Sostenibilitat i Tecnologia
AARHUS Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters
UNECE, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
The UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters was adopted on 25th June 1998 in the Danish city of Aarhus at the Fourth Ministerial Conference in the 'Environment for Europe' process.
The Aarhus Convention is a new kind of environmental agreement. It links environmental rights and human rights. It.acknowledges that we owe an obligation to future generations.
It links government accountability and environmental protection. It focuses on interactions between the public and public authorities in a democratic context and it is forging a new process for public participation in the negotiation and implementation of international agreements.
Data de publicació:16/09/2007 Idioma: EN
BCS warns of environmental impact of Vista upgrade
Andrew Donoghue ZDNet.co.uk
Companies that opt to refresh their PCs following an upgrade to Microsoft Vista should ensure that they dispose of old machines in an environmentally responsible way, according to the British Computer Society.
Although some analysts and commentators claim that businesses are not going to rush to deploy the operating system until at least the first service pack is released, the British Computer Society (BCS) is urging companies to begin planning now for the disposal of any machines that need to be replaced during an upgrade.
Nigel Shadbolt, BCS president, said the release of Vista could eventually see large numbers of PCs being upgraded with many old PCs discarded. PCs contain many toxic components, so if they end up in a landfill we are creating a real problem for the future. It can be really easy to pass on the old machine to be reused, and if it's beyond use, to recycle it," he said.
Data de publicació:09/07/2007 Idioma: EN
Bridges.org - Spanning the international digital divide
On the Ground Initiatives in the Developing World
Bridges.org is an international non-profit organisation that promotes the effective use of ICT in the developing world to reduce poverty and improve people's lives. We tackle the obstacles to effective ICT use throughout society and work with initiatives focused on socio-economic development to help them use ICT to make a Real Impact.
Data de publicació:27/09/2007 Idioma: EN
Computers 'must be greener'
By Tim Hirsch
BBC News
Worldwide efforts are needed to reduce the environmental damage caused by computer equipment, according to a United Nations research group. A study says making the average PC requires 10 times the weight of the product in chemicals and fossil fuels.
Many of the chemicals are toxic, while the use of fossil fuels help contribute to global warming.
Data de publicació:10/07/2007 Idioma: EN
Configuración de un aula de informática aprovechando hardware antiguo
LTSP aplicado a la escuela con Molinux Dulcinea. Ramón Castro.
Guía rápida para configurar un aula de informática basada en terminales sin disco duro. De esta manera, podemos aprovechar el hardware antiguo existente en escuelas e institutos para poder ejecutar aplicaciones educativas y ofimáticas libres así como navegar por Internet.
Data de publicació:11/10/2007 Idioma: ES
E-waste challenges in developing countries: South Africa case study
By Alan Finlay
This discussion paper, commissioned by the APC, aims to raise the profile of e-waste issues in developing countries so that the implications of information and communications technology (ICTs) for development initiatives can be better understood – particularly in the context of the increasing flow of old technology from developed to developing countries.
South Africa is thought to be at the forefront of waste management in Africa, and practitioners aim to develop an e-waste model in the country that can serve as a blueprint for an approach to e-waste elsewhere on the continent. While the overall waste management strategies in the country are highly regarded by experts, this document suggests that South Africa faces a number of key challenges in dealing with e-waste and that its ‘e-waste readiness’ is mixed rather than certain.
Data de publicació:15/10/2007 Idioma: EN
Free WEE Directive Guide
Computer Aid International
A guide for Businesses and Organisations
This guide is intended to help organisations who want to ensure the best possible outcome for their end-of-life PCs and laptops and make sure they fully comply with WEEE Legislation.
In particular, the guide will explain simply the scope of the WEEE legislation as it relates to the re-use of IT equipment and demonstrate how Computer Aid International can provide a solution which will enable organisations to comply with this legislation whilst ensuring their equipment is reused or recycled to maximise social and environmental benefit.
Data de publicació:09/08/2007 Idioma: EN
Greening IT: Europe's way to an environmentally sustainable information society
APC, the global civil society network promoting information technology for social change, BlueLink Bulgaria, and Ekoforum Serbia will produce a live online talk show from Belgrade in partnership with the UNECE Aarhus Convention Secretariat.
