Digital Cemeteries

Synopsis: Documentary about the environmental impact of the huge quantity of waste generated by old and obsolete computer hardware and peripherals. Much of the west’s electronic waste ends up illegally in China. In cemetery cities, computers are cut into pieces, rinsed in acid baths and incinerated by legions of impoverished workers and underage children, who tear these parts to pieces with their bare hands for pitiful wages. This documentary looks at life in the city of Guiyu in southern China, exploring the lives of the inhabitants of what is possibly the world’s biggest computer dump. It also examines the ways in which big computer manufacturing companies are failing to fulfil their environmental obligations and the pressure being put on them by campaigning groups such as Greenpeace
Language: English
Country: Greece
Year of release: 2007
Notes: Available in Greek and English versions
Subjects: Environmental science; Information technology
Keywords: China; computer terminals; computers; environmental disasters; hazardous materials; recycling; toxic substances

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