We Must TAKE Our Country Back!

Whether it’s health care, the cost of education, our environment or global trade, Corporate America is holding us all hostage to the almighty dollar. Greed continues to trump need as corporations make record profits while more and more Americans fall into poverty every year. Congress allows industry to write policy, and legislators don’t even read the bills they enact. The average person would lose their job for gross negligence. The pharmaceutical/insurance lobbies make billions on the grief of others, systematically denying people essential treatment or drugs in order to save a buck. Half of our taxpayer money goes to the Pentagon who “loses” over a trillion dollars and “it’s nothing but a thing” yet we have to beg to fund health care for our children. Agri-Business dominates at the expense of our environment and health as 85% of our food is now genetically modified, our meat is ridden with hormones and antibiotics, and pesticides have permeated the water table. Global trade agreements allow corporations to exploit for profit with no safeguards in place for workers or the environment.

It is our moral imperative to stand up and say no more! John Edwards seems to be the only candidate that understands that we have to make an aggressive push to take our country back – the key word being “take”. While it is important to be able to bring everyone to the table, we can’t continue to allow Corporate America to eat all the food.

Which comes down to, follow the money…

Edwards and Obama are my two top picks but there are some important distinctions to be made here. I think Obama is awesome and I will support him whole heartedly if he gets the Democratic nod, but as an activist, and more importantly as a mother and your sister, there is way too much at stake in this election, not only for our country but for the planet. Corporate America will never give up their stranglehold on America or the rest of the world so we must TAKE IT from them! There is no negotiating a moral standard… and frankly, that’s what this election is about.

There are two main issues that concern me about Obama; the fact that he voted for the Peru Trade agreement (more of the same of what ails us), and more egregiously, the fact that he is promoting nuclear energy. Coincidentally, Obama has accepted a lot of money from Exelon Nuclear and only stopped taking corporate monies this past year once he decided to run for President. I commend him for that recent decision but I am horrified that he is promoting  nuclear power.

The current energy bill before Congress may have 10 billion dollars allocated toward renewable energy, and that rocks, but if you look at the whole pie, it’s too little too late! 25 billion is allocated for guaranteed loans to build new nuclear sites and billions more for coal fired plants. I mean, this is what I am talking about people… Corporate America writing OUR policy! Do ya’ll remember all the hoopla about storing the nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain? Do you want that in your backyard? Is it OK as long as it’s stored in someone else’s backyard (out of sight, out of mind)? Do you really think our Earth Mother will be served by that? We need to save Her in order to save ourselves. Almost everything we do generates some form of waste by-product. Instead of adding to it, especially nuclear waste, we need to use our considerable ingenuity to invent our way out of this mess. It is our only true hope.  What we absolutely cannot afford is more of the same… business as usual.

Corporate America has had the resources and the necessary information to create new technologies for decades.  Rather than doing the right thing, and truly be leaders of innovation, much of their resources have been spent preventing said technologies from entering the marketplace because, God forbid, that could hurt their bottom line. If their shareholders weren't so blinded by their own greed, they would be able to recognize the incredible opportunity that is presenting itself NOW. Corporate America and our elected officials could simply CHOOSE to lead this necessary technological revolution, but it remains to be seen.... so it's up to us.

We must TAKE our country back!

Top 10 Ways to Recycle Your Old Computer

1. Recycle

   Recycling that old computer seems the most logical conclusion, but this process is fraught with complicated issues. How do you protect the material contained on that old hard drive? Where does that computer go once it's left your hands? Since ID theft and e-waste smuggling operations are rife, your computer may end up in the hands of the wrong person in the wrong country.

   You can eliminate the first problem by using a product like Eraser that eliminates all data on your hard drive. Your diligence in this effort will help you rest assured that you haven't passed on any readable private data. The second solution involves discovering where that recycling center sends your computer and its parts once they take charge. According to Treehugger, developed countries have been exporting tons of electronic waste to China for inexpensive, labor-intensive recycling and disposal for years. This activity was made illegal in 2000, but smuggling, corruption, and "China's appetite for scrap" opens doors for your old computer to take part in this nefarious cycle.

   Since manufacturers want to avoid any scandal, this recycling route would be the easiest one to take. Simply send that old Dell back to Dell and the old Gateway back to Gateway, etc. Some manufacturers may charge a fee for this process. Other manufacturers may not charge a fee, but you may have to purchase packing materials and postage to send that computer back to its source. Read the Treehugger article and another article by Salon, as both pieces offer sound advice on how you can handle the computer recycling process responsibly. You can search through E-cycling's database to find a reliable recycler near you.

2. Donate

   Based on the adage that one person's junk is another person's treasure, you might donate that old computer. As Techsoup states, it works best if you donate your equipment to a nonprofit or school-based refurbisher rather than directly to a charity or school, especially if you need to wipe your hard drive or if you're unsure about your equipment's condition. Responsible refurbishers pass your equipment along to nonprofits and schools after they ensure that it's been cleaned out and working properly. Additionally, they will dispose of e-waste after they cull through the equipment to salvage usable parts.

   Free Geek is, perhaps, becoming the most well-known organization to handle this process because they salvage what they can and dispose of the rest responsibly. Although this organization is located in Oregon, plans to expand nationwide are underway. But, if you can't wait for a Free Geek to open near you, you can find a local or regional refurbisher through Techsoup's list, which is searchable by Zip Code.

