The Darker Side of Digital by Dan Holloway
We like to think that ebooks are ethically wonderful. No dead rainforests, no nasty carbon. Of course, the environmental impact of ereading is not as simple as that. But that's not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about one of the aspects of technology that really doesn't get the attention it deserves, but of which we, as digital writers, really need to be aware. It's something of which I was woefully ignorant until I met the wonderful poet Emma Ako , who works tirelessly to promote awareness. At the heart of the electronics industry, especially high tech areas like smart phones, tablets, and ereaders, are rare metals like tantalum, which are often mined from some of the world's most troubled areas. The money from these metals often makes its way to the arms industry, to arming groups that cause misery in the countries where they are produced. Emma's particular focus is on Congo. This excellent video explains why this issue is important. So, what d...