India West staff reporter Sunita Sohrabji saw first-hand how electronic waste workers in India, estimated at 80,000 are exposed to toxins and other health risks while dismantling e-waste, including those coming from America. She shares highlights of her series for India West newspaper in this one-on-one interview with “New America Now” anchor Odette Keeley. Sohrabji says that when they were told about these dangers, many of the e-waste workers “were unaware and brushed them off “ especially since they consider this work feeds their families. In part 2 of this conversation, Keeley and Sohrabji are joined by Sheila Davis of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition to share the highlights of their 2008 documentary film: “Citizens at Risk” as well as advice for Americans to help mitigate the global impacts of e-waste recycling.
E-waste includes computers, monitors, cell phones, television sets, printers, printer and ink cartridges. In the first of her reports, Sohrabji states “the United States - which generates 3 million tons of e-waste annually, the largest amount in the world --- sends an estimated 50,000 tons of e-waste to India, about one-tenth of all the waste India either receives or produces itself.”
In a statement shared with New America Media, SVTC officials say: “ we are thrilled that the City Council of San Jose is responding to local community demands and taking the issue of e-waste seriously and our role in not only contributing to it, but being part of the solution.”
“New America Now” Interview with Sunita Sohrabji of India West Newspaper & Sheila Davis of Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition: The U.S.-India Connection Via E-Waste: Part 2
Odette Keeley is host and executive producer of “New America Now”, NAM’s TV show on COMCAST - Comcast Hometown Network CHN 104 & COMCAST ON DEMAND.
Min Lee is a senior editor and video producer at YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia. Mike Siv is video producer for NAM and director/editor of “New America Now.” Marina Saenz was assistant videographer for this segment.
Video Footage Courtesy of: “Citizens At Risk: How Electronics Waste is Poisoning the Path Out of Poverty for India’s Recylers” Film Produced by Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, India; Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition [SVTC], USA; and Arjun Bhagat/IMAK News and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., India
[With permission for use by SVTC]
Photos Courtesy of: Kainaz Amaria and Som Sharma
India-West staff reporter Sunita Sohrabji received a World Affairs Journalism fellowship from the Washington, D.C.-based International Center for Journalists to report on electronic waste dismantling in India. This project was funded by the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.
Comments