E-Waste
From our discussion about E-Waste on Friday, please choose 1 of the 3 topics below to comment on. Your response should be a minimum of 5 sentences and state your position on the topic and explain WHY you feel that way. In addition to your response, you are also required to respond to at least 1 of your classmates response.
Topics:
1. Should ASFG track down where there E-waste is going? How would you suggest they do this?
2. Is it the responsibility of each country to recycle their own E-waste? How could this be enforced?
3. Do you think people who work with E-Waste should be educated about the problems it causes? How would you educate E-Waste workers?
34 Replies
This is an example post. When you post your SUBJECT should be the Topic Number you chose AND your Name.
In the body (here) you should post your response to the topic that you chose. Remember that your first sentence should re-state the question and state your position.
Example:
I think that it is ASFG's responsibility to track down where its E-Waste goes because we have a 1:1 Laptop program and strive to be an environmentally friendly school. To track its E-Waste I think that ASFG should meet with the company that handles its E-Waste and discuss our position on E-Waste and ask for proof that they are disposing of their E-Waste responsibly. This is an important point, because if ASFG continues the 1:1 laptop program we will be producing a lot of E-Waste. I feel that our privilege of using laptops should not result in health problems for poor workers in other countries. If we want to be a model school and have a responsible 1:1 laptop program it is our duty to track our E-Waste.
Topic 2 Sofia Chavez
I think it is the responsibility of each country to recycle their own E-waste because they produced, and the people of the country used it so it is their responsibility to recicle it and to hold to it, and bear the E-wate and the acids if the E-waste is just around the corner of their house. It is not another country's responsibility to suffer from all those acids and pollution. There is many ways to recicle E-waste and the country could do it for their own.
This post was edited on: 2011-09-07 at 09:41 AM by: SofiaChavez
I think it is the countries responsibility to track down their E-waste and recycle it. There are a lot of counties with E-waste that don´t recycle it and are not doing their part to save the planet. We began to destroy this world and it is not the other living creatures fault so we have to take responsibility for what we have caused and get united to get rid of E-waste or recycle it correctly. The UN should make countries come together to find a better solution to get rid of E-waste by getting a lot of money and sending the trash to jupiter.
I think that the people that work with e-waste should be educated about the dangers they are facing. I think that they should be taught so that they can at least take the responsibility to buy protective gear. I would help teach this people by giving them a powerpoint about everything that it happening to their body with all of the toxic fumes. Then I think that at least they will get more protection or even leve it.
In think that ASFG should track e-waste. They should do this by inserting a chip or something in a computer and throwing it away. Then we could track the computer until it gets to it's final destination. This wold cost some money but if it really gets to India, Ghana or China it will worth it. Maybe we can discover other e-waste dumps in the world or in Mexico. I think this would be a good idea to get to get to know were does the e-waste of this school goes.
I think ASFG should track down where the E-waste is going. Because maybe they think that they are actually recycling their E-waste but maybe the company where their sending it isn't doing what they are supposed to be doing. Maybe they should talk with the boss of the company and ask them maybe if they could see the process to see if they are actually doing it the right way. And maybe if they refuse to show the process its because they might not be doing anything with it. So if this actually happend maybe they could change to another company that could actually make a change.
Topic 3 Paola Padilla: I think they should be educated about this because it helps them know what to work with and they know what they are handling and it's healthier for them.I would teach them by maybe taking them to a place were they do all of that and show them,this piece of metal is called gold and it's toxic so then they would know what to be careful with. I would give them also safety gear so they are safer working with all this. 
I think people who work with E-Waste should be educated about the problems it causes because I think it is a human right for them to know the consequences it could cause to their health and also an obligation for them to be cautious when working with E-Waste. To educate E-Waste workers I would put out videos and articles like the ones we read about E-Waste in the media so that E-Waste workers see this out there and actually think about it. I would also enforce that electronic companies that produce E-Waste track down where their E-Waste is going to and make sure that who ever is working with it is educated about the problems it can cause to health. I also think countries should have laws to restrict kids from working with E-Waste and provide information to adult workers about E-Waste and its consequences.
