Fighting climate change means U.S. should regulate waste

‘ ‘ ‘ Since the start of his bid for the presidency, Barack Obama has made energy efficiency,… ‘ ‘ ‘ Since the start of his bid for the presidency, Barack Obama has made energy efficiency, conservation and green technologies a cornerstone of his agenda. And for the most part, Americans seem to be on board. Investment in this booming industry will not only create new jobs, but it will also help us combat a worldwide challenge. ‘ ‘ ‘ Fighting climate change, however, means that new policies should go beyond American borders. They should try and protect the Earth, not simply the United States. ‘ ‘ ‘ A couple of weeks ago, ’60 Minutes’ did a report on technological waste that exposed the story of Guiyu, a Chinese village that has been the recipient of massive amounts of America’s used electronic devices. ‘ ‘ ‘ Each year, the United States throws out 100 million cell phones, among other products. Constant technological advances, be it in computers, phones or televisions, make previous generations of these devices obsolete. And in such a competitive world, it’s only natural that we would want to be on the cutting edge. ‘ ‘ ‘ Nevertheless, that does not excuse us from handling our waste responsibly. The ’60 Minutes’ report also followed the story of a recycling company in the United States. Their claim was that they would use the cleanest procedures possible to get rid of the toxic chemicals found in most electronics. ‘ ‘ ‘ And that claim has attracted numerous customers, who are lining up for hours so that they can have their waste recycled in the United States. Our state-of-the-art facilities can properly handle this waste while minimizing its environmental damage. But that isn’t what always happens. ‘ ‘ ‘ Upon further investigation, ’60 Minutes’ found that shipping containers belonging to that company were being sent overseas, to a port in Hong Kong. There is little doubt that they were on their way to a rural Chinese village where they would no longer be the problem of American companies. ‘ ‘ ‘ The images of Guiyu are absolutely shocking. Towers of used monitors are stacked up along the river where local children wash their clothes and bathe. Men and women of the town are using antiquated methods of breaking down the waste that is shipped in. For example, some of the plastics are burned, releasing noxious fumes into the atmosphere in the village. The great technological advances we enjoy have created a toxic wasteland halfway around the world. ‘ ‘ ‘ The hands of the workers are scarred with evidence of their occupation, and their children play alongside ‘ash rivers’ that bear the remnants of the recycling. Scientists have concluded that this village has the highest percentage of cancer-causing dioxins in the world. ‘ ‘ ‘ Local officials have also been put in place to keep out cameras. When reporters went to Guiyu, they were harassed and quickly pointed to the mayor’s office. And from there, they were taken to a shop where waste seemed to be handled properly. ‘ ‘ ‘ Sadly, the workers also play a part in keeping this business going. Living in destitute poverty, the pay they receive at these illegal plants far exceeds the money they could bring in as farmers. They’ve thought about quitting, but the choice between health and money often ends in siding with their wallets. ‘ ‘ ‘ Even if the United States cleans up its act within its borders, dumping our waste around the world negates any efforts we make. Environmental damage on the other side of the planet will affect us. ‘ ‘ ‘ A United Nations report released on Nov. 13 discusses the ‘brown clouds’ that have been seen across much of China. These clouds, which are a by-product of irresponsible industry, are known to sweep across the Pacific Ocean, sometimes to as far as California. ‘ ‘ ‘ Companies like the one investigated by ’60 Minutes’ need to be under a greater deal of scrutiny. If the U.S. government doesn’t step in to regulate electronic waste, there will be consequences for us, and continuing deterioration for villages like Guiyu. ‘ ‘ ‘ Over the past eight years, the United States has isolated itself significantly, and these types of acts are a clear reflection of that fact. Dumping our problems on others without caring about the consequences will only further that separation. If Obama’s presidency hopes to heal some of those divisions, then environmental policy must play a key role. E-mail Hay at haythuppal@gmail.com.