Here, a polluting Pakistani suffers
under the weight of used computers
(publishing a newspaper).
Here, how used materials discarded
by wealthy nations can be used
to create internet for thousands.
Here, how Afghans built
open source internet network
from the trash.
Thankfully, all of these horrible e-waste crimes can be averted by building big metal shredders, passing Stewardship laws which subsidize the shredding, and then ban the export of used electronics.
Look, if they pollute, informal recycling practices need to be reformed. Guiyu is apparently a pigsty. But a complete ban on trade? Let's roll up our sleeves and study the problem, use Q method research, interview the importers, find out which of their practices are externalizing harm without fair benefits, find out which activities are "illicit" because they pollute and which are "illicit" because they allow the population to inform themselves about a dictatorship.
The proposal to "ban all trade" is a wolf in sheeps clothing. The Green-Thompson "E-waste Export Ban" Bill will be applauded by dictators and ayatollahs worldwide. Fair Trade Recycling is a simpler and better solution. The only people opposed to Fair Trade are people making money out of shredding solutions. And by that, I mean principally, the non-profit organizations who get payola from shredding companies. They use poor kids pictures to make people think they are doing good things, but do nothing but take away jobs and internet from the poor countries. Oh, and the manufacturers, they still get to export to the third party refurbishing and warranty repair factories in the Green Thompson bill.
under the weight of used computers
(publishing a newspaper).
Here, how used materials discarded
by wealthy nations can be used
to create internet for thousands.
Here, how Afghans built
open source internet network
 |
| TIME Covers Pakistani Hindu Newspaper-from-ewaste |
Thankfully, all of these horrible e-waste crimes can be averted by building big metal shredders, passing Stewardship laws which subsidize the shredding, and then ban the export of used electronics.
Look, if they pollute, informal recycling practices need to be reformed. Guiyu is apparently a pigsty. But a complete ban on trade? Let's roll up our sleeves and study the problem, use Q method research, interview the importers, find out which of their practices are externalizing harm without fair benefits, find out which activities are "illicit" because they pollute and which are "illicit" because they allow the population to inform themselves about a dictatorship.
The proposal to "ban all trade" is a wolf in sheeps clothing. The Green-Thompson "E-waste Export Ban" Bill will be applauded by dictators and ayatollahs worldwide. Fair Trade Recycling is a simpler and better solution. The only people opposed to Fair Trade are people making money out of shredding solutions. And by that, I mean principally, the non-profit organizations who get payola from shredding companies. They use poor kids pictures to make people think they are doing good things, but do nothing but take away jobs and internet from the poor countries. Oh, and the manufacturers, they still get to export to the third party refurbishing and warranty repair factories in the Green Thompson bill.