I personally think that every country should be responsible for there own e-waste. Instead of giving it all to the poor countries like Ghana, China and India. I believe that this will drastically change the global warming issue in a positive way. I feel this way because wealthier countries will have a healthier and less poisonous way to get rid of all e-waste. Without a doubt the world would be a better place.
This post was edited on: 2011-09-07 at 09:45 AM by: NicolasDe La Cruz
I think that they know a little bit because obviously they get sick because of what they are breathing or touching and they still do it because they need the money I think it dosen't matter that much if they have information or not.
I think it is the responsibility of each country to recycle their own E-waste. Because its not fair for the countries that are getting all that garbage to deal with it. All these people that are working on E waste are also getting sick because they don´t have the safety gear they need to work with this stuff. Each country should be responsible to recycle E-waste the expensive way because its the safety way to do it. If the countries do this they are helping the world specially all the countries, because now everybody is working equally. 
Do you think people who work with E-Waste should be educated about the problems it causes? How would you educate E-Waste workers?
I believe people who work with E-Waste should be educated about the hazards they are exposed to, such as radiation and powerful chemicals. The companies should be aware of this problems as well and they should supply the laborers with safety equipment. Most of the employees are underaged and illiterate,
and the companies have the responsibility to inculcate the appropriate handling of the electronic waste. Children are more vulnerable to the toxins that adults because their inmune system is still developing and their bodies do not have the same strength. Without any prevention, Ghana and India and many other countries who work with E-Waste will be doomed because the next generation will be either vanished, ill or ignorant. I believe that this issue may affect not only in the present, but later on in the future. The government should also monitor these companies and set strict rules to protect the well being of the workers. If the countries themselves and the companies don´t do something, who will?
I agree with Nico, every country should be in charge of their own garbage instead of leaving the job to other countries. These countries will be concentrated with all the harmful chemicals, leading to the damage of the natural environments of these places and consequently polluting the water or land because they don´t have enough money to get rid of it. With all countries working as one, problems like global warming, pollution, erosion will change for our benefit.
I think it is the responsibility of each country to recycle their own E-waste, because if we are not using those E-waste products, we dont need to worry about it, but we worry about all the contamination that may cause.
There are many manufacturers we can send all that E-Waste to be recycle instead of giving it to poor places like Ghana, and we save the problem of having sickness, and it will decrease the amount of waste created.
And I think if we all be responsible and can put a little efford on recycling e-waste our world would be a better place to live
I think it IS the responsability of each country to recycle or be concious of their own e-waste. It is not fair nor easy for just a couple of countries to do the work for the rest. Plus, they can't recycle it all, so it accumulates and produces pollution. I also think that if everyone makes even a little effort we can all help to solve this e-waste problem. I'm saying this because this can't keep happening, it is a big problem and there are many people getting affected by this, and it is not hard to fight against it.
It should be each country’s responsibility to recycle and dispose their own e-waste instead of sending it to other countries and paying them to get rid of it. Lots of e-waste is produced daily and with all the new technology, it is sure that more will be produced, harming our environment and also all the people in the developing countries that will have to deal with it. I don’t think it’s fair that other people have to deal with e-waste that is not their own. If countries are forced by a law to deal with their own e-waste, perhaps this will motivate people and authorities to reduce their e-waste amounts and as a whole world population help our world’s environmental conditions improve. Our world isn’t or won’t be in the conditions of putting it off and having others deal with it later on.
I agree with Lety. It is certainly not fair for countries to deal with e-waste that is not their own, and it is really affecting the planet.
This post was edited on: 2011-09-08 at 01:30 PM by: asfg-KrystaKramer
I agree with Sofia when she says each country should deal with the E-Waste they produce. I think United Nations should enforce that every country has a facility to safely recycle E-Waste and if the country is too small or too poor that country should send its E-Waste to the closest country with a facility to safely recycle it. Or maybe at least one in every continent.
