Celebrate Earth Day

The GM robot was right.

Do we think of the sadness and rejection that our electronic gadgets feel when they are replaced without so much as a thank you for months of loyal service and reliability?

Nope.

All that we think about is using the new gear. I’m guilty, and so is every uber-geek that I know.

After all, who wants to dwell on legacy hardware?

As we approach another Earth Day, let’s take a few minutes to contemplate what we can do to conserve our natural resources, reduce landfills, eliminate toxic waste produced by consumer electronics, and reduce the sadness and rejection felt by our old electronic hardware.

Here are a few ideas for you to consider:

• Replace electronic hardware only when it breaks or is truly no longer useable.
• Repair broken devices instead of replacing them.
• Research a product’s repair history before purchasing to ensure you are buying a durable product.
• Dispose of electronic hardware through a certified recycling program.
• Donate old electronics to an organization that will refurbish and reuse the equipment.
• Pass on your used electronics to your children, either at home or their school.
• Encourage businesses to donate used electronics to an organization that will refurbish them for continued use.
• Give your old computers to an underprivileged family so they can become part of the global Internet community.
• Turn off electronic equipment when it is not in use.

Don’t let the GM robot’s message of sadness and rejection go unheeded. Instead, think of the message sent by the emotional American Indian of the 70s as he saw his beloved Earth being destroyed by waste and pollution.

Let’s do our part to ensure that Earth Day is no longer a plea to do the right thing, but instead becomes a day to celebrate our success at sustaining our planet’s beauty and natural resources.