Toxic Villages

I have edited a bunch of Vanguard pods set in locations around the world. I have to say that these e-waste villages look like the absolute worst places to live. It should make anyone think twice about chucking out their old TV or computer, instead of taking it to an approved e-waste recycling facility. (And even then, who knows?)

Since 1999, Laura and I have made seven different trips to China together, enough that we can measure the degree of freedom in the country from our own experiences. Generally, it's increasing. Our visit to these e-wastes sites, for example, was set up by an international organization that has offices in China, but doesn't want to be publicly identified with the story. And instead of having one of their employees meet us when we flew from Guangzhou to Shantou Airport, we were met by a local truck driver. Previously, when people took personal risks to show us things that the national or regional government entity in China might find annoying, it was because they were dedicated--missionaries or human rights activists. But on this story, our truck driver friend took the job because he simply wasn't very afraid. While in the toxic villages he was very afraid of being stopped by the local police and beaten up--because it had happened to him on other occasions when he took journalists in. But contrary to the Western image of China as a Big Brother state, he wasn't afraid of later having a midnight knock on his door by the secret police after the news stories he helped with ran. China is rapidly becoming, just not that kind of place. Taking journalists to see toxic dumps in defiance of local authorities was simply a way to make a living, since he had somehow lost ownership of his truck. He was kind of shady, but clearly a citizen of the new China.

Toxic Villages speaks to the larger question of how China, in the midst of the most groundshaking economic ascent in human history, will deal with the parallel devastation of the environment ... also unmatched in human history. As New China continues to open up, the power of the press is becoming hard to suppress. And as the press reports on such issues, the people are quick to follow. Civil disturbances are on the rise, and many of those disturbances have a lot to do with the environment.

this was one of the best vanguard pods i have ever seen on current .. gripping and cruel, yet a needed glimpse into a corner of the world many of us would never, ever witness .. this was the epitome of current journalism and enlightenment .. brilliant work.

I also want to congratulate you guys on this great pod!
I spent three weeks traveling around China in the summer of 2002. This study trip arranged by my school really opened my eyes to the darker side of China's rapid economic growth and empowerment of its middle class.
One must also be able to put all of this into context and realize that every single industrialized nation has produced some type of ecological disaster at the expense of progress. Industrial nations and Westerners are quick to judge China and other emerging economies instead of signing international treaties and lead by example instead of rhetoric.
Also, big props to your brave driver! In the end he had more to lose than anyone involved in the making of this so I find it very courageous of him to have allowed you to film him.

This pod is one of the most interesting topics i ahce seen on current. Laura Ling is amazing. Her great firewall pod just proves how talented she really is.
keep it up

This is probably my favorite pod.

This is really sad and compelling at the same time. It is eyeopening to think that is what happens when you decide you would like a new cell phone or computer.

Vanguard continues to be the best branch of Current. People need to see these pods, 443 views? That's not enough.

Great work.

Just posted your clip to my blog at GreenDimes, so obviously, I was moved by the piece. think my readers will be very interested. I wrote earth911.org as a recycling solution. hope that was accurate.

Its like a movie set in the future of hell, but the crazy thing is that this is real and current.

Now to get that shown in the classroom, starting when a kid first starts to really understand what is happening, about 4th grade, then every year after...

I was so moved by this pod. I'm studying ewaste in an independent study program at my school. This was a such a great image. I hope everyone will see this pod.

I saw this on TV (now, right before MacWorld). It is one of the most impacting pods, given to someone in San Francisco and its tech-edge and the perspective looking at everyone going ga-ga over the 'needs' to have the latest and greatest. Fantastic job.

This is the best pod on Current. Thank you for bringing awareness to this issue.

So what's the status on the Basel Convention?

Wow, Laura Ling.
you are one of my contacts on myspace.. but honestly,, i really feel like you are my friend. going out there and telling me the truth about the world. it is rare to find a friend so good.
-- you are one of the best reporters.. you will be right up there with Peter Jennings, and Tom B.
keep up the good work.
how do we get congress to earn their paychecks?
if i did not do my work at a job,, i woul dget fired. can we fire congress?
the Basel Convention is what i am refering to. Congress signed the treaty and did not write the new laws,, so we are the worst country in the world right now,, when it comes to E-waste,, which sucks,,, becasue i love the envirnoment,, and i think Congress is mis-representing us.. therefore they need to be FIRED... or do their jobs.
--
one day.. i hope Current can make a place for people to be able to help these situations get better..
perhaps,, attaching petitions we can sign,, then current send them to the people that will respond properly.
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also..
i woul dlike to see you make a pod about N.R.D.C.
the national resource defence council.
it is good,, and i think if you did a report on it,, and expose it for how good it is,, more people would join,and help.
becasue it is like what i was talking about,, a place people can go to sign a petition that actually helps.
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if Current teams up with NRDC,, Union of COncerned Scientists.. etc.. it will be a true powerhouse of GOOD.
i encourage you to keep doing what you do.


you are NOT failing.
from:Lucas James Xavier Kolasa

It's interesting seeing how other culture live,work, and interact with each other and people from other country's.

I appreciate what you guys from Vanguard do. This particular story about E-wast was off the chain. It takes stones to do this type of reporting. Way back in the day 60 minutes did this type of work - not any more... Just a word of caution please be more careful and remember that the Chinese Governement will through you in jail, or street thugs will give you a serious beat down with absoultely no hesitation. Keep up the good work!!

I never knew that there were villages in China that were filled with e-waste. I think that the governments as well as maybe some electronics companies should get together to create plants where people can send unwanted electronics and recycle them. People who will be employed should have to wear some protective equipment and be trained on how to take care of people who are harmed by those substances, too.