For once, it’s a quiet Monday morning and I have set aside an hour to read some papers online. Technological advances mean that I don’t have to pay for the content of these papers (yet) and that I don’t even need to leave the comfort of my home. Just boot up the computer while the coffee brews and enjoy the download speeds that go with a broadband connection. While my ‘netvibes’ site provides connections to favourite newspapers and news sites, the recently turned 11 year old ‘google’ search engine is always there ready to help me with anything extra I may want to find. So with the means to enlightenment at my fingertips I start this day in a positive state of mind.
With this in mind, I read Elisabeth Rosenthal’s article in today’s
While some of this material will be recycled, the act of recycling can, and often is, problematic. A CBS documentary provides graphic details of the darker side to technological advances. The human misery associated with recycling has been documented in a photo report and in a magazine article about the Chinese
Each time we update to the latest mobile phone or some other high-tech electronic gadget we are encouraging the mining of ‘coltan’. This is a rare mineral ore that contains tantalum which is needed to manufacture these gadgets. Unfortunately, the mining of coltan is causing rapid deforestation in central
With these issues in mind, it’s rather apt that today is Confucius’s birthday.
1. Old mobile phones: See the Taronga Zoo appeal
2.
And there is the constant reminder than 1 pages uses 9 litres of water to produce.
ReplyDeleteThe part I am planning to investigate is why, knowing all this, recycling rates are so low.
Hmmmm... so what's worse, paper or "e"?
ReplyDeleteI feel better using my environmentally-friendly Mac, made from recycled aluminium... apparently they'll have me believe that it's not as bad as the "average" computer.
So do you want to do the right thing and say "no thanks" to the ipod at the end of this program? *wink*
Hi Wags, e waste is generally considered to have more toxic implications than paper waste. A key issue is leachate. Many end-point waste sites now need to be specially lined to prevent seepage into the water table. This is very costly on multiple levels.
ReplyDeleteAs to your environmentally-friendly Mac, what about a bamboo laptop? Seriously, check it out.
http://www.cnet.com.au/asus-u6-bamboo-laptop-core-2-duo-p8600-processor-2-4ghz-3gb-ram-339293907.htm
Your big question is whether I would do the right thing and “say no” to the ipod. While my emphasis was on end-disposal not renunciation of technological gadgets, I think your suggestion has merit. I’m willing to raffle the ipod at the Christmas function if you match the amount raised dollar for dollar. All proceeds can then go to buying an OxFam well.
http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au/ChooseAGift.php?sortby=0&query=well
http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au/Product.php?productid=119
To keep in the true spirit of my post, the winner should perhaps give an undertaking to dispose of the ipod via PlanetArk.