I agree with you Tona others shouldn't take the responsability for the actions of others. There should be a change In something. Because as you said they dont take their the responsibility for their actions and it affects others an that is not fair.
Do you think people who work with E-Waste should be educated about the problems it causes? How would you educate E-Waste workers?
I think that people who work with E-wast should be educated about the problems it causes because maybe if they know that they can get problems by doing that work, at least they can be more careful and be informed of the problems. They need to be educated to know the problems that they can get more bad things happen, than good things, they are risking themselves for gold and metals. The children need to be educated of the problems of working in E-waste because they can know how to be more careful of the radiation and chemical power. I think that I would educated E-waste workers by giving especial classes and teaching them that by burning the E- waste they are damaging them self. They need to have laws that children’s can’t work in the E-waste, and show them the consequence that can happen to everyone, from children's to adults.
I think what you said is true because the UN should make the countries help with this problem. But it should start with the countries by doing things like what you said like, tracking their e-waste.
I agree with Daphne when she says that all the countries need to recycle them own E-waste because it is not fair that other countries are getting trash for an other country. The people that are getting the E-waste are getting sick and they don’t have safety gears for that type of work.
I agree with Renata people should know about the problems that can cause working with E-Waste. Also I agree with the part about the law about the kids. Kids shouldn't be working in those types of things. Specially because it can affect their health seriously.
Topic #2 Andrea Ney
I think every country should be responsible of their own e-waste. It is not fair to give all the e-waste to countries that are not so civilized and they don't know the health consequences. Countries should be responsible for recycling the e-waste, and I don't think it is good to send all the e-waste to countries like India, Ghana...etc. This could be solved by putting a place in every country to recycle all the e-waste.
I agree with Sofia that all the e-waste is the responsibility of every country because they produce it, and that it's not fair for countries to suffer from all those acids and pollution
By right, people working with E-Waste should be cautioned about the effects this brings. If I was to educate E-Waste workers, I would show them the video I saw earlier and explain afterwards. I really think ignorance from everyone is what is making this problem so big, that if we do not educate it sooner of later, it will get out of hand. I know, some workers will still risk their lives to work at the E-Waste disposal, and this is where I blame the economy, government and lack of education from us, as this, is their life. I really think this is sad, for both the ones that know and not, because literally, we are doing nothing about it.
-Luciana Mendez
I think you are right about traking the E-Waste. Relatively, it wouldn't cost a thing. Let's put for example Samsung's income is 17.7 billion dollars! I am pretty sure they have enough money to create E-Waste recycling places and track down the E-Waste.
-Luciana Mendez
I agree with Nico because its not fair for other countries to receive all the e-waste and have to deal with it.
Totally agree!! Government have enough money to put at least one recycling E-Waste place!! It would make everything better, because although it's gonna take money, it's gonna save the environment and billins of lives.
-Luciana Mendez
I agree with what Luciana said, workers should be warned about the harms even if many still chose to keep working on it, they should know what the consequences of their actions will be. I also agree with what she said about this problem soon being out of our control to solve.
Luciana,
You make a great point that with an income of 17.7 billion dollars Samsung can do more towards the E-Waste problem.
I think that the each country should deal with their own e-waste. If each country handled they´re own e waste poor people in other places wouldn´t be poisioning themselves searching in the e-waste. Each country should build instalations where the e waste could be procesed and made into useful things without harming anyone and making a safe enviroment for the world to help decrease contamination
I agree with sofi I think each country should try to recycle their own E-waste to help the community an the world enviroment.
I agree with Nico that every country should be responsible for their own E-Waste, besides giving it all to the poor countries, that we know their can't do a lot to get rid of all that trash, and that casuses them a lot of health problems, and in compare to countries that have more $$ they can figure out a better way to get rid of E-Waste without affecting their health.
Bill Cotter
Sep 5, 2011 at 11:32 AM