Our expectations couldn't be very high. But whether because of our pressure, or despite it, Europe has blinked. Bullied for years by Basel Action Network to implement the "Ban Amendment", Europe had shown a pattern of stimulus-response which I had failed to note ten years ago. So WR3A got less diplomatic in our language, to match the "ghoulish witchy skeleton toxic" language of Basel Action Network and Greenpeace. Where they claimed "Stewardship" we called out "Africa Boycott". Where the NGO's called out "waste tourists" we gave voice to "geeks of color".
"Most of the illegal e-waste trade is taking place next door rather than far away in Africa," said Jaco Huisman of the United Nations University, scientific coordinator of the project that included police agency INTERPOL and other partners.Come again?
That's right. Europe finally got a clue this summer. It took awhile, but the Dennis Moore analogy holds. This redistribution of environmental costs was trickier than thought.
Amazing grace.
European Environmental Advocates really must be "word war weary" at this stage. Poor Pascal LeRoy and David Higgins couldn't help but bristle at being named personally in blogs to account for the environmental malpractice of the WEEE Guidelines, as implemented. Basel Action Network is known for developing "tests" which appear to allow trade - like allowing laptops with batteries that show 80% of original charge - a charge gone on many laptops after a few weeks. Or like allowing SKD factories to buy "fully functional" CRTs with parts removed. The proof in the pudding was that exactly 0% of their E-Stewards would export a CRT monitor, they were all pounded into toxic rubble following the breakdown of the California Compromise. But the point of sharing these technical anecdotes is to show the level of obfuscation faced by UNU, UNEP, PACE, StEP and other Euro Acronym Agencies in the Puckett Armada.
They believed the lead ship knew where it was going. But after 10 years, short of supplies and weary of the "collateral damage" of Africa's Tech Sector, Europe today has blinked.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.
(Soweto South Africa choir)
