As the production of electronics has increased, so has the amount of electronic waste. One of the biggest problems with e-waste is that much of it is shipped from developed nations to third-world countries. Approximately 50 tons of e-waste is produced globally every year. In towns like Guiyu and Nanyang of Southern China, people work to dispose of electronic waste, not in factories, but near their own homes, earning around $12 a day, these workers, of various ages, often burn the waste, which creates harmful exposure to toxic chemicals.
Assuming that exportation will continue, there are still positive changes that can be made to alleviate the level of health risks faced by e-waste disposers. There still needs to be strict ratification and enforcement of laws regarding the setting and process of disposing, recycling or repairing electronics, if there is expected to be any turnaround in the negative effects of the current process. There needs to be laws requiring that electronics be treated in a factories, rather than in residential areas; and workers should be provided with gear and equipment that will ensure there safety and well being while working.*This is an excerpt from a report I did based on one of the great Vanguard productions... more
"LONG-term mobile phone users could face a higher risk of developing cancer in later life, according to a decade-long study.
The report, to be published later this year, has reportedly found that heavy mobile use is linked to brain tumours.
The survey of 12,800 people in 13 countries has been overseen by the World Health Organisation.
Preliminary results of the inquiry, which is looking at whether mobile phone exposure is linked to three types of brain tumour and a tumour of the salivary gland, have been sent to a scientific journal.
The findings are expected to put pressure on the British Government – which has insisted that mobile phones are safe – to issue stronger warnings to users."
with this simple trick you will be able to hit the bullseye with ease, its very simple try it! you will only need a few office supplies oh and of course, a dart....with this simple trick you will be able to hit the bullseye with ease, its very simple... more
Registered Nurse Host interviews interesting guests on Health, Wellness, Beauty, Dining, Nutrition, Biochemistry, Hair Analysis, Reflexology, Endermology, Facials, Organic products, restaurants, Wills and trusts, legal information, Radiology. Business topics also discussed with entrepreneurs. Now can be seen on Ustream.tv by clicking on all broadcasts at bottom of page and entering Outspoken with Karon.........Travel is our new topic as are authors and books.Registered Nurse Host interviews interesting guests on Health, Wellness, Beauty,... more
Marvel at the amazing vocal abilties of Japan's HRP-4C girlbot. You may recognise her from modelling a bridal dress, earlier this year -- now the mechanical young lady is singing to the Japanese, thanks to Yamaha's Vocaloid voice synth software.
Once again the evolution of the robotic people, continues to rise. Be afraid? Maybe.Marvel at the amazing vocal abilties of Japan's HRP-4C girlbot. You may recognise her... more
Picture it. The cool breezes of Fall as Summer comes to an end, the sway of the trees and the turning of the leaves. For me, it evokes the smooth jazz sounds of Lauren Wood, Sachal Vasandani and Brian Bromberg to name a few musicians that mirror the calmness of the Season on the heels of the mayhem and fast pace of Summer.Picture it. The cool breezes of Fall as Summer comes to an end, the sway of the... more
The company behind the new Dell Latitude Z laptop's wireless power charger predicts that its technology will go mainstream next year, with cell phones, MP3 players and Bluetooth headsets featuring the technology at the coming Consumer Electronics Show (CES).The company behind the new Dell Latitude Z laptop's wireless power charger predicts... more
Designer Jocko Chan has developed a unique idea for an environmentally friendly sound system. A stalk of bamboo is placed in a funnel which sits on an eco ceramic base. Pour water into the funnel to nourish the bamboo and as it grows so does your sound system, allowing the audio to be piped up into the room through the stalk.Designer Jocko Chan has developed a unique idea for an environmentally friendly sound... more
"TOKYO -
Japanese electronics makers NEC Corp., Casio Computer Co. and Hitachi said Monday they will combine their mobile phone handset-manufacturing operations by April next year in a bid to boost their competitiveness at home and abroad.
The three companies are relatively small players in the domestic market for handsets, which is saturated and dominated by Japanese manufacturers, although imports like the iPhone have scored some success in recent years...""TOKYO -
Japanese electronics makers NEC Corp., Casio Computer Co. and Hitachi said... more
In a unique laboratory in Sussex, England, a computer carefully scrutinized every member of large and diverse set of candidates. Each was evaluated dispassionately, and assigned a numeric score according to a strict set of criteria.In a unique laboratory in Sussex, England, a computer carefully scrutinized every... more
Would you kill for a shiny, sparkly, top of the line, and brand-spanking-new cell phone, computer, or mp3 player?
Chances you are, you actually have. Conflict minerals are quintessential to consumer electronics...for now.Would you kill for a shiny, sparkly, top of the line, and brand-spanking-new cell... more
LG Electronics Inc, the world's second-biggest TV brand, expects LCD TV sales to jump nearly 50 percent next year as demand from emerging countries continues to grow robustly, a top executive said.
(So-eui, R., & Hack, J., 2009, September 5, par.1)
South Korea-based LG, which competes with home rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Japan's Sony Corp, expects to sell around 17 million liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs this year and 25 million in 2010, said Simon Kang, chief executive for LG's home entertainment unit. LG sold 10.5 million LCD TVs in 2008.