Streamed over the internet via APC's global network of members, people from around the world will be able to watch this interactive broadcast on the relationship between environmental sustainability and information technology (IT).
During the event, representatives from civil society, government and business will share success stories and lessons learned, and engage in dialogue about how to bridge the paradigm and policy gap between IT and environmental stewardship.
The talk show contributes to the overarching purpose of the ITES initiative to bridge environmental sustainability and information society policy goals. It also aims to make successful, environmentally-strategic IT practices developed in the UNECE region known throughout the world.
Data de publicació:28/10/2007 Idioma: EN
Guide to greener electronics
Greenpeace
This Guide ranks leading mobile and PC manufacturers on their global policies and practice on eliminating harmful chemicals and on taking responsibility for their products once they are discarded by consumers. Companies are ranked solely on information that is publicly available.
Data de publicació:03/08/2007 Idioma: EN
How to make computers greener
Refurbishing an old computer can often be a better option than throwing it away, argues Tony Roberts of the charity Computer Aid.
Recycling of electrical goods has become headline news in recent months as the UK consultation on the forthcoming EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive hots up.
Data de publicació:23/07/2007 Idioma: EN
La innovación se hace un hueco en la mejora de nuestro entorno
Cibersur.com
Sostenibilidad es la auténtica clave de la innovación en esta materia, y da buena cuenta de ello el informe publicado en 2002 por la Comisión Europea, que con el título “La tecnología medioambiental en pro del desarrollo sostenible ”, dejaba bien claro que rumbo deberían tomar o continuar, según los casos, los países miembros. Ya en dicho documento, la tecnología medioambiental se interpreta como una serie de técnicas encaminadas a evitar la generación de contaminantes en los procesos de producción y la emisión de contaminantes al final de tales procesos, nuevos materiales, conocimientos medioambientales y nuevos métodos de trabajo. O lo que es lo mismo, la tecnología medioambiental se refiere a todas las actividades dirigidas a la producción de bienes y servicios para medir, evitar, limitar, reducir al mínimo o corregir los daños ambientales y los problemas relacionados con los residuos, el ruido y los ecosistemas.
El texto europeo traza tres líneas de actividades bien diferenciadas, comenzando por la gestión de la contaminación, continuando con la integración de tecnologías y consecución de productos más limpios, y finalmente,la correcta gestión de los recursos. En conclusión, este documento gira en torno al logro de la disociación de los términos hasta ahora íntimamente ligados: crecimiento y daños ambientales. Todo ello ha desembocado en el actual objetivo marcado por el CE, de carácter vinculante, que prevé que los Estados miembros logren que una quinta parte de su energía sea renovable en el horizonte de 2020.
Data de publicació:26/10/2007 Idioma: ES
Linux Ecology−HOWTO
Werner Heuser, Wade W. Hampton, Michael Opdenacker
The Linux−Ecology−HOWTO discusses ways to make computers less harmful to our environment and to solve some ecological issues. It explains how to use Linux to save power and consumables like paper and ink. Since it does not require big hardware, Linux may be used with old computers to make their life cycle longer. Games may be used in environmental education and software is available to simulate ecological processes.
Data de publicació:09/10/2007 Idioma: EN
Looking for Algae--the Next Voyage
By Jon maddog Hall
The Brazilian winter was almost over, and while the mild winters in Florianopolis allowed me to work on the Agape, the coming of spring meant that it was time to set sail for new adventures.
Grayson, the youngest of the Pollywogs, showed up early in the morning at the dock, as I got ready to sail. "What are you doing?", he asked. "I am getting ready to study algae", I answered. "Algae!", he exclaimed, "why are you looking for that?"
Data de publicació:14/10/2007 Idioma: EN
New Technology Workers
Report on working conditions in the Mexican Electronics Industry
Centro de Reflexión y Acción Laboral, CEREAL
Only recently have we started to understand the negative impacts of digital electronic equipment worldwide. Most of us, overwhelmed by the technological wonders that these devices are capable of, forget to ask ourselves ‘How have they been made?’ ‘By whom?’ ‘Where?’ ‘Under what conditions?’
The increasingly faster and more versatile computers, appealing mobile phones, high-definition TVs, Internet, tiny music players, ingenious photo cameras, entertaining games consoles and even electronic pets give us the idea of a developed, pioneering and modern world. It is indeed a new era for many; but the dark side of this prosperous world reveals a very different reality, that far from taking us to the future, takes us back to a darker past.
