Pothast Technologies

Rethinking Climate Change

2010-08-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Today's post is a short one, because I feel like there are others that can talk about climate change far better than myself.

There is an excellently produced radio series by the BBC called 'Costing the Earth'. I urge you to click here and listen to one episode called 'Rethinking climate change'.

This topic may be close to exhausted, but this is a gem. Give it a listen and then tell us what you think!

Keep e-volving.

Research that is truly 'in motion'

2010-08-09T08:35:00.000-07:00

The environment is an important issue, no one is debating that, but it is only one half of what our business is about here at Pothast. Technology, and its advances, dictate what we see in our shop every day (which is why we have so many VCRs!). We see many old models of just about every electronic come through our doors, pieces of equipment that retailed for thousands of dollars just a few years ago.

Technology is increasing at such a rate that it is impossible to predict the next generation of gadgets. Just look at Research In Motion (RIM), out of Waterloo, Ontario. This company has grown solely because of the evolution and explosion of smartphones - they created and manufacture the exceptionally successful Blackberry line of 'smart-phones'. In fact they are so successful, that in 2009, Fortune Magazine named RIM the 'fastest growing company in the world', not a bad title!

However with every 'overnight' success, years of hard work have been forgotten. Starting in 1996 with their first pager models (remember pagers?), up until the latest unveiling of the new Blackberry Torch, RIM has been at the forefront of the smart-phone evolution.

What is a smart-phone you may ask? It is a mobile phone which offers advanced computing ability and connectivity than a basic mobile phone. For instance, on a Blackberry it is possible to check your e-mail, browse the internet, chat on Blackberry's own instant messaging network, and much more. Considering where mobile phones were ten years ago, it is truly amazing.

I suppose it must be asked though: are our lives better for it? Certainly we are more connected, that much is obvious. Any device where I can check my Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, text messages and phone calls is obviously very well-connected. But what does this connection give you? I mean, the short of it is that you can contact as many people as you know in the entire world pretty much, without actually speaking to them. The jury is out on whether your life will improve if you have a smart-phone, I suppose it depends on what you use it for.

However I urge you to watch this video which is comedian Louis CK with Conan O'Brien talking about how 'Everything's Amazing and Nobody's Happy'.

Keep e-volving

Finally, It's over...maybe

2010-08-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

Thus far on the blog we have avoided mentioning the BP oil spill for a number of reasons. One is that it is so well covered by the media that updating you on progress seems redundant. Another is that there is no real 'opinion' to be had about the matter, as in no one wants oil to keep flowing, so everyone is obviously wanting the various solutions employed to work.

However, today I bring to you: Pothast on the BP oil spill.

Now as I said before, there really is no 'opinion' on the spill to be had. It is very easy to say that the whole disaster was handled badly by BP. Capping the oil well has taken far longer than it should have, Obama didn't intervene when some argued that he should have, and there still remains quite a large problem for those that live in the Gulf area.

In fact, although the amount of oil still flowing has reduced considerably, there remains 200 million litres of oil in the area. Let that sink in for a second, 200 million litres. I'm not sure how large your car is, but chances are it takes in anywhere from 30-60 litres of fuel per fill-up. That is a ton of oil.

Environmentally, the whole ordeal is a total and utter disaster. The ecology of the area has been hit and will take hundreds of years to recover, if it ever does. People in the area have seen their businesses destroyed, and an impending hurricane season is arriving.

However let`s take a step back. It`s very easy to criticize, but what have we learned?

Well it's important to look at the balance of resource v. risk, that is to say if we keep tapping deep-sea oil wells, what is the risk that this sort of catastrophe will repeat itself? We as the public have been told that these oil wells are usually safe, and shouldn't be cause for concern. If that's true then what happened?

In the months and years to come we will learn more about this disaster, and the politics and policies surrounding it. However, as citizens of developed nations, we must ask: is it worth it?

Keep e-volving

Think it's hot now? Wait a couple of years.

2010-08-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows someone who doesn't 'believe' in global warming. "It's a myth!", "It's natural progression!", "It's all cosmic rays!"

Well my friends, the cold, hard truth is that the Earth is getting warmer. Don't believe me? Click here

In a well written article from the Globe & Mail, it is stated that there is undeniable fact behind global warming. In a report with contributions from more than 300 scientists from around the world, it is proven that the Earth is getting warmer.

"The conclusion is unmistakable - yes, the planet is warming," said Derek Arndt, co-editor of the report, which has been dubbed 'State of the Climate'. Its data was taken from 160 research groups in 48 countries, including Canada.

The report also shows that this past decade was the hottest recorded, and that the Earth has been steadily warming for 50 years, at 0.2 degrees Celsius hotter than the 1990s, while this year is shaping up to be the hottest on record.

