E-Waste Information Search

Assignment

DIGC102 Assessment Task 1

Kristin Maina (3451069)

Kristin Maina (3451069) DIGC102 - Assessment Task 1

DIGC102 Assessment Task 1 – Information
Search Assignment

E-Waste Research Annotated Bibliography

The area I have chosen to investigate regarding E-Waste involves

the environmental and social impacts of international E-Waste
‘dumps’, particularly those in economically disadvantaged
countries. Although I had planned on researching the fashion of
planned obsolescence and the corporate security risks involved in
recycling computers and other electronic products, I noticed the
compelling issue of social and environmental impacts were
devastating and needed to be covered in more depth.

Listed below are a number of the most useful sources I found while
researching combined with a brief search methodology of my
findings.

Using a combination of database searches on the UOW Library

website, I found the most accurate and useful of these included the
JSTOR, Factiva, Project MUSE, Proquest 5000 and Expanded
Academic ASAP. There were a wide variety of journal articles and
peer reviewed publications I was able to utilise on these platforms.

Similarly I conducted a number of Google searches substituting

words and phrases until I narrowed down to specifically related
sources. I also experimented using a number of other search
engines to compare my results and found that BING in particular
provided sources of a high calibre that were very useful.

A selection of the most useful articles and documents are as

follows:

Basel Action Network 2010, ‘Basel Action Network – ‘e-Stewards’,

Toxic Trade News and The Basel Convention’, The Basel Action
Network.org, accessed 22/3/10,
http://www.ban.org/index.html

The Basel Action Network website has plenty of information

regarding the latest e-waste issues and incidents from around the
globe. It is a grass roots website which is aiming to encourage
support in their cause by highlighting current injustices. This
website has also been referenced in a number of academic
publications highlighted in this report and has been useful to

Kristin Maina (3451069) DIGC102 - Assessment Task 1

understand the background to many of these articles and their
arguments. There are a number of quotes that would be quite
appropriate to use in support of my research and is over all a
relevant site due to its popularity with those promoting the social
and environmental justice cause.

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2010,

‘Electrical and Electronic Waste Management in Australia’,
Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts, Canberra, accessed 21/3/10,
http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/electricals/index.
html

The Australian Government website has information regarding the

issue of e-waste and this is particularly useful when gaining an
understanding of the issue at a local level and the political
implications nationally and potentially internationally. This
information is relevant as it provides practical and theoretical
insight into the topic. It will also be useful as it has a number of
quotes which would really help clarify the issue. Similarly the
information comes from an authority on the issue and can therefore
be a trusted source.

Hodel, L. 2003, ‘High Tech Trash’, Mother Earth News, Oct-Nov ed,
p38, accessed
21/3/10,http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/gtx/infomark.
do?
&contentSet=IACDocuments&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=E
AIM&docId=A109906595&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupN
ame=uow&version=1.0

This article is from an environmentally conscious news publication

which discussed the notion of ‘high tech trash’ before it became a
widely known social issue in 2003. This article is relevant as it
provides an insight into the issues involved in electronic usage and
the subsequent waste. Would be useful for quoting when discussing
statistics from 2003 and other anecdotal evidence.

Huo, X. 2007, ‘Elevated blood lead levels of children in Guiyu, an

Electronic waste recycling town in China’, Environmental Health
Perspectives, vol.115, ed.7, p1113, accessed 23/3/10,
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/gtx/infomark.do?
&contentSet=IAC-
Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=EAIM&docId=A167

Kristin Maina (3451069) DIGC102 - Assessment Task 1

647291&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupName=uow&versio
n=1.0

Environmental Health Perspectives Journal sheds insight into the

case study of a community called Guiyu in China. The case study
examines the social and human costs involved in this exploitative
work, as well as the environmental impacts which are contributing
to the situation. Will also be useful for quotes and excerpts for a
case study for inclusion in the report.

Iles, A. 2004, ‘Mapping Environmental Justice in Technology Flows:

Computer Waste Impacts in Asia’, Global Environmental Politics,
vol.4, ed.4, pp.76-107, accessed 22/3/10,
http://muse.uq.edu.au.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/journals/global_environm
ental_politics/v004/4.4iles.html#top

The ‘Global Environmental Politics’ Journal provides insight into the

flow of e-waste throughout Asia in particular, and the environmental
justice issues associated with this matter. This resource is extremely
useful as it is peer reviewed and thus, an authority on the matter.
Similarly there are a number of quotes that may be helpful in
communicating the issues addressed.

Information Week 2006, ‘UN to tackle growing ‘e-waste’ menace;

Western donations of old computers, mobile phones and televisions
could be toxic ‘hand me downs’ posing a hazard to the environment
of poor countries, a major UN conference will hear this week’,
accessed 21/3/10,
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/gtx/tab.do?
qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28K0%2CNone
%2C16%29Information+week
%24&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&tabID=T003&prodId=EAIM&se
archId=R4&userGroupName=uow&prevSubject=&searchType=Basi
cSearchForm

This article will be useful as it provides information on behalf of the

UN and their position in the argument. This is extremely relevant as
it allows me to quote their points of view and any actions they may
be taking in order to resolve the issue. It is useful to provide
evidence regarding the situation and should be very applicable to
my argument.

