{"id":90107,"date":"2018-02-26T09:09:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-26T08:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eeb.org\/?p=90107"},"modified":"2018-03-09T16:47:18","modified_gmt":"2018-03-09T15:47:18","slug":"green-activists-disrupt-tech-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/green-activists-disrupt-tech-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Green activists disrupt tech conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><strong>Environmental activists disrupted the world\u2019s largest mobile phone conference with a provocative piece of 3D pavement art highlighting the growing problem of electronic waste.<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FEuropeanEnvironmentalBureau%2Fvideos%2F1672138042842240%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The artwork confronted thousands of tech leaders entering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mobileworldcongress.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile World Congress<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Barcelona. The NGOs accused them of profiteering from short product life spans, planned obsolescence and a \u201cdesigned to break\u201d culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>EEB waste policy officer Piotr Barczak said:<\/b> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeople love technology; the upgrades, the unboxing, the new features. But there\u2019s a dirty side to our tech obsession: trainloads of e-waste trundling out of our cities and towards hellish waste dumps in Africa and Asia.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile World Congress claims <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mobileworldcongress.com\/about\/sdg-characters\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">green credentials<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and uses the slogan #Betterfuture. But organisers refused to host the pavement artwork or offer the NGOs a platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 11 x 6 metre 3D artwork was created by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eduardorelero.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eduardo Relero<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the European Environmental Bureau (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eeb.org\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EEB<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the largest federation of green NGOs in Europe, and Spanish NGO <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/ecounion.eu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eco Union<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>The e-waste problem<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since 2007, more than 7 billion smartphones have been produced, according to <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/research\/from-smart-to-senseless-the-global-impact-of-ten-years-of-smartphones\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greenpeace<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. US consumers use a phone for just over two years, on average. E-waste is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/agenda\/2018\/02\/how-do-we-tackle-the-fastest-growing-waste-stream-on-the-planet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fastest growing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> waste stream, accounting for 70% of the toxic waste in US landfills. It is a growing risk to the environment and human health, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2017\/12\/639312-electronic-waste-poses-growing-risk-environment-human-health-un-report-warns\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the UN<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Organised crime ships around <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/efface.eu\/illegal-shipment-e-waste-eu-case-study-illegal-e-waste-export-eu-china\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8 million tonnes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of e-waste illegally from Europe to China each year. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2016, an estimated 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste were generated, an increase of 3.3 million metric tonnes, or 8 per cent, from 2014, the UN says. Only about 20 percent, or 8.9 million metric tonnes, of all e-waste was recycled in 2016. Experts foresee e-waste increasing a further 17 percent to 52.2 million metric tonnes by 2021, the UN says. E-waste is seen as a threat to UN sustainable development goals. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.itu.int\/en\/ITU-D\/Climate-Change\/Pages\/Global-E-waste-Monitor-2017.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ref<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greenpeace e-waste <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1qLZHIgRIr8mwBAE5wy8DmYGiIkbrbQHB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">photo gallery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (for media use)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Companies profiting from the status quo<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electronics firms have become highly profitable thanks in part to rapidly changing product lines. Products are designed ultra-thin and compact, bonded with strong glues and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pentalobe_security_screw\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">patented screws<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, all of which make repairs difficult. Independent repair shops face aggressive <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/2017\/04\/05\/apple-error-53-accc-iphone\/#NYN63IG16kqB\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pentalobe_security_screw\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">physical barriers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as well as legal threats. They are <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/apple-right-to-repair_us_5755a6b4e4b0ed593f14fdea\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">actively fighting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018right to repair\u2019 laws and using intellectual property and copyright laws to threaten citizens <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ifixit.org\/blog\/8210\/rossmann-repair-legal-threat\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sharing repair videos<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/2012\/11\/cease-and-desist-manuals-planned-obsolescence\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">repair manuals<\/span><\/a>,<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0or trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/true-crime\/wp\/2018\/02\/15\/eric-lundgren-e-waste-recycling-innovator-faces-prison-for-trying-to-extend-lifespan-of-pcs\/?utm_term=.227698efc310\">combat planned obsolescence<\/a>. Official repairs operate like a <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/apple-right-to-repair_us_5755a6b4e4b0ed593f14fdea\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cartel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, according to some, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ifixit.org\/right\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">refusing to sell parts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to independent shops. Repair prices can be a similar cost to buying a replacement, so many choose the later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greenpeace\u2019s latest <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/archive-international\/en\/campaigns\/detox\/electronics\/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">consumer advice<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> congratulates Apple on closed-loop recycling and detoxing its products, but criticised it over repair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Piotr continued:<\/b> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cConsumers and environment are both victims of manufacturing that is \u2018broken by design\u2019, either directly or through lack of repair options. We are like hamsters on a commercial treadmill, paying a fortune for the latest gadgets because we cannot repair the old ones. Today we are hitting back at the firms attending Mobile World Congress and challenging them to clean up their act.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-90217 size-medium_large\" src=\"http:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/circle2-768x513.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/circle2-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/circle2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/circle2-219x146.jpg 219w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/circle2-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/circle2-112x75.jpg 112w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/circle2.