As we read about computer hardware, let’s think for a moment on the intersection between sustainability and environmental justice, and hardware life cycles, upgrades, and e-waste.
Conduct an Internet research to find out what rare-earth metals are used in your favorite or most used technology device(s). Find out:
Which rare-earth metals are used in the manufacturing of your device? You can pick a particular device component.
Where do they come from?
How are they extracted?
What are the implications of metal extraction to the communities in effected areas, such as water quality and availability, air quality, farm land, health, human rights, and labor practices? Discuss at least 3 of those areas.
Regarding the device that contains these metals, how should the device be disposed of at the end of its useful lifetime? Where in your local community can you take it for proper recycling? And then, what happens to our e-waste? Where does it go?
Submit a short report of your findings, particularly on issues of environmental justice and/or labor practices.
Share your thoughts on what impact, if any, this new information may have on your purchasing habits when it comes to your tech gear.
Cite your sources:
website name and clickable URL
author’s name
date published
date you accessed the site
*** All sources must be vetted for credibility.