Johnstone, B. 2005, ‘E-wasting away: Bob Johnstone looks at coping

with the industrialised world’s fastest growing recycling problem –
Computers’, New Scientist, vol.185, ed.2492, p51, accessed
21/3/10,

Kristin Maina (3451069) DIGC102 - Assessment Task 1

http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/gtx/infomark.do?
&contentSet=IACDocuments&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=E
AIM&docId=A131163234&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupN
ame=uow&version=1.0

This academic journal article published in a respected scientific

publication provides insight into the nature of the issue and the finer
points of the problems involved. It is relevant in that it focuses on
what the actual problem is and how it is expanding rapidly. This is
helpful in defining the issue and grasping the rate of impact this e-
waste problem is having around the world, and in poorer countries
in particular.

Musthaler, L. 2009, ‘Are your old computers poisoning people in

third world countries? * As you dispose of old computers, it's
important to work with an ethical electronics recycler’, Network
World, accessed 23/3/10,
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/gtx/infomark.do?
&contentSet=IACDocuments&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=E
AIM&docId=A214585185&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupN
ame=uow&version=1.0

Musthaler discusses the ethical implications involved in the dumping

of e-waste and the practical impacts this is having on their already
struggling communities. The terminology in the article is strong and
refers to the West as poisoning these third world countries. This is
relevant as it focuses on the key arguments to be made in the
report. It also has a consumer focus which allows a different angle
to be explored throughout.

Roach, R. 2005, ‘Old electronics from America, Europe fuel toxic

crisis in Africa’, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, vol.22, ed.20,
p44, accessed 22/3/10,
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/gtx/infomark.do?
&contentSet=IACDocuments&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=E
AIM&docId=A139717578&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupN
ame=uow&version=1.0

This peer reviewed journal article will be beneficial to my research

as it provides a particular focus on the toxic waste crisis in Africa.
The journal itself will be most relevant in that it is a case study on
the topic and is likely to be applicable to any research for my final
report.

Sanhari, N. 2008, ‘Are we Aware of the Impact of E-waste on our

Health and Environment?’, EZINEARTICLES.com, accessed 22/3/10,

Kristin Maina (3451069) DIGC102 - Assessment Task 1

http://ezinearticles.com/?Are-We-Aware-Of-The-Impact-Of-Ewaste-
On-Our-Health-And-Environment?&id=1079717

This source is from an online magazine written by an Indian Phd

graduate who is a freelance writer for the Times of India. His
commentary allows insight into the growing situation of e-waste and
its impacts in India.

His article informs readers of the health implications of e-waste and

its impact on the environment which is the focus of my research
topic. This article is relevant and gives a grass roots publication’s
point of view to my research.

The Economist 2009, ‘Management Idea: Planned Obsolescence’,

The Economist.com, accessed 22/3/10,
http://www.economist.com/business-
finance/management/displayStory.cfm?story_id=E1_TPPVQPPN

This article from an online magazine discusses the concept of

‘planned obsolescence’ and the implications of this for the e-waste
industry. The issues discussed relate directly to the corporations
and their response to this accusation.

It is quite relevant to my research as it will provide some form of

rationale behind the motivations of businesses needing to
constantly upgrade their product range and encouraging the fashion
of electronic devices.

Thomson, R. 2009, ‘Electronic-waste Documentation – Devastating

Human Impact of Toxic Technology Waste’, Computer Weekly.com,
accessed 23/3/10,
http://www.computerweekly.com/galleries/237852-5/Burning-
Electrical-Components-Devastating-human-impact-of-toxic-
technology-waste.htm

This reference is from an online magazine that documents the

impact of e-waste in poor communities who rely on this ‘industry’ to
survive. The terrible cost is evident in the graphic images on
display. They will be useful as a primary source and give a human
face to the issue. This will be helpful to illustrate the issues and their
clear impacts on these communities.

Wikipedia 2010, ‘Electronic Waste’, accessed

21/3/10,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste

Kristin Maina (3451069) DIGC102 - Assessment Task 1

The Wikipedia reference was merely included as it was an excellent
starting or reference point for the basis of my research. Although it
is not academically peer reviewed, the definition has been reviewed
by countless numbers of users who have and currently are debating
the finer points of disagreement. This source is quite relevant as it
provided a platform off which I could search in a general direction.

Zazzau, V. 2006, ‘Becoming information literate about information

technology and the ethics of toxic waste’, Libraries and the
Academy, vol.6, ed.1, accessed 22/3/10,
http://muse.uq.edu.au.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/journals/portal_libraries_
and_the_academy/v006/6.1zazzau.html

The ethical implications of this issue both socially and

environmentally can be extrapolated from this article. It is relevant
as it discusses this dilemma for the western world and the need for
consumers – not just on a corporate level, but a personal level – to
understand the ethical issues involved and how to act responsibly.

Kristin Maina (3451069) DIGC102 - Assessment Task 1