Alexandar Hanyu Lin (participant)
*Group name
Westerly Innovations Network
*Project name
Creating a Sustainable E-Waste Management System
*Country/Region
United States of America
*Type of Group
Community
*Number of total members of your group/project
10 persons
*Number of regular participants in activities
13 persons
*Characteristic of members
Our group is made up of environmentally-aware students interested in community service. We live in a coastal community, and love the ocean and forests in our area, as well as the groundwater. All of this could be destroyed. None of us want to see any of it spoiled by pollution.
*Theme(s) of your group/project
*Others
*Missions and activities of your group/project
The main goals of our project were to raise awareness of the dangers of improper disposal of E-Waste, to ban E-Waste dumping, and to create a sustainable E-Waste management system. We worked on many different activities throughout this project. This is a list of our activities:
1. At the beginning of our project, we researched the topic of E-Waste using a multitude of sources such as the internet and a local survey.
2. We visited our local town council in order to raise awareness and to gather support for the project. This was very successful, as they eventually passed an ordinance banning E-Waste dumping.
3. We refurbished over 125 computers to date, along with setting up a refurbishing program with the A+ Certification class at our local high school. Included are five computers and one laptop that we sent to Sri Lanka to help tsunami-affected students.
4. We talked with local electronics recycling companies to get a better idea of the process of recycling. We were able to get CRT Recycling to set up a free recycling receptacle at our town's transfer station
5. We attended hearings at the state house to try and get legislation banning E-Waste dumping passed.
*Characteristics of the group/project activities
All of our team's activities are attended by most of the teammates. One type of activity we do is a presentation. We commonly do presentations to raise awareness of E-Waste. We have various types of audiences, including elementary school students, the PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) in schools, Town Council members, legislators, and company managers. Our presentations are organized and usually planned several weeks before. This is because of the nature of the presentations and the importance of our image if any real work is to be done. Presentations generally take between one to two hours, depending on location and audience.
Refurbishing computers is another common activity that we do. It is generally on short notice, for anybody who has time. We usually refurbish the computers at my house, where they are stored. This activity usually runs for an afternoon each. Each computer takes about one hour to refurbish; however, there may be some that take twenty minutes and some that take six hours.
*Most importnat way of thinking of your group/project for environment
The most important way of thinking for our group was that the environment is a huge thing, unable to be taken on by one person alone. You need a team of people internationally and locally, all working together. Just like teamwork led to our project's success, it will also cause the betterment of the environment. An optimistic outlook was also very important for our team and for the environment, because without a hope for the future, nobody would do anything for the environment. These are the two most important ways of thinking for both our team and the environment.
*Major publications and articles
Our group had many publications and articles in the media. Over 20 articles were published in the Westerly Sun, our local newspaper, and about 5 were published in the Providence Journal, a statewide paper. An article was published in the BBC online, as well as the Washington Post, another online posting. Another article was published in a the Chinese World Journal. Finally, a segment dedicated to our project was aired on NBC 10, the main news channel for Rhode Island.
*What kind of group/project do you want to exchange for imformation and experience with?
Any environmental group
*Short message for exchange with other group/project
Wherever you are in the world, know that there are other people like you working towards the same cause, an increase of environmental quality. All that matters is that you are one of the many people working towards a good cause, and you alone can make a difference.
*Impression of Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi
My impression of the Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi was a very good one. However, I believe that it could have still been better. As a JB, I believe that we could have had some better ideas for the planning of things and maybe a schedule that was less tight. But it is this drive that will help us make all of the future conferences better. I especially liked the timing – how it interceded and gave us a chance to visit the World Expo.
*Others
I have started work on a new project involving the environment as well as health. Seeing the result of recent natural disasters, our team started work on the Robo-Nurse, an intelligent pill management system to help people with complicated medication schedules take their pills at the right time. It is equipped with a disaster call to help locate people during natural disasters. Some viruses can develop resistance to drugs very rapidly if they are not taken regularly. Our device will combat all of these problems. We are currently working on a prototype for the market.
*Interview
As a Junior Board, I have been striving hard with my other group members in order to let bills concerning the E-waste pass in the town council. At the same time, we have been carrying out various activities to raise public awareness on this issue. I keep on conducting my projects, as my main motivation to be involved in these activities have not changed before and after the Summit. As is mentioned in the questionnaire, recently we have started working on the Robo-Nurse. My only request for future conferences is to have less tightened schedule.
*Contact person
Alex Lin
*Contact Address
24 Littlebrook Road Westerly, RI 02891 USA
Phone #: (401) 322-0598
alex@w-i-n.ws
*URL of Web site of your group/project
http://www.w-i-n.ws
