Critical Thinking, Ethics,
and Civic Responsibility
The main problem in
the video was the hundreds of millions of tons of Electronic waste piling up
each year. It is very bad for the environment and the locals health.
The e-waste is very bad for the environment, and
most people in the world do not even know it is there. E-waste piling up in
certain areas is bad because there are organized criminals scavenging through
the old hard drives for information. The information contains personal files,
bank accounts, and important documents from big corporations. The e-waste gets
burned to salvage the copper and other metals to be sold for small profit. The
small profit isn't the problem though, it is the hazardous fumes being sent
into the air. The fumes are hazardous to the people breathing it in. Thus,
having major health complications down the road. Toxic substances ruin the land
it is on because they burn the stuff and they leave the stuff on top of once
habitable land.
The impact of this
problem leaves environments damaged and non-habitable. The burning of the computer
pieces sends lead, mercury, and cadmium into the air. Thus crippling the youths
health at an early age and hurting the land. Also the toxins flow into the
bodies of water nearby. The e-waste not being taken care of properly hurts the
individuals in the community nearby. The e-waste's impact on individuals who
get their information stolen is great also. The individual could lose all of
their money and get in trouble at their job because of leaked information. In
the video every hard drive had pertinent information.
From this source(1),
They wrote "We believe that manufacturers of electronic goods, who have
benefited from sales of their products, should take responsibility for them
from production through to the end of their lives. " I'm not sure if I agree,
but it is a possible solution. If they created the products they should know
the proper way to recycle or reuse their own products to make new ones. Another
solution is (source 1) " manufacturers must design clean electronics with
longer lifespan, that are safe and easy to recycle and will not expose workers
and the environment to hazardous chemicals. " This is a great way to help
the environment, keeping everything "green". This also helps keep the
workers out of hazardous waste and chemicals. Therefore minimizing health risks
when working or recycling the products.
Earth911 says "Establishing efforts to enlarge the capacity of
sustainable e-waste dis-assembly in Africa by setting up criteria and requirements,
supporting new and improved initiatives and making e-waste disassembling
profitable so new e-waste businesses can be established". This will make
more businesses want to recycle and make a profit instead of dumping their
e-waste for a small fee. Therefore making e-waste far less likely.
I think the e-waste
problem is horrific, and it needs to stop immediately. I know it isn't going to
stop today, but helping prevent it myself with my own products will help a
little. I can do my part in recycling my own products, maybe even tell my
friends and family to watch their own e-waste. If they tell their friends and
family it will be that much better.
