In striving to be so hi-tech, so tuned in, so pumped to be "cutting edge" or "cool" or 24/7 connected. To have latest, fastest "best in show" devices for our palmtop, laptop or desktop is the ultimate techright of the tomorrow people. Planned obsolescence is the only verity and perpetual upgrades are the automatically downloaded rule.

But just for a moment, pause, and think what that means in terms of the the computer hardware and nifty electronics we habitually get rid of. Where do they go and who does what with them? It is being increasing understood that we are dumping a problem of epidemic proportions, estimations say that 20 to 50 million tons of digital waste is generated annually worldwide.

Most of this is shipped out to India, China and Kenya where "scavenger economies" have grown up - feeding off the vast mountains of our electronic detritus Families eke out a living from the harmful, the toxic and the downright deadly spare parts, rescuing the precious from the shells and casings of the unwanted, once desirable consumer toy.

Technology, they say, drives the forces of globalization. But at what cost? This photo essay provides a graphic insight into the people on the other end of our connected world

DIRECT LINKS
INSIDE THE DIGITAL DUMP. Foreign Policy, May/Jun2007 Issue 160, p74-79, 6p; (AN 24873868)
from EBSCOHost Academic Search Premier

Image courtesy of Foreign Policy via EBSCOHost