The “Clean up your Computer” report, published by CAFOD early in 2004, showed the inhumane conditions faced by thousands of workers in developing countries like Mexico, China and Thailand. Supported by data and with the input of workers’ true stories, CAFOD’s research exposed the way in which workers are treated in the electronics industry supply chain.
Data de publicació:14/07/2007 Idioma: EN
Recycling legislation finally enforced
Andrew Donoghue ZDNet.co.uk
Legislation designed to put the financial burden for recycling old technology on suppliers and manufacturers rather than all tax payers has finally been fully introduced and enforced.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive was meant to be introduced in August 2005 but wrangling between government and suppliers delayed the process to the point that the European Commission intervened to get the UK to implement the scheme sooner. The framework came into force officially on 1 July.
Under WEEE, manufacturers and retailers of technology will be forced to pay a percentage of the total recycling costs of the equipment — depending on how much they sell or produce.
Data de publicació:04/10/2007 Idioma: EN
Risc, tsunami, Kyoto
Ramon Folch
Sostenible. Revista de la xarxa de ciutats i pobles cap a la sostenibilitat
A la matinada del dia 26 de desembre, les persones subscrites al servei d'alertes sísmiques de l'USGS Earthquake van rebre en els seus mòbils el missatge SMS següent: 'A great earthquake occurred at 00:58:49 (UTC) on Sunday, December 26, 2004. The magnitude 9.0 event has been located off the west coast of northern Sumatra (this event has been reviewed by a seismologist).' Entre dues i cinc hores més tard el tsunami generat pel sisme arribava a les costes circumíndiques sense que ningú hagués previngut les persones que s'hi trobaven. Com és ben sabut, els morts i desapareguts es compten per desenes de milers.
'Sovint, la tecnologia exalta les inequitats', vaig escriure per a un dels plafons de l'exposició 'Habitar el món'. Ben cert. N'és molt, d'inequitatiu, que els uns rebin lúdicament al mòbil la informació que hauria salvat la vida a uns altres
Data de publicació:17/07/2007 Idioma: CA
Time to tackle Asia’s electrical waste mountain
id21 Global Issues
As the market for electrical and electronic products grows rapidly, the lifespan of products is dropping. Some developed world governments are promoting recycling and starting to require that manufacturers safely dispose products at the end of their working life. However, China and India have yet to address the explosion in ‘e-waste’ – electronic scrap – much of it imported from countries with stricter regulations.
A report from Greenpeace International shows that e-waste recycling in Asia remains largely unregulated and its impact on recycling workers, surrounding communities, water courses and soils is poorly studied. Aside from the volume of scrap, e-waste can contain substantial quantities of hazardous chemicals including lead, cadmium, mercury and brominated and chlorinated flame retardants. Data collected by Greenpeace in Delhi and the southern Chinese city of Guiyu indicated contamination of the workplace and adjacent environment with a range of toxic metals and persistent organic chemicals.
Data de publicació:05/10/2007 Idioma: EN
What are ICT and internet policies and why should we care about them?
The Association for Progressive Communications
Internet and ICTs for Social Justice and Development
Information and communication are integral to human society. In many cultures today, information retrieval and presentation – the recording of wisdom and history – is still done with the use of speech, drama, painting, song or dance. The use of writing changed this enormously, and the invention of the printing press allowed communication on a massive scale, through newspapers and magazines. More recent technological innovations increased further the reach and speed of communication, culminating, for now, with digital technology. These new ICTs can be grouped into three categories:
• Information technology uses computers, which have become indispensable in modern societies to process data and save time and effort
• Telecommunications technologies include telephones (with fax) and the broadcasting of radio and television, often through satellites
• Networking technologies, of which the best known is the internet, but which has extended to mobile phone technology, Voice Over IP telephony (VOIP), satellite communications, and other forms of communication that are still in their infancy.
These new technologies have become central to contemporary societies. Whether you are talking on the phone, sending an email, going to the bank, using a library, listening to sports coverage on the radio, watching the news on TV, working in an office or in the field, going to the doctor, driving a car or catching a plane, you are using ICTs.
Data de publicació:17/09/2007 Idioma: EN
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