Please note that computers are already everywhere and have
multiple purposes (not only to read books). I know very well that
computers have an enormous environmental impact, but could we
survive without them?
Perhaps I missphrased it, but I wasn't really talking about the
environmental impact of books (of course they have to stay!), but
about the ADDITIONAL impact if we would start making books
AND burning CD's about the same topic. I just meant the following:
- Books have to stay
- Internet is more environment-friendly than burning thousand CD's...
Best regards,
Peter.
On 28 Jun 2000, at 12:33, Cameron McDonald wrote:
> Not to mention the fact that most people would print out an online
> version for ease of use - using more paper than the book
> itself........
>
> >It seems that the original request is somehow evolving in a
> >discussion about technology and internet. I do have some
> >comments:
> >
> >First of all: shouldn't we also consider the environmental impact?
> >Now that we (almost) have the technology, wouldn't it be great to
> >reduce the use of resources by using for example the internet and
> >only printing the parts we really need? Now, let's say this is an
> >additional motivation to use computers instead of books (...as long
> >as we don't print everything twice!). How much of this motivation
> >would remain if we would start burning them on CD's also....(not to
> >mention the people with a CD-writer at home that will probably take a
> >backup of the disc.....).
>
> Since we're off topic anyway...
>
> Surely you don't think that it's more environmentally friendly to
> publish things electronically compared to a paper copy?! A paper copy
> costs a few trees, a bit of ink, and some oil for distribution, and a
> few computers here and there. But electronically takes an entire
> electronic infrastructure that must consume energy 24 hours a day, 365
> days a year probably forever. Include in that all the environmental
> damage caused by all the R&D and economy spent on constantly upgrading
> computers (obsolete every 18 months) and I'd say the environmental
> effects of a "paperless office" or "electronic publishing" are orders
> of magnitude higher than a paper book which is never obsolete (you can
> still read books that are several hundred years old). Besides, books
> you can read when the power goes out, provided you have the sun or a
> candle. To read an electronic book you need a monitor, CPU, internet
> connection (infrastructure) and power!
>
> Ok, I'm ready to return to my mass spec, which is showing higher than
> normal readings of mass 29, if anyone has any ideas...
>
> myq
>
>
> --
> Myq Larson / Stable Isotope Analysis \ [log in to unmask]
> .'.'.'.'.' \ Utah State University / 435.713.4245 (h)
> Knowledge / 5305 Old Main Hill \ 435.797.0060 (w)
> Liberates \ Logan UT 84322-5305 / 435.797.1575 (f)
> Myq's waste of bandwidth --> http://www.crosswinds.net/~myq
> Cameron McDonald
> Chemistry Department
> University of Otago
> Dunedin, NZ
> [log in to unmask]
> Ph: +64 (0)3 479-7915 (wk)
>
> 24 Pitt Street
> Dunedin, NZ
> Ph: +64 (0)3 474-0603 (hm)
>
> "When life hands you lemons just grab a bottle of tequila and some
> salt"
-----------------------------------------
Peter Vervloedt
Ghent University
Laboratory of Applied Physical Chemistry
Coupure Links, 653
9000 Gent
tel.: +32 9 264 60 00
fax.: +32 9 264 62 30
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
----------------------------------------
|