Semia Gharbi - Stopping Corrupt Waste Trafficking
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Provided by: Goldman Environmental Foundation|Published on: August 7, 2025
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This resource introduces Semia Gharbi as a Goldman Environmental Prize winner for her work in fighting against illegal waste trafficking between Italy and Tunisia.
- Students will understand how Semia worked to get the illegally-transported waste sent back to Italy and her history of advocacy and educating throughout her life.
Subjects: Civics, Geography
Authors: The Goldman Environmental Prize
Region: Africa, Europe
Languages: English, Arabic
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This environmental success story is an inspiration for students and provides hope for all.
- This story does a great job of introducing waste trafficking, a concept students may be unfamiliar with.
Prerequisites
- Before reading or listening to Semia's story, teachers may want to have a discussion about the impacts of waste and pollution on the environment. This activity may help students understand the problem.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This guide from the Goldman Environmental Foundation is a companion resource with note-taking guides, activities, and questions that can be implemented with any of the videos for the prize winners.
- After discussing this story, students can check out other winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize and discuss traits that make them effective activists.
- Students can evaluate their own waste and think about where it goes. Students can think about how to reduce their waste to keep from contributing to the issue of plastic pollution and other waste issues.
- This story can be used in a civics or class to discuss international law, environmental law, and the process for strengthening or changing laws.
- Teachers can connect this story to Sustainable Development Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation.
This resource highlights one woman’s work to end waste trafficking and return illegally exported waste to Italy from Tunisia. Environmental justice is highlighted, as well as the air pollution that results from improper waste handling. This resource shows how advocacy can lead to real results and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize honors the achievements and leadership of grassroots environmental activists from around the world, inspiring all of us to take action to protect our planet. Prize winners are announced each April, coinciding with Earth Day. They are celebrated with a live ceremony in San Francisco.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
