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
habital land.
The impact of this
problem leaves environments damaged and nonhabitable. 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 disassembly 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.
