Recycling Electronics
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) urges consumers to dispose properly of end-of-life electronics through its recycling locator at www.GreenerGadgets.org [“Where Old Computers Go to Die,” December 8, 2011]. This list only includes manufacturer and retailer programs that use the strictest standards and third party-certified recycling locations, to provide consumers assurance that their products will be recycled safely and responsibly.
Our research has found that 58 percent of consumers know where to take their end-of-life of electronics, and we would very much like to see that level of awareness increase. Consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers sponsor or operate more than 5,000 recycling locations nationwide and have vowed to recycle one billion pounds annually by 2016, a sharp increase from the 300 million pounds industry recycled in 2010.
Tim Doyle
Senior Manager, Environmental Communications, CEA
via Internet
*
Requiring brand owners to be responsible for the costs of recycling their products and packaging gives them a financial incentive to design products that are more durable, less wasteful and less toxic. In other states these programs have increased reuse and recycling, and generated jobs. A statewide Extended Producer Responsibility program is key to reducing waste, protecting the environment, and establishing sustainable local economies here in Massachusetts.
Both Amherst and Northampton are working with the Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council, which was formed to provide information and support for producer responsibility policies.
Many companies are willing to take responsibility for their products. At the legislative hearing in May, Dell testified in favor of the producer responsibility bill for electronics.
Lynne Pledger
Massachusetts Product Stewardship Council
via Internet
*
In Memoriam: Lynn Margulis
I am deeply saddened to hear of Lynn Margulis’ passing. I barely knew her, except as a fellow Puffer’s Pond visitor, where I would frequently see her and her friend Jim in the early morning out for a brisk swim, while I paddled my surfboard around the pond for exercise. Over the years I’d see them swim toward the falls and back, enjoying the warm sunlight. Sometimes they brought a dog with them who would stay by the shore and bark at the beaver lodge. We’d introduce ourselves each year during the spring and call out to each other in greeting from the other side, and to me it felt like we were out there for a common, unspoken purpose —blessed to be able to enjoy the pond in near-solitude. I began to think of her as the “Lady of the Pond.”
In recent years a large tree had fallen over at the edge of the pond, its crown partially submerged. Each summer a series of colonies of what I believe are Pectinella Magnifica— a type of moss animal—would grow on the tree’s limbs just beneath the surface, and Lynn and Jim would wade or swim into the water to examine the growth. Jim would take photos of the colonies.
You could see that they were really excited about it—Lynn would explain various traits of the organism to me—and that they enjoyed being able to combine their pursuit of health with a thirst for experiencing nature firsthand.
And so, having read about her career and accomplishments, it all makes perfect sense to me—especially the Gaia Theory part—and I can’t help feeling a bit of awe about her, and appreciation for her insight into the importance of understanding and being of the earth.
I’ll miss running into Lynn at the pond. I’ll look forward to seeing Jim next spring, and hope he carries on the tradition.
Kimo Lee
via Internet
*
Legalized Thievery
Tom Vannah’s article “Finally and Objectionably” [December 8, 2011] was right on, though I disagree with him that the casino issue is not a morality issue. It is, very much so. I was taught in Sunday school that one of the Ten Commandments was, “Thou shalt not steal.” Casinos are all about legalized thievery.
The bread and butter of a casino is the slot machine, from which it derives 75 percent of its profits. Anyone who has read about the research of MIT’s Natasha Schull knows that slots are designed to addict. They are designed to be fast, furious, and hypnotic with their lights, bells and whistles, putting folks into a sort of trance.
Nearby is the credit department, ready to mortgage your home so you can play another round. They have all your credit card info so they can track you and your habits. How easy it is to run up the card when these machines take only $10 at a time! They give back 80 percent on average, so one has the illusion of winning. They’re based on Skinner’s behaviorist conditioned-response psychology.
On top of that, with advertising promising extravagant wealth and with come-ons, casinos lure the suckers in. I read in an article that Pennsylvania’s casino oversight board actually works directly with the slot manufacturers to make slots more addictive.
Since they make such incredible money with the slots, they are able to undercut all the local theatre venues and restaurants by charging less, putting them out of business.
Many folks have been destroyed by casinos. I just wish a bereaved and penniless widow, whose husband shot himself out of shame because of wiping out his family’s resources at the casino, would sue for fraud, for bunko artistry, for swindling—and I wish she’d win. Folks have successfully sued the tobacco industry. Why not the casinos?
One afterthought: according to former Boston Globe columnist Steve Bailey, [Gov. Deval Patrick’s wife Diane] Patrick is a partner in Ropes and Gray, which is the biggest defender of casinos against such lawsuits.
Charlotte Burns
Palmer
*
I enjoyed Tom Vannah’s “Finally and Objectionably.” I would like to build on it by offering alternative ideas to casino gambling.
Governor Patrick: Are we so shallow and limited in our thinking as to choose casino gambling as a solution? What kind of message are we sending to young people struggling to enter the workforce? “Four years of college—now go deal blackjack”?
What added value does casino gambling provide to anything?
Why not this, governor: Invest in manufacturing. Invest in building value-added products that produce real wealth. Invest in exporting those products around the world. Invest in creating high-paying, lifelong jobs. Our machine shops and manufacturers are starving for machinists, programmers, setup people, operators. Thousands of jobs can be added immediately if qualified, trained people become available (translation: additional taxpayers).
Casino gambling sucks the life out of good ideas and the money out of hardworking people. More manufacturing in Massachusetts is a better idea, a proven idea. I urge all citizens to contact legislators at every level. Tell them to invest tax dollars in manufacturing. Tell them our future and our children’s future depends on it.
Peter M. Roarke
West Springfield
