by MARK FISCHETTI
MOST USEFUL: E-Waste that Works
This new program is truly useful to anyone who owns anything electronic. We are often told we should recycle computers and such because they contain valuable, and toxic, materials. But few places will take your old Mac or PC, or printer, and you usually have to pay to get rid of the e-waste. No more. In recognition of Earth Day, computer maker Hewlett-Packard and office-supply chain Staples have announced that anyone can bring electronics into any Staples store and leave them there for recycling—for free. The stores will take any brand, regardless of where the device was purchased. The program will continue for two years and includes desktops, laptops, faxes, printers, desktop copiers, computer monitors, keyboard, phones, mobile phones, digital cameras and more. Not included are televisions, appliances or batteries.
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MOST WACKY EDITORIAL: The Olympian
On April 18, The Olympian newspaper in Washington State published a piece titled “Earth Day’s Environmental ‘Religion’” by Robert H. Nelson. A few passages say it all:
“With Earth Day fast approaching (April 22), Americans might want to consider how environmentalism is becoming a new form of religion. They also might want to ask: Why is it OK to teach environmental religion in public schools, while the teaching of Judaism, Christianity and other traditional religions is not constitutionally permitted?… Environmentalism has, indeed, become an article of religious faith. As Joel Garreau, a former Washington Post editor, wrote in 2010, ‘faith-based environmentalism increasingly sports saints, sins, prophets, predictions, heretics, sacraments and rituals.’…”
Nelson continued on. I won’t. The article was syndicated by McClatchy-Tribune News Service, so I assume it was picked up by other news outlets, although I hope not.
Scientific American for more