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 480px, (max-width:768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-90226 size-medium_large\" src=\"http:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00057-768x513.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00057-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00057-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00057-219x146.jpg 219w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00057-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00057-112x75.jpg 112w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00057.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 480px, (max-width:768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-90225 size-medium_large\" src=\"http:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00048-768x513.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00048-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00048-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00048-219x146.jpg 219w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00048-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00048-112x75.jpg 112w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00048.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 480px, (max-width:768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium_large wp-image-90227 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00085-768x513.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00085-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00085-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00085-219x146.jpg 219w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00085-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00085-112x75.jpg 112w, https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DSC00085.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width:767px) 480px, (max-width:768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The artwork installed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.es\/maps\/place\/41%C2%B021'16.6%22N+2%C2%B007'36.8%22E\/@41.3546361,2.1264783,19.4z\/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d41.3545969!4d2.1268751?hl=en\">outside the conference<\/a> today:<br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1bRHrLideTfYLuAu7MFfQUFBviEZF4Luy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Images<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &amp; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=105QY1S9Ucs8hVgiNjYc1-SbQprCwtKWx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(copyright free)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>The solutions<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Firms need to go beyond <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2017\/4\/19\/15365730\/apple-mining-end-environmental-report-2017\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pledges<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and achieve genuine closed-loop recycling. They should design for repair, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Modularity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">upgradeable parts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to extend their useful life. They should support, not fight the repair movement and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/motherboard.vice.com\/en_us\/article\/newbwd\/new-jersey-becomes-the-12th-state-to-consider-right-to-repair-legislation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">legal rights<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They should make spare parts available and provide software support for older devices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Products should contain fewer harmful substances, such as flame retardants. These should be substituted to protect public health and the environment, and facilitate recycling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governments should follow Sweden in giving <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2016\/sep\/19\/waste-not-want-not-sweden-tax-breaks-repairs\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tax breaks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for repair shops. The EU should regulate <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.coolproducts.eu\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more products<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under Ecodesign Directive and Energy Labelling Directive rules.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ends<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Covered in <a href=\"https:\/\/motherboard.vice.com\/en_us\/article\/pamvjk\/mwc-2018-planned-obsolescence-protest-street-artwork\">Motherboard &#8211; Vice<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/mobile.lemonde.fr\/planete\/article\/2018\/02\/26\/au-congres-mondial-de-la-telephonie-mobile-du-street-art-pour-denoncer-les-ravages-de-la-technologie_5262884_3244.html?xtref=https:\/\/www.google.com\/\">Le Monde<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Resources<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-The artwork will be visible at Arc de Triomf (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/41%C2%B023'28.6%22N+2%C2%B010'49.3%22E\/@41.39127,2.1797066,18z\/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!1m2!2m1!1sUnnamed+Road,+08018+Barcelona!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d41.3912702!4d2.1803668\">exact location<\/a>) from 1 &#8211; 5pm CET on 27 February and live streamed on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EuropeanEnvironmentalBureau\/\">Facebook<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=1bRHrLideTfYLuAu7MFfQUFBviEZF4Luy\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-Photo<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (street art \/ rights-ready background images from Greenpeace)<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/open?id=105QY1S9Ucs8hVgiNjYc1-SbQprCwtKWx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-Video<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (explainer video \/ rights-ready b-roll from Greenpeace)<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/anamorfosiseduardo.blogspot.co.uk\/p\/blog-page.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-Photo back-story<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: artist<br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/makeresourcescount.eu\/?p=3644&amp;preview=true\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-Photo back-story<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: e-waste in pictures<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><br \/>\nContacts<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jack Hunter press officer European Environmental Bureau (EN) <\/span><a href=\"mailto:Jack.Hunter@EEB.org\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jack.Hunter@EEB.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> +44 739 612 4654<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ricard Abenza, press officer Eco-Union (EN, ES) <\/span><a href=\"mailto:ricard.abenza@ecounion.eu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ricard.abenza@ecounion.eu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> +34 666 931 867 or +34 935 535 840 \/<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Piotr Barczak, waste policy officer European Environmental Bureau (EN, PL) <\/span><a href=\"mailto:wasteresource@eeb.org\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wasteresource@eeb.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> +32 489 288 981<br \/>\n<\/span><b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alejandro Gonz\u00e1lez Domingo, director de proyectos Eco-Union (EN, ES) <\/span><a href=\"mailto:alejandro.gonzalez@ecounion.eu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alejandro.gonzalez@ecounion.eu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> +34 6869 48243<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Environmental activists disrupted the world\u2019s largest mobile phone conference with a provocative piece of 3D pavement art highlighting the growing problem of electronic waste. &nbsp; &nbsp;<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":90109,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138,3,4,137,139],"tags":[322,323],"class_list":["post-90107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-circular-economy","category-news","category-press-release","category-resource-efficiency","category-waste-recycling","tag-ewaste","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Screen-Shot-2018-02-25-at-15.26.28-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90107"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90107\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eeb.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}