(So-eui, R., & Hack, J., 2009, September 5, par.2-3)
"The flat-screen TV market will continue to grow in the second half although it will probably see the growth rate slowing" from the first half, Kang told a news conference..."I am quite confident for the Christmas season and that some kind of momentum will be maintained next year," Kang later told Reuters in an interview on the sideline of the IFA show.
(So-eui, R., & Hack, J., 2009, September 5, par.4-5)LG Electronics Inc, the world's second-biggest TV brand, expects LCD TV sales to jump... more
A new 8-bit processor as powerful as an NES console runs calculations on nothing more than air.A new 8-bit processor as powerful as an NES console runs calculations on nothing more... more
The physical shape of single carbon nanotubes has been outlined before, using similar techniques - but the new method even shows up chemical bonds.
Understanding structure on this scale could help in the design of many things on the molecular scale, particularly electronics or even drugs.The physical shape of single carbon nanotubes has been outlined before, using similar... more
Great article on small, slim, inexpensive and accessible technologies (e.g. flat flash - www.flatflashgroup.com and www.theflip.com) and how they are well-poised to win market share from high-tech in the coming years.
"The Flip's success stunned the industry, but it shouldn't have. It's just the latest triumph of what might be called Good Enough tech. Cheap, fast, simple tools are suddenly everywhere. We get our breaking news from blogs, we make spotty long-distance calls on Skype, we watch video on small computer screens rather than TVs, and more and more of us are carrying around dinky, low-power netbook computers that are just good enough to meet our surfing and emailing needs. The low end has never been riding higher.
"The good news is that this trend is ideally suited to the times. As the worst recession in 75 years rolls on, it's the light and nimble products that are having all the impact—exactly the type of thing that lean startups and small-scale enterprises are best at. And from impact can come big sales. "When the economy went south before Christmas last year, we worried that sales would be affected," says Pure Digital's Fleming-Wood. "But we sold a ton of cameras. In fact, we exceeded the goals we had set before the economy soured." And this year? Sales, he says, are up 200 percent. (Another payoff: In May, networking giant Cisco acquired Pure Digital for $590 million.)"Great article on small, slim, inexpensive and accessible technologies (e.g. flat flash... more
Not just Casio battery covers but many other electronics battery covers are being lost or abused. You must keep track of all electronic battery covers and help the planet earth. Kasio Kristmas is helping to spread the word through B.C.P.S. (The Battery Cover Preservation Society)Not just Casio battery covers but many other electronics battery covers are being lost... more
In a new approach to an effective "electronic tongue" that mimics human taste, scientists in Illinois are reporting development of a small, inexpensive, lab-on-a-chip sensor that quickly and accurately identifies sweetness — one of the five primary tastes. It can identify with 100 percent accuracy the full sweep of natural and artificial sweet substances, including 14 common sweeteners, using easy-to-read color markers. This sensory "sweet-tooth" shows special promise as a simple quality control test that food processors can use to ensure that soda pop, beer, and other beverages taste great, — with a consistent, predictable flavor.In a new approach to an effective "electronic tongue" that mimics human taste,... more
The world is consuming more and more electronic products every year. This has caused a dangerous explosion in electronic scrap (e-waste) containing toxic chemicals and heavy metals that cannot be disposed of or recycled safely. But this problem can be avoided.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of old computers and mobile phones are dumped in landfills or burned in smelters. Thousands more are exported, often illegally, from the Europe, US, Japan and other industrialised countries, to Asia. There, workers at scrap yards, some of whom are children, are exposed to a cocktail of toxic chemicals and poisons.
The rate at which these mountains of obsolete electronic products are growing will reach crisis proportions unless electronics corporations that profit from making and selling these devices face up to their responsibilities.
It is possible to make clean, durable products that can be upgraded, recycled, or disposed of safely and don't end up as hazardous waste in someone's backyard.
Please vote daily through August 30, 2009 for story about Rev. Jon Magnuson's nonprofit environment projects in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: Vote for the story by Donna Kumpula about the EarthKeeper Initiative and the Zaagkii Project
It was weekly winner in April but now its competing against about 19 others for the big prize . Money that would help fund the projects for a year.
You'll need to register - or login if you have voted before.
Its entitled:
Creating numerous environment projects that bring together diverse groups, students, American Indians
Brief summary of projects your vote would support:
The interfaith Earth Keeper Initiative:
The interfaith EarthKeepers planted twelve thousand (12,000) trees across northern Michigan for Earth Day 2009 thanks to over 100 churches/temples from 12 religions.
During past Earth Day projects, the EarthKeepers have recycled or properly disposed over nearly 400 tons of waste including cellphones, computers (and related equipment), printers, car batteries, poisons, pesticides, oil-based paint, pharmaceuticals and much more.
The Zaagkii Project:
This summer Native American youth and at-risk teens are repairing the ecosystem along a Lake Superior beach, built dozens of Mason Bee houses including some to be placed at the U.S. National Gardens in D.C.; Native American teens this month are helping build a greenhouse for native species plants on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community reservation.
Last summer the teens built dozens of butterfly houses for migrating Monarchs.See Links to vote below:
Please vote daily through August 30, 2009 for story about... more
