Hi Phil,

I cannot speak to China (they will likely find the most economical solution
to be the best one) but there are no small number of quiet and thoughtful
dissenters in Japan. I have met a good number of them. Unfortunately the
culture keeps them silent in public (save to speak the corporate line when
required to do so).

At a recent JISSO International committee meeting, there were a number of
presentations on lead-free. Most seemed (at least to me) to be coping
strategies in the face of the myriad of acknowledged problems associated with
lead-free.

One interesting thing that came out was that, in Japan there are presently
proposals for developing a total recycling plan for electronics. This would
obviate the need for lead-free because the loop would be closed and it would
be easier to recycle binary alloys than ternary or quaternary alloys. I
pointed this out in the meeting and could not get an argument (just silent
nodding of heads).

I suspect that many in Japan are, beneath the surface, looking for a way out
of this dilemma, even though it appears that almost every electronics company
in Japan has a roadmap for lead-free products.

One thing that the committee did agree to do was to try and create an
environmental certification program concept as an alternative to relying on
corporate marketing departments to tell the consumer what is "green".

This is likely to be a check list of sorts, ala "Consumer Reports" or "Good
Housekeeping", where the product is rated in a number of areas including (in
these cases): the overall toxicity (yes, we all know that most of the
alternative solders still have toxic elements in them and yes, no one has yet
proposed that we eliminate copper or nickel or tin or any of the other common
metals that have toxic or carcinogenic salts just like those whose
elimination is sought), the energy conservation, if it has been designed for
recycling, etc.

Hopefully, his would serve as credible evidence of a company's commitment to
the concept of product stewardship (as opposed to exploiting their marketing
acumen).

Germany's Blue Angel has been suggested as one model. The idea is to get the
consumer to see "the big picture" and not get lost in marketing minutia,
where we are presently trapped. (If anyone out there has ideas to share in
this matter, they would be most welcome.)

Finally, I can understand how one might be pessimistic but there are small
but growing signs that rational thought and right action are actually taking
place.

I have found some good inspiration in many matters of daily life while
reading some the wisdom Ghandi left behind.  It was he who was reported to
have said:

"Any small movement in the right direction is to be construed as a monumental
success"

                      and

"To lose patience is to lose the battle"

Very best!
Joe