The conference found great difficulty in working out exactly how the two could work together. Yet this is the great challenge. The boundaries of tolerance Freedom of opinion and expression is a basic human right which also guarantees the freedom of the press and media. But it contains contradictions. In Britain recently the question of immigration and asylum-seekers has been debated a great deal in the press, and the attitudes of newspapers have reflected public opinion, reinforced public opinion and helped to created public opinion, very often strongly against the presence of immigrants in this country.
Newspapers have a powerful influence - which freedom of opinion and expression permits.
Kofi Annan is suggesting that they should use this influence in a particular way. Waste disposal systems often only deal with a fraction of their refuse and large quantities have to be burned or simply rot, creating problems with insects, rats and disease. In many of them, scavenging for materials which can be used or recycled has become an income for people with no other source of money. Only scavenging has its dangers, especially to the health of the people involved. The UN has suggested that scavenging is an important activity which should be supported.