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

[Christian Indiann]

I have to agree with Aza. That if we as pirates broaden our spectrum of
issues then we can work collaboratively with the Greens and other parties
that are affected by similar issues we face. As a "tech" party we should be
able to have bipartisan work to promote green technology and resources.


On Tue, Jul 31, 2012 at 7:09 AM, Christian Indiann <cgmindian at gmail.com>wrote:

> 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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