--Headline is inaccurate and sensationalist.--
They're not being dumped. They're being destroyed onboard ships at sea.
The linked article even says as much, but here's an earlier article describing the situation in a bit more detail.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/01/a-look-at-the-...
> “We will not let this happen,” said Yannis Haronitis, an activist and protest organizer. “They want to destroy these weapons — well, let them turn Syria’s back yard into a toxic waste dump, not ours.”
So dumping the wastes in Turkey the black sea would be fine?!?!?
In order to tackle a problem you need to understand how it starts. Every time a war like this one starts the countries involved should at least save some money about the side-effects which will involve everyone else. Examples of these side-effects:
* How the chemical weapons used will be destroyed.
* What will happen with people and populations affected by the war.
* What will happen to all these immigrants who will overflow other nations, especially Europe.
So I think the organizations, activists and the countries involved (Greece, Turkey, Italy, Marocco, etc.) should start pressing at an international level the countries who fuel these wars (US, China, Russia, the NATO, etc.) to start considering the side-effects A PRIORI and have a couple of plans and money ready.
Of course in an ideal world, no kind of war should be justified, but the truth that people don't care what is happening 2 blocks away. That's the root of the problem... Because a fire starting 2 blocks away will eventually hit you too sooner or later, one way or another. We're not as disconnect as some believe.
I will have to assume they are using the sea because its the least likely assailable location by anyone who might seek to take the weapons?
Largely political. They couldn't find any nations willing to host the weapons for destruction, so doing it in international waters was the best available option.
EDIT:
Some more reading suggests that they're actually being shipped to Italy for storage to get them out of Syria ASAP, and then the actual processing/destruction is occurring in international waters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_of_Syria%27s_chemic...
At least that will be easier to dispose of -- I assume the international community in typical style will help the Syrians dig swimming pools. At least the civilians that aren't starved/tortured/etc to death...
How can Russia/Iran/China get away with supporting this horror militarily? Why is no one upset about these new attacks?
Edit: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/1...
I recommend reading up on rocketry, orbital mechanics, and modern space programs because a) it's really cool stuff! and b) you'd quickly realize how ridiculous, dangerous, and counterproductive this suggestion is.
What if it falls back to Earth?
Or if it explodes in the atmosphere, scattering chemical weapons (some of which will remain unburnt) throughout the atmosphere.
Excellent point, there are many things that could go wrong in the short time to low Earth orbit.
Not only that, it is incredibly expensive.
Is a space elevator a fantasy? Have people given up on it?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149049.The_Fountains_of_...