Are you a global citizen?
A global citizen is a person who recognizes our world is an increasingly complex web of connections and interdependencies. One in which our choices and actions may have repercussions for people and communities locally, nationally or internationally. Becoming aware of global trends and issues is the first step in understanding one’s position and role within a larger global context, thereby aiding in the development of an individual’s global identity. Gaining an understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness of our world as well as respecting and valuing existing diversity provide a foundation that enables us to challenge injustice and take action in personally meaningful ways.
As you have gone through our website, you see that there are SEVERAL ways e-waste is connected to us and people far from us. Please check out our News tab if you haven't already to see all the important issues surrounding e-waste.
Take action by signing a couple petitions related to this cause:
Stop Unethical Coltan Mining in the Democratic
Republic of Congo
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Need Media Attention on the Rape Crisis and Rebel
Invasion in East of Congo , Kivu
Conflict-free Products Before More Suffer and Die
Spread Awareness about the Effects of E-waste/Coltan
and How it Affects the Environment
How can I reduce E-waste?
A great way to start is to look up places that accept electronic recycling. A simple "electronic recycling near me" in a search engine will pull up the closest areas near you that accept e-waste. This is a list of general companies that accept e-recycling.
Lowe's, The Home Depot, Apple, Best Buy, The Staples Center, Office Depot, Whole Foods, Equip Exports, LG, Samsung, Xerox and Beyond Surplus
It is important to call ahead as some of these companies have a limit of how much e-recycling they can take in a day and per household
Secondly, it is important to spread awareness and educate others about their own personal e-waste. We conducted a study and we had some surprising results:
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Among our surveyors, about 96% of people do not recycle their e-waste at all and more than half of them throw it in the garbage! So it is very easy as recycling e-waste for yourself but you need to take initiative and have people recycle e-waste for themselves. A simple post on social media or a quick phone call or text message should get the ball rolling. Make it fun, give back! Maybe for Christmas instead of discarding these electronics, you can give back to organizations that put them to good use! Below is a couple of phenomenal organization that use e-recycling for various purposes:
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Human-I-T
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World Computer Exchange
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Cell Phones for Soldiers
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Computers with Causes
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ZealousGood
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PickUp Please
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National Cristina Foundation
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Goodwill
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This article summarizes each of their unique purposes. Check it out!
Finally, below is a list of general e-waste typical accepted and more information on e-waste in general. We wish you good luck as you know have the full superhero qualities to make a change in this world!
