Used electronics shipped to developing countries from the United States are supposed to help bridge “the digital divide,” says a new report from the watchdog arm of Congress — not support an industry that relies on toxic, open-air fires, acid baths, and cheap labor to recover precious metals from high-tech trash. Examining the fate of electronics exported by U.S. “recyclers,” investigators from the Government Accountability Office found that computers, cell phones and other devices too often end up being dismantled abroad under unsafe conditions. I’ve explained more of the findings over on Sierra magazine’s Green Life. This post also appeared (through syndication) on The Huffington Post.
Tag Archives: Huffington Post
New and Next Big Things in Ridesharing
New rideshare services match commuters using Facebook, text messaging, GPS, and iPhone 3G. What’s next? Devices that provide not only real-time information (about traffic and approaching buses, for example), but also anticipate a commuter’s travel patterns and suggest personalized transportation alternatives. That’s the vision, at least, of transit scholars at the University of South Florida. I spoke with John Zimmer, founder of rideshare startup Zimride, as well as a pair of urban transportation researchers from USF a for this post on Sierra magazine’s Green Life looking at the growing number of ventures hoping to reinvent carpooling. The article also appeared (through syndication) on The Huffington Post.
Posted in Transportation
Tagged Green Life, Huffington Post, Ridesharing, Trend, Zimride
