Global Business Environment -1

Individual Assignment

Prajakta Talathi

(GSEP13CMM031)

One fine morning during the class of GBE, Prof Koh Seng Choon asked me if I had visited

China. I replied “Yes. I worked for an NGO called SNEH Foundation which looks after the

development of Marginalized kids. As a representative of SNEH, I had visited Guiya in China.”

Amused by her reply, Prof asked me how I felt over there. To which I replied, “Sir, before

going there I had read some facts about Guiya. But not until I saw it with my own eyes that I realized

the gravity of the situation. Around 1.5 million pounds of electronic waste getting dumped there every

year! No wonder it is called as ‘Electronic Graveyard’! As of 2011, Guiyu is listed as the world’s

second most polluted location on Earth; first is Lake Karachay where all the nuclear waste gets

dumped.”

Prof asked me, “What do you think is the living condition there?” I said, “Sadly Sir, the people

here are not living they are just spending there life. There is no lifestyle over there and sadly more

and more people are migrating to Guiya to enjoy the disguised perks received here.” Prof asked,

“Why do you say so Prajakta?” I replied, “Sir, people there are working for 16 hours daily, 365 days of

the year, disassembling old electronic goods and recapturing whatever metals and parts they can

reuse or resell. Small, family-run workshops – From kids to women to old people in the house,

everyone are involved. What touches me the most is that people do not understand the health and

environment hazards associated with this! Merely earning money is not important; these people are

compromising their safety and endangering their future generations.”

Prof questioned, “What exactly do you mean when you say that their future is endangered?”

“Sir, looking at the rapidly deteriorating state of Guiya, it is very obvious that if proper steps are not

taken the future is dark. These recycling operations are toxic and dangerous to worker’s health.

People are suffering from nervous disorders, psychological disorders etc. Higher than average rate of

miscarriages are seen here. Lead level present in the blood of the residents here. These harmful

elements present in the blood will sooner or later impact their health.

“For instance we can see that Guiya was once a land of Rice. Rice was cultivated in abundant

amount. But today, Piles of ash and plastic waste sit on the ground beside rice paddies and dikes

holding in the Lianjiang River. Soil is saturated with lead, chromium, tin, and other heavy metals.

Discarded electronics lie in pools of toxins that leach into the groundwater, making it undrinkable.

Water is trucked in from elsewhere.

“The most pitiful site was to see the workers working bare hand to extract crack open

electronics; to strip away any parts that can be reused -- including chips and valuable metals such as

gold, silver, etc; burning circuit boards to remove chips and solders, burning wires and other plastics

to liberate metals such as copper; using highly corrosive and dangerous acid baths along the

riverbanks to extract gold from the microchips; and sweep printer toner out of cartridges.”

Prof, “You are correct Prajakta. I understand how you must have felt there.” I said, “Sir I got

some photographs for you, which demonstrates the exact feeling. <Showing photographs to Sir> Sir,

How would you feel, if your child instead of playing with toys, plays with dangerous wires? What

would you do if your source of water is like this; if this is from where you gather your food?

What would you do if this is where you need to cook and eat your meal, the meal for which

you strive so much?”

Sir asked me, “What do you think you should so in such scenario Prajakta?” “Sir the

emotional side of me would suggest a plain and simple measure: To shut down Guiya! But if you

analyse the situation it is not that Simple!”

“Why do you say so?”

“Sir, doing so would mane 150,000 e-Waste unemployed. Workers get hazardous incentives

of approximately $ 8 per hour to recycle the waste. This tremendously increases household income

and in turn increases the GDP of the country. Government doesn’t own up but, massive revenue to

local governments trumps human rights.

Additionally, shortage of raw materials for major industry in China; factories are clamouring for

the materials retrieved from the scavenging and they pay top dollar.

In countries like US, workers recover $ 1.5-2 per hour to recycle it. With such low yields e-

waste recyclers in the United States can’t cover their costs, much less turn a profit. Additionally, in

2011 the United States threw away about 130,000 computers every day. One hundred million cellular

phones are thrown out annually. Apart from the US, other developed countries involved also send all

the junk to China, Ghana, India and other developing countries.”

Sir asked, “You mean to say that the Government isn’t looking into this issue?”

“No Sir it is not what it looks like. Central Government Initiatives to stop this are in vain.

Revenues in the form of Tariffs and Taxation produce nearly 90% of the regional government’s

revenue, giving officials little incentive to enforce the laws. People hide and continue this. They burn

some part of their houses to conceal the burning of these elements.

On the other hand few organizations like Greenpeace, BAN etc are helping create awareness

amongst people. What I feel is that if these people become a part of the workers and sit and

explain it to them, show them the pros and cons of these hazards, it might work.

Moreover the least Government can do is to adopt and enforce safety measures and

proper disposal means.”

Sir asked, “What else can be done?”

“Sir, we need to tackle the root cause. Fascinated by the words: Latest Tech, Sales,

Discounts, Offers, we get lured and end up buying advanced products. But never wonder where these

old used electronic items end up? We reuse them by gifting them to someone; or we generally

exchange or return our old products and get the new ones, or give it to the company or dealer to

recycle. We need to reuse judicially – gift products, reuse casings etc.

Use environment friendly and easy to recycle material like Nokia, which made handsets

with rubber, which were easier and safer to recycle than other electronics. Recycle-able plastics

should be used.

Electronic items from Asia are not following proper standards; companies should be

penalized for not following standards.

I have a vague idea Sir. We can create beautiful scrap articles similar to gardens and

houses which are being made using plastic or metal waste.” Saying this I showed him some photos

demonstrating this art.”

“Are there any other countries facing the same issue?” asked Prof.

“Yes Sir. It is a good source of income for many of the developing countries like India,

Ghana and Pakistan. We need to start creating awareness in such countries before it leads to

non-repairable irreversible damages.”

“Why do you think these places are major targets?”

“Guiya’s is easily accessible from the South China Sea coast. Shipping e-Waste is

convenient and cheaper. Regarding other countries, disposing waste is expensive and labours do not

get any benefit in developed countries. Developing countries on the other hand are cheaper and

high revenues can be earned.”

“What is your take on this Prajakta?”

“Sir, all I can say is that society needs to create an awareness of this situation. Government

needs to pay more attention. And at an individual level we can think before we dispose any

electronics. My take on this is – ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’!”