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The Effects of Exporting Used PCs To Africa
retroworks writes "According to this UK MailOnline story, computers donated to Africa are causing quite a few problems. The BBC does a similar story on the junk computers from rich countries found on the ground in Africa. But all of the footage is of the junk PCs; there is no film of any repaired or good computers. There have been a dozen stories now about the bad apples. It seems like there have to be good ones, too, to cover the costs of shipping. Some of the ones in the Mail story actually look decent. Is there more balanced coverage of used computer exports, many of which provide affordable technology to poor people? Organizations like Greenpeace and Basel Action Network are promoting electronics recyclers with zero-export policies. One organization, the World Reuse Repair and Recycling Association, is promoting a 'Fair Trade Coffee' approach to moderate the number of bad computers exported, and has a video showing both sides of the story. A ban on exports leaves Africa with a choice of spending a year's income on a new PC, buying mixed loads of computers from undercapitalized recyclers, or remaining without this level of technology. And our choice seems to be to donate a decent computer mixed with other people's junk, or to grind it up in a perverse tribute to Vance Packard, as 'obsolescence in hindsight.'"
What's the problem? If you want to adhere to the Basil conventions, you send fawlty computers. I fail to see the issue here.
They're called the 'Hate Mail' for a reason you know. They're techo-phobes. They peddle hate. It's a wonder the story never mentioned little babies dying from drinking contaminated by the drinkscupholders on the pc.
Getting a load of fawlty towers with all the manuels missing is a major problem.
Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
I can't say how they'll deal with the obesity problem, but there's this new product that's hit the market that will help solve the food problem in the Third World. They say it's based mostly on soybeans and lentils, and can be produced much more efficiently than corn, rice, wheat and just about anything else. I've tried it, and it's not bad: a little bland, but it really fills you up. It must be the protein content. There are a couple versions, which have different flavors and consistency. The red and yellow kinds are OK, but I like the green kind the best.
You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
After seeing this story I realize I'm an enlightened environmental hero. That 486DX2 in the corner would be poisoning people if I hadn't though "I might still need it for something!"
... also, I can kill you with my brain.
Dude, your mom's going to be pissed when she finds out you slashdotted her driveway.