According to Kathy Leacock, director of collections, that isn't difficult to do considering that the museum has over "700,000 items in their collection."What they found was an egg from the now extinct Elephant Bird. It's huge to say the least, weighing 3 1/2 pounds. The egg was not really lost, it was just thought to be a model or a replica. That's how it had been mislabeled for many years. "We found in our documentary evidence that's it's been here since 1939," Leacock said. There are only a handful of the rare eggs in existence.The Elephant Bird is believed to have gone extinct around the 17th century. This egg, thought to be priceless, will go on display at the Museum of Science May 1st. You can get more information at the museum's website.  902

FALLS CHURCH, Va. ¨C It's the time of year for the great outdoors and the sounds of summer ¨C or rather, a socially-distanced summer.¡°When we're outdoors or keeping a social distance with kids, they have a little more flexibility,¡± said Ryan Amato, recreation program supervisor for day camps in Falls Church, Virginia.According to the American Camp Association, about 8,400 overnight camps and 5,600 day camps usually operate across the country. This year, 62% of camps closed, but the ones that didn¡¯t underwent some changes.¡°We really had to, I don¡¯t want to say dumb down, but really minimize the activity we do and find things we can do while social distancing and still keeping their interest,¡± Amato said.That meant placing kids in smaller, individual camp groups and trying to keep them outside as much as possible. Eventually, though, when the heat forces them to go inside, some of the changes become more obvious, like the use of a rope, which students hold onto at six-foot intervals to enter the camp¡¯s recreation building in a socially distant manner.¡°We do have a rope that we keep and keep them six feet when they're walking,¡± Amato said. ¡°They should mask on as well because it gets a little congested in hallways.¡±Camp counselor Maya El-Hage says some things are missing, like field trips to the pool, and certain camp goers.¡°There's definitely faces that I see every summer that are not here,¡± she said.Now, they¡¯re focused more on classroom games and arts and crafts at a distance.¡°We're making it work,¡± El-Hage said. ¡°We're set up like these 6-foot tables, so that they know where they're supposed to be.¡±So, could these day camps ¨C with classroom set-ups ¨C serve as a guide to schools trying to reopen? It depends.¡°I think their challenges are a little greater, but I do think there's some learning that the school systems can learn from watching some of the summer camps in their jurisdictions,¡± said Danny Schlitt, director of parks and recreation in Falls Church, Virginia.Yet, they admit their programs are geared towards fun and schools have a more complex mission.¡°It's a learning environment in there and they're going to be there for long periods of time,¡± Schlitt said. ¡°Once you get indoors things do change a lot, you know, and it really is important - it becomes that much more important - for the mask wearing and the social distancing.¡±That¡¯s where parents can make a difference, they say.¡°The parent starts at home with, you know, talk about the importance of social distancing, importance of wearing a mask,¡± Amato said, ¡°and when they can enforce that, it helps our staff do it here. It makes our job easier.¡±It also makes it potentially safer, as well. 2699

ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) -- Neighbors in an Escondido neighborhood are worried after they say dozens of tires were slashed overnight Saturday.The incidents reportedly happened on 4th Avenue and 2nd Avenue between Date and Elm Streets.Residents on 4th Avenue reported waking up Sunday morning to find that at least 11 vehicles had their tires slashed.Similarly, residents on 2nd avenue reported that nearly 30 vehicles had slashed tires.Police said they have been made aware of the incidents but it¡¯s unclear if they have a suspect or will be investigating.Imagine waking up and finding your tires slashed, then finding out it happened to DOZENS more on your block. It happened in Escondido. Watch on @10News at 6 to hear what police are doing to find whoever is responsible. pic.twitter.com/l98EPz4OBL¡ª Laura Acevedo (@10NewsAcevedo) February 19, 2018 859

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