In a message dated 5/3/99 4:28:06 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:

<< So who do we talk to ?? (or who is being talked to?)

 Ahne. >>

Hi Ahne!

Ahhh jeeze...where do ya' start? Looks like by the year 2004 everybody over
in Europe will be mandated by something called the WEEE Directive to be
completely Lead free. WEEE stands for "Waste from Electrical and Electronic
Equipment". You can read the second draft of this directive at:
http://www.itri.co.uk/weee2.htm  By the way, this is posted at a page on the
"International Tin Research Institute" web site. If you go to their home page
at: http://www.itri.co.uk/index.htm you'll read what they state their main
objective is, which is (this is pasted directly from the page);

Welcome to the world technology centre for tin

"The International Tin Research Institute, now ITRI Ltd, is sponsored by the
world's major tin producers with the primary aim of extending the use of tin.
With 60 years of experience, we offer the premier source of information and
contacts."

Hmmmmmm,...I don't think they'll benefit at all if Europe bans lead do you?
Naw...things like that just don't happen. Strange thing though, but I see
some weird parallels here...MTBE? oil companies? What am I thinking? Silly
me...

Then there's one other strange angle. Although I haven't heard of any
legislation that's trying to be proposed here in the states to ban us from
using Lead, do you remember how most companies here in the states (heck, all
over the world!) were kind of "motivated" to be ISO certified? Where did all
that ISO stuff start? Oh one thing I forgot to mention, nobody will be able
market any electrical or electronic product in Europe if they aren't in
compliance with the WEEE directive...

That darn song keeps popping back in my head; "Things that make ya' go
hmmmm...."

So where do you go to start voicing your opinion? Parliament? The solder
vendors that see that train-a-coming and they're already at the station
waiting on the train so they can jump on board...and all of them are saying
they have that perfect "Lead-Free" solder? Heck, I don't know...I don't know
if we're already past the point of no return. I think it's a damn shame...

Maybe I'm too cynical...but I guess that's just me. We're all big boys and
girls and we all can make our own decisions. Far be it of me to try and
change anybody's mind. Maybe I have too active an imagination or something,
but all I'm doing is asking why...and I haven't been able to get a straight
answer that's been backed-up by hard data yet, where any benefit will be
realized by switching to "Lead Free" soldering...

Sorry I wasn't much help Ahne...

-Steve Gregory-

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