Nicely put Joe............
Yes the tin industry as you say are just doing business, does anyone
know whether it is actually legislated though. The history of tin mining
has made huge negative impacts on the local ecosystems where it has been
extracted, just type "tin mining pollution" into any web browser and see
what comes up.
I found the reference below to a 2001 conference where there was a call
for smelters not to purchase ore from illegal mining operations, the
link is here:
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=13026&newsdate=30-Oct
-2001
The UN has done its bit to highlight the issues caused by mining. Here
is a link from a report where 20000 people were affected by the results
of tin mining pollution.
http://www.mineralresourcesforum.org/workshops/regulators/2000/docs/Phic
hit.pdf
Finally for those with a graphic turn of mind here is a web site showing
the type of pollution that can result from these operations.
http://www.terrywhittaker.com/galleries/13tinmining/13tinmining.htm
Like I said I truly hope that there are some actual laws in place to
control these activities since I have to say this legislation from
Europe seems a little one sided considering the lack of actual data to
support actual issues of lead leaching in land fill and given the
legislation whereby it will not be in the "normal" waste stream anyway -
compared to the extensive and well documented issues you will find if
you type the phrase "tin mining pollution" into a browser.
John Burke
-----Original Message-----
From: Leadfree [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joe Fjelstad
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 2:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LF] Economics of Tin - was Re: [LF] DTI Consultation
Hello Camille,
Thanks for the note, book recommendation and link.
There is definitely an abundance of lead on this planet. Our dear earth
is
just one big ball of toxic metals and corrosive fluids... ; -)
Joking aside, lead is a very important metal just not well suited for
ingestion or inhalation by living beings.
There is no question that tin is a very, very useful metal as well and
I am
not about to argue with Ron (or Kay either :-) on the subject of the
importance and utility of tin in electronics.
It is excellent stuff but it is not a cure all. However much like is
the
case with ice cream, if some is good, more is not necessarily better.
The issue is really one of need and the environment and according to
science
there is no need for lead-free, especially when viewed in the light of
compelled recycling as is being prescribed in the EU.
Very few in the industry, save those with a vested interest in the
propagation of what they believe are solutions, will argue openly the
benefits of
lead-free. The tin industry, for example, appears to have taken a
leading role in
the lead-free effort with the sponsorship of SolderTech. I don't think
anyone can say seriously that it was done from the "goodness of their
hearts". The
charter is clearly to promote the expanded use of tin and to solve any
blocking technical problems (and as well, it now appears, legal
interpretations).
Let me quickly add that there is nothing wrong or devious about any of
the
tin industry's activities. They are just doing business.
The law has loomed large of late and is getting larger every day. In
fact,
presently, as has been the case for a long time, a good percentage of
the
dialogue here has been about the law and the minutia within the law. To
me the
bigger question is: Is the law right or even good?
Laws are generated and bad laws can and should be repealed but it takes
courage and that is something that few politicians carry in their bags,
especially when there is controversy involved and the accused has been
made to appear
guilty because one of this family members committed a crime.
Meanwhile, from what I have learned recently returns for lead-free
product
are reportedly running higher than for traditional solders among some
producers. Better get your electronics now, while they are still
relatively
inexpensive and use the proven reliable. ;-)
Thanks again, Camille, for your thoughts and recommendations.
I will step down off the soap box now... ;-)
Kind regards,
Joe
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