Last year news broke that scientists in a world-leading climate institute had falsified data, which had a significant impact on the merit of the global warming movement. However this report has been reviewed by the strictest of measures, and is guaranteed to be purely factual.

For us Canadians, there is much to worry about. This past decade was an amazing 1.1 degrees Celsius above average, which is not good news.

Expect a reaction from the steadfast climate change deniers: there remains no study like this one which points the finger directly at human beings and their pollution output.

But ask yourself, is it helping?

Keep e-volving.

One man's trash in another man's treasure

2010-07-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

A theme so far in these blog posts is that by recycling something, it can be used in another material. That, of course, is the main purpose of recycling: instead of throwing something away forever, it can be used to create something else.

Well a couple by the name of Tim Noble and Sue Webber have been able to create amazing human silhouettes out of every day trash.

One of many examples

I haven't the slightest idea how they arrange their trash, and it must take hours upon hours to get it all right without the trash collapsing in on itself.

Click here to see some more of their work, or click here to be linked to their Wikipedia article, that will tell you among other things that they are English.

Enjoy this small inspirational piece of work on your Friday, and have a great weekend.

Keep e-volving.

8.3 million handsets in 3 months

2010-07-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

Telecommunication giant Motorola announced today that last quarter they shipped a total of 8.3 million handsets, with 2.7 million of those handsets being 'smartphones'. These sales amounted to $5.4 billion for the company in quarter two of 2010, which is below the numbers they recorded last year. Source

So there is some completely objective data. What can we discern from this information?

Firstly, 8.3 million handsets is a ton of phones. Some quick internet research has shown that New York City has a population around 8.3 million people. A more depressing statistic: 8.3 million people considered committing suicide last year. I don't think there is any correlation between being depressed and really wanting a Motorola Droid.

The fact that just one company, not even a major player in the smartphone race (that's between Blackberry's RIM and Iphone's Apple), has shipped out an enormous number of product in three months. As always however, the question must be asked: as soon as the next wave of technology comes out, where will these handsets go?

Some will sit on dressers, tables, and counters. Some will be resold. Some will be given away. Most will be thrown out.

Therein lies the problem: technology is progressing at such an incredible exponential rate that it is nearly impossible to dispose of yesterday's treasure, which is today's trash. That is where recycling comes in.

If humans can make something, then surely they should be able to 'unmake' it? It is very possible to take apart a cellular telephone and recycle every single component, from the plastic casing, to the motherboard inside. These components are then used in other materials.

Makes sense doesn't it?

Keep e-volving.

2010-07-28T07:20:00.001-07:00

“Our environmental problems originate in the hubris of imagining ourselves as the central nervous system or the brain of nature. We're not the brain, we are a cancer on nature.” - David Foreman, co-founder of 'Earth First!'

Environmentalists usually view the human species as a force consciously destroying the natural environment in which we live. Mr. Foreman thinks so, as you can see above.

However it is my belief that although we do harm our environment through negligence or otherwise, humans, just as any other species of animals, are simply living our lives. We, as undoubtedly the most intelligent race to have evolved thus far, have created innumerable objects which make our lives easier. We have created machines that allow us to fly through the air at amazing speed; we have created screens which allow us to view images instantly from the other side of the world; and we have created medicine that allowed a member of our species to live to 122 and one half years. Our advancements have been remarkable.

With superior intelligence comes superior responsibility, and I believe this is where we have fallen short. Here in the 21st century we are harming our planet in many ways. Do we do it because of laziness, stupidity or lack of awareness? I suppose the answer is different for every person. Certainly the material is available for people to read and understand. So why do we continue to toss our trash on the ground, and endure that small pang of guilt that comes with it? In my opinion, it is because we don't immediately see the effects of what we are doing. If we got a small electric shock every time we littered, I can imagine that littering would become a thing of the past.

History has proven that the human race is not a far-sighted one, or we may have been able to avoid the BP oil spill, among other events. However as scientists write more and more about the 'tipping point' or 'the point of no return', one must wonder whether our short-sightedness will eventually lead to the destruction of our race. If so, then the advancements of air travel, carbon-fibre imaging, or medical technology will have really been all for naught.

To save all that we have worked so hard for, to make the 200,000 years of evolution worth while, pick your wrapper of the ground. Or better yet, just don't buy it.

Keep e-volving.

Eight Years Later

2010-07-26T08:16:00.000-07:00

Having stumbled across this article today, it made me think on how e-waste policy has formed in developed countries, and if we give more thought to it now then we did in 2002, when the article was written.

It seems that the issues concerning e-waste are essentially the same as in 2002: there is a lack of awareness on proper disposal methods of electronics, and businesses and residents alike are relatively apathetic to the cause. It is also surprising to see calls for producer responsibility in managing waste haven't changed since then, and there are still very few producers taking responsibility for the waste that they produce each day (HP is an exception).

