Think about this when buying your next computer

CaptainHaplo · 12-05-09, 12:27 PM

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here - but we have put forth alot of effort to insure that such things are dealt with appropriately.

Also - the "40 million" pc's a year? How many of those are "retired" pc's that still function, but are replaced by consumers or corporations? My company sanitizes the machines of data, then donates them to various charities. Some of those charities do send the pc's overseas. But not for destruction. They are donated to help run health offices, schools, etc.

In fact, I recall a couple of years ago one charity notified us that they were not going to send any overseas that year because the PC's had been stolen once there - by the locals - to "harvest" for their valuable innards.

So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.

I have to agree with gutted - that is the very picture of pulling yourself out of the gene pool.

Skybird · 12-05-09, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here - but we have put forth alot of effort to insure that such things are dealt with appropriately.

Also - the "40 million" pc's a year? How many of those are "retired" pc's that still function, but are replaced by consumers or corporations? My company sanitizes the machines of data, then donates them to various charities. Some of those charities do send the pc's overseas. But not for destruction. They are donated to help run health offices, schools, etc.

In fact, I recall a couple of years ago one charity notified us that they were not going to send any overseas that year because the PC's had been stolen once there - by the locals - to "harvest" for their valuable innards.

So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.

I have to agree with gutted - that is the very picture of pulling yourself out of the gene pool.

Yes. They choose that.

gutted · 12-05-09, 01:22 PM

my personal belief is that humans as a species have the potential to do anything they put their minds to.

If portions of our species still live like it's the middle ages, its because they choose to.

We as developed nations should not cuddle them because they dont have it as good as us. They have the same flesh and same mind us we do, yet they live in filth and squalor because they allow themselves to be ruled by despots... or allow their religious beliefs to hold back any progress their society could have made in the last 1000 years.

what about those poor starvation nations that have no food you say?

Is it my fault humans settled in places with no food?

no.

as i said, natural selection.

for many many many years, the US has sent food and aid and money to nations all around the world.. and the thanks we get is that they hate us.

so lets just stop sending them aid and let natural selection run its course.

Shearwater · 12-05-09, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutted

i dont see the problem.

Let me show you the problem:

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutted

i dont see the problem.

__________________________________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here - but we have put forth alot of effort to insure that such things are dealt with appropriately.
[...]
So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.

It's not only about US companies, but it applies generally to any affluent country. I don't doubt that US laws (or any other Western laws) are very strict when it comes to that questionable sort of recycling, and for the most part they work well. Though US didn't join that agreement, but of course they have laws of their own.
Nonetheless, there's plenty of instances where shady companies manage to ship old computers to Africa to do just that sort of thing. It's targetted at them, not at specific countries in general.
And I doubt whether it's really a choice, considering the alternatives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gutted

no sympathy from me.

maybe if they quit fighting each other, and move into the 21st century and manufacture something the world wants... they wouldn't be our dumpsters.

same goes for every other backwards country.

Yeah ... I guess they're just too stupid to figure that out. Natural selection at its finest.

NeonSamurai · 12-05-09, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here.

So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society.

Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care.

I have to agree with gutted - that is the very picture of pulling yourself out of the gene pool.

I don't think US corporations are only to blame, there is plenty of blame to go round the world for all the countries (including the countries where it happens, we all know its not the workers who are making money off this). Sure there are sincere attempts made to deal with the material properly, but there are also plenty of corporations that will do their very best to circumvent it just to save a bit of money.

I don't see choice entering into the picture though for the workers. For one thing they are not educated anywhere near enough to be truly aware of the danger they face, or to be able to understand it. Also even if they do, what choice to they have? Either they do it, or they starve to death. That is what makes it exploitation.

12-05-09, 12:27 PM	#1
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Funny how the US is catching alot of blame here - but we have put forth alot of effort to insure that such things are dealt with appropriately. Also - the "40 million" pc's a year? How many of those are "retired" pc's that still function, but are replaced by consumers or corporations? My company sanitizes the machines of data, then donates them to various charities. Some of those charities do send the pc's overseas. But not for destruction. They are donated to help run health offices, schools, etc. In fact, I recall a couple of years ago one charity notified us that they were not going to send any overseas that year because the PC's had been stolen once there - by the locals - to "harvest" for their valuable innards. So gee, its not always a question of dumping. Its often people who CHOOSE to expose themselves to the hazardous materials simply to enrich themselves in the short term. This often also occurs - as in the case I know of - where they do so at the cost of their society. Not meaning to sound harsh - but they choose that - and somehow its the evil US corporation that caused it - when all we were doing was trying to help the local people have a more modern level of health care. I have to agree with gutted - that is the very picture of pulling yourself out of the gene pool. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

12-05-09, 01:22 PM	#3
gutted The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA. Posts: 1,379 Downloads: 487 Uploads: 11	my personal belief is that humans as a species have the potential to do anything they put their minds to. If portions of our species still live like it's the middle ages, its because they choose to. We as developed nations should not cuddle them because they dont have it as good as us. They have the same flesh and same mind us we do, yet they live in filth and squalor because they allow themselves to be ruled by despots... or allow their religious beliefs to hold back any progress their society could have made in the last 1000 years. what about those poor starvation nations that have no food you say? Is it my fault humans settled in places with no food? no. as i said, natural selection. for many many many years, the US has sent food and aid and money to nations all around the world.. and the thanks we get is that they hate us. so lets just stop sending them aid and let natural selection run its course.