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Diplo-Babble
by electronicsrecyclingdirectory.com on 04/17/2012 - 09:29 am |
Tags: Industry News and Views
In her declaration of support for The Responsible Recycling Act (S1270), Senator Gilibrand touched on the section that would establish grants to further rare earth metals from electronics scrap. Joining rare earth recovery with e-waste export restrictions is fraught with difficulty because the WTO tensions are at the core of both.
China is on a path to restrict rare earth metals exports, and we are using the WTO to pry open its doors. To keep the export constraints in place, China is restricting internal production. Its stated objective is to conserve resources. An ancillary benefit is to raise world market prices. Its most subtle and dangerous objective is to use rare earths as a Damocles sword over the heads of industrial countries—as it did with Japan.
China has formed the Chinese Society of Rare Earths, allegedly to “smooth over” the frictions resulting from its rare earths export constraints. That is diplo-babble for deciding which producers it will shutter under the guise of environmental sustainability. For the United States to restrict used electronics exports and—at the same time—to initiate a WTO action to force China to export rare earth metals, is a thumb in China’s eye. The notion that China will not react is naïve—almost as naïve as thinking that U.S. interest groups are more adept at skirting WTO regulations than the Chinese.
Get Over It!
by electronicsrecyclingdirectory.com on 03/31/2012 - 04:39 pm |
Tags: Industry News and Views
We should stop chasing our tails worrying about conflict minerals, diamonds, or other commodities. What does it achieve? Central Africa has been, is, and always will be a humanitarian disaster. I highly doubt there will ever be circumstances in the DRC that are not the equivalent of a human meat grinder.
So get over it--if you feel so strongly about not buying a conflict mineral-containing item , then don't buy it. Stop raising prices for the resto of us to satisfy your overdeveloped, futile and likely guilt-fueled sense of consciousness. (New York Times 3/20/2012)
Hypocrites!
by electronicsrecyclingdirectory.com on 03/31/2012 - 04:35 pm |
Tags: Industry News and Views
So basically the electronics goods, mining and finance sectors don't want to stop buying blood metals - they are saying "Oh no, it's too complicated! It won't really help the Congolese people"! So they are complicit in the violence then by their very words and deeds - they are saying that it is too bad; they could set an example by making the first step to helping end the cycle of violence, but they don't want too! What hypocrites - 60%-80% of mobile phone users would not have a mobile device if it wasn't for the blood that has been spilt in the Congo and the Women and Children who have been raped! Just certify the mining sector in Congo - why don't they just do it? Because they are happy to source Blood Metals that's why - they don't care how they get the Coltan! Such hypocrites! Certification of the sector would only put a tiny dent in their profits - it would not cost that much overall! (New York Times, 3/20/2012)
R2's Process--Important as its Product
by electronicsrecyclingdirectory.com on 03/19/2012 - 10:01 am |
Tags: Industry News and Views
R2's open process has its risks: plagiarism, prurient interest. But it is the only longterm way to assure industry support and consensus for certification standards. The process assures moderation because members can--and do--push back against extremes. The process reflects the pluralistic society in which we live and the transparency to which we aspire.
Mike
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Diplo-Babble
on 04/17/2012 - 09:29 amGet Over It!
on 03/31/2012 - 04:39 pmHypocrites!
on 03/31/2012 - 04:35 pmR2's Process...
on 03/19/2012 - 10:01 amWhy Lobby Ag...
on 01/08/2012 - 03:13 pmRecent Members
