This week, Greg and Katelyn discussed the issue of technological change and it's impact on the environment, in particular, the e-waste phenomenon. As society and knowledge develop, so too does technology. Withdrawing resources from the environment to create such technologies is now having a detrimental effect on the environment and human health. The externalities of this human practice indicates that, particularly in the semi-periphery and the periphery, our consumer lifestyles in western society do not want to deal with waste. When so much of our technologies are made in China, it is sad to know that we use it and yet again they bear the burden of our 'left-overs'. Will society ever reach a plateau? or will we continue to think up more ideas for technological innovation?
I was sent an email a while back that had photographs and statistics of e-waste and other waste as a result of human consumption. The following link is the website of this photographer, Chris Jordan - check out the gallery titled "Intolerable Beauty". If the video shown in class wasn't enough of a visual slap in the face, this might hit home:
http://www.chrisjordan.com/
In the following video, this simple animation proves a bold fact: you can run, but you can't escape the flood of e-waste. There is only so many places where toxic electronics can be placed, and sooner or later, they are going to filter onto an international level...unless we run out of resources first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW5AUttCYB4
This video demonstrates how a small warehouse is just the ''tip of the iceberg'' in terms of how many computers/televisions etc. are exposed of. It indicates that it only costs about $30 in the US to recycle a computer, but who really pays the price of discarded, toxic technologies?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLKK-N0UhCY&feature=related
Enjoy!
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