I do not consider myself a person who wants or needs the latest technology. When a new iPhone or computer comes out, I generally have no desire to go out and buy one. However, as new generations of phones and computers evolve and new technology like the Apple Watch shocks the world, I find that most people don't even stop to consider the environmental impacts of these purchases. I know I don't. It's something I know I have to work on, and I'm sure if more people became aware of environmental impacts, they would strive towards change too.
   E-waste is rapidly growing, and many people aren't even aware of it. For example, according to Liz Soltan of digitalresponsibility.org, the UN reports that producing the average computer and monitor requires 530 pounds of fossil fuels, 48 pounds of chemicals and 1.5 tons of water. In addition, Soltan notes that 50-80% of our e-waste is transported to poor Asian countries and is dumped. In 2009, the EPA reported a 120% increase in junk electronics compared to the numbers in 1999. These numbers show that as technology continues to advan ce, our e-waste grows. Clearly, the high demand for new products is having a negative effect on our environment.
   However, at what point does a want for more technology become a need? Not everyone will make the choice to slow our electronic development, and new products will keep coming out. Even if we decide to not buy the new phone or new computer, eventually we will have to in order to keep up with our growing world. Most people will not want the same computer they have now in 20 years, because in 20 years we will have even bigger and better technology. I think that if we truly want to impact the environment in a positive way, we have to show others the environmental impacts of technology and prove to them that having it is only a want, not a need.

I agree with the point you made about our wants becoming needs. Within my parents lifetime, the world has replaced the typewriter with the computer. The computer used to be a fancy new wanted gadget, but now it is essential in many jobs and schools. My school recently did an electronic drive to collect and recycle old electronic devices such as laptops and cellphones. Maybe if more schools held drives like this or more recycling centers had bins for electronics, it could help to reduce our e-waste.

It is amazing once you realize how much technology can affect the environment. Both producing and using it uses a lot of energy therefore producing carbon dioxide. You do not even think about it because it is so essential to life in today's culture. It is also interesting that using mobile data can produce so much carbon dioxide, which I never knew until now.

I like how you showed the effect of making technology, I think technology is a need in today´s world, but we should think sustainable, we should bu the thinks we only need and be concious of how our product is harming our world. Every pruduct we buy produce carbon dioxide that affects our world. I think a great way of solving would be buying the thing we realy need

I had no clue that much fossil fuel was used to create one computer! That seems like way too much especially with fossil fuels being a non-renewable resource. Thousands of people in America have more than one computer not including Iphones and Ipads etc. I agree with Avery, more schools should hold electronic drives and have them more than one time in a year. These drives do a lot for the environment and should be held everywhere!

Wow, that's  crazy, I had no idea that it took so much from the environment to create a computer. With all the  things that we already have, it's pointless to create anymore. They aren't needs, they're wants, and what they're doing is taking away from the needs that people actually have. We could be using all those fossil fuels and water for other countries, and for other people, for things that actually are necessities to life. I'm sorry, I'd prefer to give water to a needy country rather than create a new computer. Wow, that's so stunning and disappointing that we're constantly trying to achieve higher technology due to popular demand, but we're actually killing everything.

I think you address a really great point that most of the people can't, and I think you can say even more focus on the main idea you were trying to say. Actually, at the very beginning people don't need many things. The needs they have physically are water, air, protein, etc. But by the time pass, people need more and more things. That is because all of their wants become needs. People don't need cell phone when they don't have cell phone, they can live well. But when there are cell phones and people can get them, it become one of the most important thing to people gradually. All in all, thank you to bring up the important idea!

Hi Madeleine! Your idea is very true! Actually I have some relatives  around me who can’t live without their smart phones for 30 minutes. But don’t you think the development of technology is very necessary? For example, without technology, I even wouldn’t be here replying your idea! And stop developing, lives would be meaningless I think. At least would be less meaningful. In China we have a saying, “Defeat your enemy by using your enemy’s way”. It means use the trouble itself to govern it. I think the most possible way to solve what you are worrying about is speeding up the developing of technology. I think the best and highest technology must be a very sustainable one. It wouldn't hurt environment at all and it would be so friendly to the nature. We could use the technology to help the nature back! Actually lots of scientists are working on this now.