   Finally, if you cannot find a local refurbisher, you might go directly to those who need used computer equipment. Online resources like Share the Technology offer ways for you to connect directly with organizations that need specific equipment through matches. If you can't find a match, you can post an offer to donate and wait for someone to contact you.

3. Resell

   Yes, you can sell that idle or dead computer locally, but you'll find more buyers through an option like eBay. eBay is involved with the Rethink Initiative that makes it easy for you to deal with all your used electronic equipment. You can sell the items yourself through eBay (they provide you with a checklist before you sell that computer), or you can use three solutions: 1) Trade in your old technology for PayPal cash; 2) Find a drop-off or pickup location through Zip Code search where those folks will sell your equipment on eBay for a percentage; 3) Find a local trading assistant who can handle the selling process for you.

   The market value for used computers drops dramatically after two years, so don't expect to make a fortune when you go this route. You can search through places like the Used Computer Mall to make sure that you're asking and receiving fair market value. If your computer is more than three years old, your best bet is to recycle or donate - but the latter option might be limited for computers that are less than five-years-old.

4. Recycle, Donate, Resell (aka: Cannibalize)

   This option is for the person who wants to sell old equipment by parts, much like you would dissect an old automobile or motorcycle for parts sales. Some peripherals, for example, are perfect for reuse; computer cords and speakers are fairly standardized, meaning they can be used for a variety of computer models and makes. You could hold onto those items or resell them for a higher price than equipment that's outdated or damaged.

   Other materials, like ink cartridges or one-time-use CDs and disks, are more difficult to deal with. Earth911 offers a Zip Code search engine that lists companies and organizations where you can take those items for recycle or donation. When you list items for sale on eBay or through other venues, be sure to include the name of the component, part and serial number, and any other pertinent information so that the buyer can find those parts easily and you won't waste time answering questions.

5. Return

   Companies like Gateway and HP have trade-in programs where you can deduct a certain amount from the cost of a new computer or receive a credit toward merchandise. You can also trade that laptop in for a TigerDirect gift certificate. Once again, you will receive fair market value, which may not be enough to purchase a keyboard. Be prepared for that possibility.

6. Keep it in the family

   A five-year-old system may contain too many bugs for useful service, but it may have potential as a learning tool for those kids or cousins who are potential electronics geeks. They can tear that system apart and rebuild something useful (offer them the ideas below). Make a deal where they will recycle or donate any parts they don't use in the process.

   If your computer remains functional, let the kids play with it after you remove all sensitive material and install instructional games. Once the kids have destroyed the computer beyond belief you can make a decision about where to go from there.

7. Dedicated Jukebox/Recording Box

   If you've accumulated so many digital music files that they would consume half the hard disk in your new computer, use the old system to play your MP3 files. You can transfer the files to CD and then connect your sound card's 1/8-inch stereo plug to a pair of RCA female plugs using a Y cable. Although this solution isn't portable, it's cheaper than any hand-held MP3 player.

   If you connect a keyboard to your computer's MIDI port (or - better yet - use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo), you can add your two cents to your music repertoire. You may want to replace your sound card, install some sequencing software, and add more memory if you think the computer will hold up for another year or so. These additions will add to the quality of your efforts.

8. Upgrades/Downgrades

   If your computer is less than five-years-old, why not replace a few items rather than purchase a new computer? Upgrade your memory, add a larger hard disk, or replace that CRT monitor with an LCD. For less than one-third the price of a new computer (in most cases) you can eek out a few more years on that computer. This option can help you save your bucks for next-generation systems that will arrive in another two years or so.

   On the other hand, you can quench that yen for a new computer, but continue to milk the old one for all that it's worth if you save it for use as a simple word processor. Remove all extraneous software and documents including images and music, and defrag the disk so that you have plenty of space and speed for new documents. You can use the new machine for all your high-tech options and use the older system for all the grunt work. If you feel that the older computer may die on you without notice, just back up documents to CDs as you create them.

9. New Servers/Home Automation

   Thiravudh Khoman offers some uses for old 486 computers, but his ideas can be utilized in newer machines as well. Use the old computer as servers for your printer or other apps, as a space to save files, as a backup and/or as a Windows server station. If you're capable of adding X10 devices, you can use that old system to automate your home (make your coffee, regulate your thermostat, etc.). Scour Automated Home for some of their most popular ideas.

10. Get Creative

    Laptop carries a few of the most innovative ideas on how to reuse computer parts, no matter if they belong to your laptop or your desktop. Turn an old keyboard into a walletlaptop into a weather/news station with Yahoo! widgets. You can also recycle parts and use the remaining cabinets as pet houses, or paint them and use them for bookshelf or knick-knack units. If you hand these empty units over to the kids to build a playhouse, make sure that you wrap any sharp edges with foam and/or layers of duct tape. or turn an old

You can always simplify your life and leave the computers on the front lawn with a sign, "FreeGigoit.com or at Freecycle. Just remember to erase or overwrite that hard drive and realize that personal information can be stored on flash memory cards, floppy discs, tapes, DVDs and CDs as well. But, it's worth the effort to take responsibility for that old computer when you're ready to let go. The earth and its six + billion inhabitants (not including animals) will thank you