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Technology tools, hardware, and recycling
So, walking down the hall to refill my coffee cup, I stopped to visit with my ITSCO friends who were sorting through boxes of cables (they've recently moved here to 4151 Executive Parkway, Westerville, to share offfice space with NMSA).
"Ah!!" I exclaimed. "Do you know a good, local place to do tech recycling?" (I've had have a box of CDs, floppy discs, cables, video tapes, etc. sitting beside my desk for 2 years that I want to dispose of responsibly).
David informed me about a local business where ITSCO has taken scanners, screens, and other hardware.
"Great! Do you know if they truly dispose of the tech stuff responsibly?" I queried.
And thus ensued a brief conversation about the irresponsible and abusive practices used to dispose of "tech trash." Sending materials overseas to be disposed of is illegal and immoral.
Computers, monitors, wires, cables, televisions--all are sent to places on this earth where labor is cheap, living is desperate, and natural resources are, to the absent overseer (e.g., the American) someone else's concern.
So....why post something about this here on MSP2? Because this is a rich opportunity for learning, service, and action.
Here are some random thoughts:
- Science. Minerals and metals (e.g., chemical reactions. What happens when ...); conductivity, electricity; life cycle of materials
- Economics (math). Conditions of scarcity and abundance. How much does a computer really cost? (cost of materials and labor to make, market and distribute; cost of disposal in terms of transport across the ocean; cost to human life; cost to natural environment)
- Geography and history. How/where/what are the conditions by which the powerful abuse the poor?
- Social studies, language arts. Giving voice to the voiceless. Who are the voiceless? How and why do the powerful silence truth?
- Local community needs. How and where does our school dispose of tech trash? How can we be sure that the disposal is responsible and safe for all? And economical/affordable for the school?
- Investigative and research skills. (all of the above require that!)
Thoughts? Ideas?
Check out the following for more information on this issue (and feel free to add others!).
- National Geographic, January, 2008, "High-Tech Trash."
- Basel Action Network (BAN), organization targeting "global environmental injustice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade."
- 60 Minutes: Following the Trail of Toxic e-Waste
- Population and EcoSystems. MSP2 resource guide with lessons, links, and background materials for teaching.
- Technology and Environment. MSP2 resource guide with lessons, links, and background materials for teaching.
"Ah!!" I exclaimed. "Do you know a good, local place to do tech recycling?" (I've had have a box of CDs, floppy discs, cables, video tapes, etc. sitting beside my desk for 2 years that I want to dispose of responsibly).
David informed me about a local business where ITSCO has taken scanners, screens, and other hardware.
"Great! Do you know if they truly dispose of the tech stuff responsibly?" I queried.
And thus ensued a brief conversation about the irresponsible and abusive practices used to dispose of "tech trash." Sending materials overseas to be disposed of is illegal and immoral.
Computers, monitors, wires, cables, televisions--all are sent to places on this earth where labor is cheap, living is desperate, and natural resources are, to the absent overseer (e.g., the American) someone else's concern.
So....why post something about this here on MSP2? Because this is a rich opportunity for learning, service, and action.
Here are some random thoughts:
- Science. Minerals and metals (e.g., chemical reactions. What happens when ...); conductivity, electricity; life cycle of materials
- Economics (math). Conditions of scarcity and abundance. How much does a computer really cost? (cost of materials and labor to make, market and distribute; cost of disposal in terms of transport across the ocean; cost to human life; cost to natural environment)
- Geography and history. How/where/what are the conditions by which the powerful abuse the poor?
- Social studies, language arts. Giving voice to the voiceless. Who are the voiceless? How and why do the powerful silence truth?
- Local community needs. How and where does our school dispose of tech trash? How can we be sure that the disposal is responsible and safe for all? And economical/affordable for the school?
- Investigative and research skills. (all of the above require that!)
Thoughts? Ideas?
Check out the following for more information on this issue (and feel free to add others!).
- National Geographic, January, 2008, "High-Tech Trash."
- Basel Action Network (BAN), organization targeting "global environmental injustice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade."
- 60 Minutes: Following the Trail of Toxic e-Waste
- Population and EcoSystems. MSP2 resource guide with lessons, links, and background materials for teaching.
- Technology and Environment. MSP2 resource guide with lessons, links, and background materials for teaching.
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