High Tech Trash

I was surprised to see that this was recorded in 2006. I became aware of this situation around 2005 and was surprise that not many even know of such and even more so to learn that even less had any concern. I was involved at the time and in my search for employment, other than menial labor, and found myself involved with the Virtual Scavengers Project, being that I had been involved in high-tech for sometime and thought this might be a good path to add to my knowledge, not to mention to employment, not realizing that it was actually quite labor intensive. As I understand it at the time the unused computers were sent to third world countries to be used in schools and such. I had already become aware of the gases released in the atmosphere from TV tubes while I was working in a electronics distribution facility, and thus extension from computer monitors, but didn't know about the potential hazards from chemicals in circuit boards and the other components in computers and other electronic devices so it hit me like a stone when I saw the NOVA episode of the recycling of electronic components in China and other countries and how these people were unaware of the hazards of there work while the people that payed them to do it was sitting in there nice air-conditioned offices and raking in the money with no concern to the plight of those doing the work.
I was also surprised to hear that correctional facilities in the U.S. were involved in the electronic recycling process, which I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since it is a source of cheep labor to the contractors and the public is paying for the workers upkeep, and that one of the staff blew the whistle on the unsafe practices there, no mention as to what happened to the whistle blower, and that there was an investigation, but this was the 2000 decade in a time when the EPA, FDA, CPA and almost anything else to hinder profits were having their budgets cut in the name of smaller government, so I wonder how the investigation turned out.
The bright spot in all of this is that electronic manufactures are getting more efficient in the chemical use and the manufacturing procedures, either because of there need to reduce cost or due to public environmental concerns, and that they have began recycling programs, however I have found that many of these companies that publicly proclaim their environmental concerns spend more on the promotions than on the actual environmentally sound recycling programs, but there is progress and that it is up to us, the consumers, to stay vigilant.
I commend Elizabeth Grossman in her efforts of investigating and informing the public of this ever growing problem and to the manufactures who make our lives better with their products and hope they continue in their efforts with this situation.