I loose. You loose. We loose. This one is in no way Henry's fault. He didn't make himself. I have touched at different times on the reality of the toxic nature of our digital toys and their long term effects to our environmental health. Today on CBC's Q I was reminded of what, really, I knew must also be so. 'Oh shiney', and 'look how fast it is', and 'I have the newest one' which, of course, makes me better than you. I have a computer at home. I have an ipod. I loved the ease with which I can take photos with Henry for this blog. I use a computer at work. Some young woman or man in China, worked 10-16 mind numbing hours a day, six days a week in less than glorious conditions so that I might enjoy these toys.
When I first read The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula le Guin I was younger than I am now, by a good bit. I couldn't understand why anyone would leave that poor child in the basement. I was outraged. Get the child out of there, feed it, it's crying. How cruel. I didn't get. I have got it for sometime now. I taken small walks. I know of the horrors of the children who harvest chocolate. I buy fair trade organic chocolate about 90% of the time. But, I have never actually left town. I am not sure how. I think I will continue my small walk of using my digital and electronic equipment into the ground. And I think I will start sending emails to Apple, my general company of choice in the matter, and encourage them to be the leader they claim to be, in more ways than the current one.
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