[pp.int.general] Towards a Pirate Policy on Environmental Issues

[Christian Indiann]

Is this to say that the Internet, in order to remain operational, consumes
2% of the energy worldwide?


On Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 5:12 PM, Ian Peter <ian.peter at ianpeter.com> wrote:

>
>
> I only skim this list in digest form, so I cant remember who wrote what,
> but
> please let me suggest a few things in this area.
>
> Firstly, someone suggested Greens are anti-technology. Although a few are,
> that is certainly not a majority position. In fact, one of the very early
> public adoptions of the Internet was the Green movement, connecting
> GreenNet
> (UK) and EcoNet (USA) with a trans-Atlantic link in the days before a
> commercial Internet had taken root (about 1985 from memory but I could look
> it up if anyone wants accurate history).
>
> But on to green issues where Pirates might want to have specific policies,
> here's a few:
>
> 1. Energy consumption of electronic devices. The Internet alone consumes
> about 2% of global energy, add to that a plethora of end user devices. In
> corporations electricity bills typically can be 30% for data centres and
> 50%
> for desktops etc. There are answers to all of this in terms of relocating
> data centres to be near renewable energy sources etc. That at least can be
> a
> sensible policy.
>
> 2. Global waste from discarded preliminarily obsolescent computers, phones,
> associated batteries etc. This is a huge problem, many of you will have
> seen
> pictures of the computer graveyards where people pick through to recycle
> elements, But at all local tips in all countries there is a growing
> toxicity
> problem because of the throwaway culture with electronic devices. Sensible
> recycling and disposal, as well as production with longer lifecycles in
> mind, are important basic policy element here.
>
> 3. Amelia mentioned the rare earths elements central to these devices.
> Another area to explore is the environmental issues in rare earth
> extraction
> and production. Currently China provides over 90% of global production, and
> environmental controls are sub standard and quite dangerous. Someone will
> know more about this than I do but rare earth production needs to be looked
> at.
>
> But on the general philosophy of a Pirates platform in this area - I would
> favour an approach where a broad philosophical approach on green issues was
> adopted. Not only because that would be a progressive approach for a
> progressive party, but because pragmatically preferencing and deal-making
> with Greens would be productive. It might also encourage Greens to look
> more
> closely at issues the Pirates are promoting.
>
>
> Ian Peter
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________
> Pirate Parties International - General Talk
> pp.international.general at lists.pirateweb.net
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>
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