So this may be a bit of a stretch, but I think this post can be justified because of the effects limited resources have on war and conflict. In this instance it is coltan, a material needed for cellphones. Control over coltan deposits was one element that helped to perpetuate the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 1990s and today coltan is still smuggled illegally out of this country. In order to alleviate the world's reliance on this resource, it seems important to question what happens to old cellphones.
On average, Americans get a new cellphone every 12 months. With so many people getting new phones all the time, this leaves a huge number of old phones sitting in desk drawers, or even worse, heading to landfills. Some companies have begun to recycle cell phones to the developed world, but this in itself can also cause problems. Many developing countries don't have the landfills to house the recycled phones that will eventually break down and need to be thrown out. The metals inside of them can leak into the water and soil causing environmental nightmares. There are some places that smelt phones which can no longer be repaired, mining these useless products for the precious metals they house. Unfortunately only a small number of old phones make it to this step.
This article in the NYtimes overviews this growing issue. It's long but interesting. It also makes you think twice about getting a new phone or simply leaving old ones in your desk drawer!
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3 comments:
I just saw a program on tv about the hazard that e-waste is becoming. I'm planning to recycle the e-things I need to dispose of as a result of these articles and programs. I'm also glad that I bought my current phone used (recycling) and still have my old ones (pack-rat-ism). So I'm doing my bit to keep the landfills emptier and not feed into conflict resources in Africa! w00t!
I will keep this in mind tomorrow when I try and sell someone a cellphone. I never realized that the cell phones we all carry have a causal effect on conflicts. The cell phone company that I work for has in excess of 62 million customers with an avaerage of two cell phones each.
The industry is not concerned with environmental issues when a dollar needs to be made in order to maintain a substancial income.
Conflicts have been fought over natural resources in the past and will be fought in the future. But what can we do to reduce the numbers. As was stated in the previous comment watch for e-waste recylcing to dispose of the cells. I used to advocate donations of cell pones to domestic charities, but I am going to change my appeals. I also don't want to contribut to conflicts in Africa.
Definately reading the NY Times article,and bringing it to work for other, too.
Jim
Another option: http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/
Nonpartisan, nonprofit and quite legit. I sent all of my phones to these kids. There's not much we can all do from our desks in Pittsburgh, but we have to start somewhere right?
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