The Uncounted Pollution from China

[FreakinDJ]

Uncounted Pollution from China

How much pollution is added by cheaply manufactured products that readily break down – are disposed of, need replacement and are repurchased again and again.

My weed eater just died.

I purchased it last year of a name brand that “used” to be made in America. As I took it apart attempting to fix it, I couldn’t help but notice this device was manufactured to last about ½ of the life I received from it. Cheaper then cheap – boarder line Toy.

Then I started to wonder – “How much MORE pollution will be added to the planet to manufacture the Replacement Weed Eater? All the chemicals used in plastics injection molding, trees cut down for the card-board box it came in, machine oils used to manufacture the few metal parts, even the pollution from the Open Pit Mine where they extract the copper ore for the windings in the motor. Then add to that all the pollution spewed into the atmosphere for the Coal-Fired electrical power plants China uses to power their industrial complex.

The amount is staggering…

And its not just me – this is happening to millions of consumers all across America and the world over. The Amount of ADDED Pollution is staggering.

[tom_paine]

1. Well said...K & R.

:kick:

[Gregorian]

2. You know what I like? The fact that you're thinking like this.

And that you attempted to pull it apart and fix it. Very cool.

Sadly my propane torch died this morning. And off I went to Ebay. I already have another on the way. But I did try and work with my old one to see if I could get it running again. I've got stuff that's on it's tenth life around here. My Case tractor is one good example. I bought it next to dead, and brought it back to life.

Since we can't live off the planet, we're kind of in big trouble. Just this morning I was thinking about how when I was a kid they were still hunting pheasant in the San Francisco bay area. I seriously doubt there are a dozen of those birds left. And fish? I live on a creek that used to have salmon. And my property used to have bear and elk. None. Nada.

I don't know why I'm typing away here. I guess I'm worried. It's good to see people thinking a little bit about how this whole thing works, and where its' going.

We've made enormous advances in production efficiency. However, we've also doubled the population. So we're even, at best. That's the problem. As we transform from combustion to alternative, there are more than double the number of new cars about to be created. Not good.

So we will be ignoring weeds, or picking them by hand. My dad picks the weeds on his vineyard by hand. I can hardly believe it. And he's 85. His vineyard is absolutely stunning. Not a weed.

[FreakinDJ]

4. I used to hunt those pheasant in Sonoma County

The fields were full of them

and we used to have "Heards of Deer" 50 - 60 - 80 strong. Now the best you'll see is groups of 4 and 5.

We really need to start talking about "Global Population Control"

[Gregorian]

6. That's a pretty tough subject.

My serious woes began when I returned from college to buy land in the Petaluma area. What a shock. From the time I started school until the time I left, that area turned into a real turd. I'm happy to discover that it appears to be slowing. The pending big box in Fortuna, in Humboldt, seems to be dead. Or so it looks.

Yes, this subject of watching the ruination of whole beautiful areas is at the forefront of my thinking. But what can be done about it? We're all part of it. I tried to run from it, and it followed me.

Even my last property in Oregon which had salmon, elk, bear, was really quite barren. I had maybe 20 elk, where there should have been hundreds. And in my extensive years of exploring every piece of land in the Humboldt county area, I found three elk.

I keep wondering where this is all going to go. They're still building wineries. And now people in the Boonville, Philo area are up in arms over the water use.

It's just all greed and sex. Sorry to be so blunt. Some very basic instinctual behavior that has the best of us. It takes super strength to be responsible. And here I am finally getting the chance to build my home. Something I absolutely hate. And I'm doing it. So I'm part of the problem. Even though I tried so hard to be different. At least I didn't reproduce. Haha.

[leftstreet]

3. Why are you blaming China?

The Chinese didn't invent planned obsolescence.

Maybe you didn't mean it that way.

:shrug:

How about 'The Uncounted Pollution from Planned Obsolescence?'

[FreakinDJ]

7. Perhaps I shouldn't

They are at least doing some thing about population growth which is the REAL crux of the proplem.

But as far as pollution standards - they are non-existent

Just look at some of the products they ship overseas -

Melamine in the Milk, Tooth Paste, Baby Formula
Hydrosulphuric Acid in Sheet Rock
Lead paint on Toys

They pollute to the MAXUIMUM in both their production methods and the products they ship

[Joe the Liberal]

5. Excellent post. n/t

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: