Red Metals, Yellow Women, White Guilt

This week I'm working on a year-end letter to tell all our clients, friends, regulators (and competitors) about what Good Point Recycling accomplished in 2010 - jobs, recycling, value, diversion, reuse, etc.

Meanwhile, here is a harmonious post from professional author / journalist / blogger Adam Minter.  He has taken a week off of ShanghaiScrap.com to blog for The Atlantic.  Today's post is a gem (The Motor Breakers of China).  As usual, he says more than enough in fewer words.

Ethiopia Digital Project - Geeks of Color Sighting

The International Business Leaders Forum (cool title) is associated with the "Fair Trade" Electronics Recycling endeavorr which EPA Director Lisa P. Jackson toured this week in Ethiopia.   A leader from the IBLF with a role in Ethiopia Digital Project sent this message:

"We are pleased to have the support of the US EPA and feel it will go a long way to support our endeavors to mitigate Ewaste while supporting digital access.   I often quote Victor Hugo "There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come"  "the Idea of a quality refurbisher/recyler in an emerging country supplemented with  market knowledge and oversite is  an "Idea whose time has come" 

- Chris Frasier Supply Chain Developer  Digital Partnership

More about the EPA's support for the "fair trade recycling" endeavor can be found at this press release. Information on the Ethiopian Ministry of ICT, can be found at the link.  This project came through World Bank ICT funding.

Just in - Video Link

The idea of "Fair Trade Recycling", the empowerment of Geeks in developing world to properly recycle whatever they cannot repair, and to take back and recycle product from their own country's residents, is an idea whose time has obviously come.

AARP or AAPR Ewaste Survey

Here's an extremely short survey - two questions.  You may agree with both, or neither, but indicate the one agree with more strongly.  Both questions pertain to attitudes about "e-waste" exports.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Americans Are Racist People (AARP) will be ranked by responses to both questions (AAPR - Asians and Africans are Primitive Recyclers may be a more telling indication of AARP in other nations).

I've got several friends who are African, who married Americans and immigrated to our country.  All of them, every one, was warned before they left their country that America is racist, or has a lot of racist people.   After living here for decades, all agree that the danger is present, but was overstated.  Not one believes in a ban on interracial marriage.

I've also got several friends who import used electronics from the USA.   When I export to them, a lot of people tell me that I should beware, that Africans, Asians and Latinos are Primitive recyclers.   After doing it for a decade, I am certain that the danger is present, but that it has been overstated.  I do not believe in a ban on "e-waste" exports.

Psst.. it's a head trip.  

News Flash! EPA's Lisa Jackson sees PROPER E-Waste Recycling in Ethiopia

Just got Lisa Jackson's TWEET via Twitter...

lisapjackson Lisa P. Jackson, EPA Visited a Computer Refurbishment Training Center and De-manufacturing Facility in Ethiopia, saw their methods of safely handling e-waste7 minutes ago Favorite Undo Retweet Reply

This could bring a lot of hope to WR3A's "Fair Trade Recycling" Partners!

- IN PERU, where Jinex has a women-owned electronics shop selling computers and televisions she sources from WR3A partners in the USA, only buying from recyclers who remove the JUNK.

- IN EGYPT, where I've been describing the four-story SHOPPING MALLS of used computers which the Egyptians put to good use tweeting last month (Oh, you thought people earning $3k per year use IPhones?)

Click Me To See Dozens of Geeks of Color

- IN MEXICO, where Las Chicas Bravas women are now going it alone, having lost a grant to get them electricity and training, but knowing how to work and reuse and properly recycle, they vow to continue.

In Indonesia, in Malaysia, in Angola, in Senegal, in Singapore, in Cameroon - people are learning how to properly recycle, not BURN product.  And they create jobs, more affordable recycling,  and create internet access.  We don't need them or want them to adapt our 2-year throwaway culture.

Fair Trade Recycling, it's a win- win- win.  But it is not just any exporter... You need to use a FAIR TRADE EXPORTER.  Someone who pays people to remove junk here in the USA, who properly compensate importers for incidental breakage, who fly the buyers to the USA to meet the American recycling crew face to face.

Documentary on Egyptian Zabaleen Recyclers

Look, I'm not alone.   Here is a clip from a documentary, Garbage Dreams, by Mai Iskander, on how Egyptian Recyclers perceived the efforts to bring "modern Western formal recycling practices" into the "informal market".  Rebroadcast on PBS, the film "Garbage Dreams" could in my opinion have been done in the Philippines, in Mumbai, in Columbia, Venezuela, or Accra.



When you see people eating stale bread, just how proud can you be to start a non-profit to raise a million dollars to stop them from getting stale bread?  Like stopping their recycling trade is the answer?  I'm sorry to use a mallet you guys, but it stopped being stupid two years ago and started being evil when they stepped on the white box refurbishing market.