PAISIE'S PERUSALS

It’s a great thing, (right?) that so many people have access to the internet. Great for learning, for families, for staying up on world events.  I believe that. But I was shocked to see the reality of what so many machines means, environmentally, when it’s time to “upgrade” as we all like to do every few years. I tried to put a picture here, but the link didn’t take. So:

 Go this link for Guiyu, China, the “e-waste capital of the world.” (be sure to play the photo album).  It will disgust you. http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/04/04/guiyu-e-waste-capital-of-china/  People in the city are so desperate for money that they are accepting literally mountains of keyboards, computers, cell phones, you name it. People (meaning women and kids too) use acid to harvest bits of gold from components and risk (do they even know?) exposure to mercury and lead. According to an article in 1/19/09 issue of TIME Magazine, “Every day, Americans throw out more than 350,000 cell phones and 130,000 computers.”  

   “Throw out”  – ever really think what that means? Throw… into your garbage can for the weekly trashmen to take? Then where’s it go? If it’s computers, it either goes into a landfill (meaning….. what, exactly?) or perhaps on a ship to China where people who probably have barely enough money to scrounge for food let alone a cell phone (and later its latest upgrade).

  Are you willing to make do with your 32″ tv? Do you really need a 42″ or a new HD or LCD? Probably not. But why do we not even consider what happens with our “old” stuff when we go shopping for “new” stuff? What do you think? Companies need to come up with ways to make all parts recyclable?  Sounds good, sure. But how long do you think that’ll take, and what to do in the meantime? While we buy and buy, Guiyu “has the highest level of cancer-causing dioxins IN THE WORLD.”

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