The article also touches on the problem of donations and resale. Although these practices are morally sound, school boards seldom have any policy describing what happens to computers and other electronics after they are shipped out, so the piece of equipment ends up in a landfill.

Schools all over the world are increasingly using technology in education

Reflecting back eight years however, begs the question: have we learned from, and improved our waste disposal methods since 2002? The answer is a weak yes. Although awareness of the issue has increased since then, it hasn't increased substantially, and there is a huge amount of work still to be done. A cultural shift must be made in order to really have an impact on how much consideration people put in to disposing of their used goods.

However, one thing is certain: in 2018 if things haven't improved, then there will be little hope for the future.

Keep e-volving.

The Humanitarian Side of Your E-Waste

2010-07-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

Consider this: if you have children, chances are they are either at home, at camp, or at some other activity which doesn't require too much physical exhaustion or health risks. However, that would not be the case if you were a low-income family in India.

An article on electronic waste in India touched on the lives of two young boys: Asif, aged 7, and Salim, aged 12. Their full-time job is to pick integrated circuits out of landfills in India.

The United Nations released a report predicting that by the year 2020, computer e-waste in India would have increased 500% from its level in 2007, while mobile phone waste will increase an astounding 18 times.

The Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health in New Delhi conducted a study on those who sort through the waste, and found severe health complications. T.K. Joshi, the head of the Centre said, "We found dangerously high levels -- 10 to 20 times higher than normal -- of lead, mercury and chromium in blood and urine samples."

These metals enter the workers' bloodstreams during the manual extraction process, and when they are asked to refine the metals by dipping their hand in poisonous chemicals, sometimes for hours. The children often have no idea what they are handling.

What has the world come to where seven year olds are dipping their hands in toxic chemicals for hours?

If this isn't a call to e-volve, I don't know what is.

Cellphone Giants: Wireless Waste

2010-07-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

The two most important subjects that we deal with at Pothast Technologies are electronic waste and technology. Although the two seem to go hand in hand, consider this:

Technology has been improving exponentially for the large majority of the past century. Our waste disposal knowledge, practice and awareness certainly has not. With the arrival of the iPad as the latest gadget to hit shelves, a truly wondrous device, one can only wonder how far technology will take us.

But let's look at the other side. For every iPad purchase, there is an old laptop or desktop computer thrown away, seen no longer fit to cope with the demands of a 21st century technological infrastructure. Granted, some companies have created quite comprehensive recycling programs, such as HP. However, there is still much work to be done.

Unlike technology, where the possibilities are seemingly endless and will reach more wondrous heights with each year that passes, the room for landfills on Earth is finite. At one point, maybe not in your or my lifetime, when you go to throw away your television there may not be anymore room. Can you imagine that?

There are numerous videos depicting the rise of e-waste in the third world, one of which can be seen here about Ghana.

With risk of sounding like an apocalyptic prophet, the question is not will we run out of room to dump our things, but when.

Keep e-volving.

Third World Issues

2010-07-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

Although somewhat dated now, two years ago the Toronto Star had an article about the export of e-waste to third world countries such as Kenya, India and China.

The article can be read here: http://www.thestar.com/news/globalvoices/article/416548

What is most striking when reading this piece is the fact that although key legislation has been put in place, there is little to stop electronic 'recyclers' from exporting their material overseas. There is no point in telling businesses that they can't do something if you don't follow it up. I understand that it takes time, money and effort to moderate and control the export of hazardous substances, however surely the end result is of more significance than saving some money.

Not only is this environmentally dangerous, but workers at these manufacturing and refining sites make on average 2-4 dollars a day, hardly enough to feed a family. With the news today that China is now the leader of energy consumption, it must be said that they need to secure a new line of resources in order to support themselves.

I would like to see major countries come to an agreement on the trade of toxic substances; banning it all together would be an ideal improvement. The Basel Convention was supposed to establish a set of conditions for this subject, however seeing as the United States hasn't signed it, sadly it doesn't hold much merit.

Until next time, keep e-volving.

GT

Watch this space

2010-07-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Environmentalists, Business Owners, and Citizens of the Globe,

Welcome!

We are Pothast Technologies, an electronic recycling company out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

1) We RECYCLE by breaking down components of each gadget, and sending them to our chain recyclers. In our recycling process we guarantee that nothing ever ends up in a landfill, goes into the ground, or gets shipped overseas.

2) We RE-USE by trying to salvage the components of our gadgets before we recycle them. That means that if a piece of equipment is still operational, then we will either put it up for re-sale, or else use its parts.

3) We DONATE by giving away operational material to charities, and non-profit organizations. We not only help the environment, we also help people.

This is our introduction, but watch this space for our take on current issues, political ongoings, social development, and generally the world in which we live.

We are Pothast Technologies, and we would like to welcome you to the e-volution.