Date: March 3, 2000 For more information contact: Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition Leslie Byster - [EMAIL PROTECTED] or 408-287-6707 or Ted Smith - 408-287-6707 ===================== Media Advisory: Warning: Hazardous Substances in Computers A "warning message on the presence of hazardous substances in computers" (see below) was sent to 40 key Eurpoean Commission officials who will soon be deciding the fate of the very important Directive on Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE Directive). The "warning" sent by Greenpeace-Europe can be viewed at http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/warning.htm The debate is heating up as electronics industry lobbyists, including the American Electronics Association, are intensifying their efforts to weaken the lesislation that would establish "Take-Back" requirements and phase out some of the most toxic materials currently in use. The AEA is a 3000 member trade group whose members include Intel, Microsoft, IBM. The "warning message" contains very informative web site links that provide extensive background information about health and environmental hazards from toxic materials found in computers. The idea is to use the medium of the computer to alert those officials in Europe who play a key role in formulating the future directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment about the threats the hazardous substances used in their computers pose to human health and the environment. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, and its international network, the Campaign for Responsible Technology, launched the Clean Computer Camapign in 1997. Supporters of the Clean Computer Campaign and the E-Waste Directive are asked to send letters to the European Commissioners. A sample letter can be found at http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/Jan2000.htm For more information: **Background document on hazards and waste from computers http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/eccc.htm **An assessment of hazardous materials and take-back policies of major computer corporations - http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/99reportcard.htm **Inventory of chemicals found at a semiconductor chip fabrication facility - http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/fab.htm **Strategies for clean production - http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/strat.htm **Resources and maps showing pollution created by high-tech industry - http://www.svtc.org/resource.htm **Information about environmental and health impacts of high-tech industry in general - http://www.svtc.org/svtchome.htm Leslie Byster Communications Director Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition 760 N. First Street San Jose, CA 95112 Phone: 408-287-6707 Fax: 408-287-6771 www.svtc.org
