Blog 4: E Waste

What is most appalling to me is the realization of my own apathy. It is amazing how we can allow our waste to impinge upon the lives of others with little thought or shame. Yet, I cannot be one to condemn. It is just as easy to curse and complain about this huge problem as it is to shrug it off as yet another problem which has become too large to tackle, in which case we don't waste our time worrying. What does it take to stir change in people from being objectors who continue to be part of the problem to being an active member in the solution? This is a difficult problem because we all have good intentions. No one wishes that their waste will be causing cancer to men, women, and children in China. If you think you have done all you can is that good enough, or do we all own the responsibility to really trace where our junk ends up? And if each individual does not own this responsibility, than how can we expect one person/or a group of people, to own that responsibility for the entire country? Reducing e-waste and consumerism in general is a good small step towards taking responsibility. I would like to think that now, having awareness of this issue, I will make a significant effort to reduce my contribution to this problem. Instead of thinking, "I want a new cell phone because this one is ugly and doesn't hold enough pictures," I will think, "My cell phone functions and not having the newest, prettiest technoloy is a small price to pay when considering the damage that it might do to others." It is nice to hear that there are groups who will dispose of your electronics in a safe manner and that they are easier to access than one might have thought. As with all products, it is always best to recycle or reuse. Instead of throwing away a computer, camera, cell phone, etc., I can donate it to a second hand store, sell it on ebay, give it to a friend, and as a last resort take it to a group or store who can assure that they will recycle my electronics and that they wont end up on the road side of some third word country.