The fasting growing waste stream globally is e-waste. It includes plastics. Our choice of electronic hardware, software, and services is vital to reduce e-waste.
Non-free / proprietary software:
- Is a major factor in e-waste and pollution through propietary obsolescence.
- Is exclusive, furthering inequality.
- Diminishes diversity.
- Creates imbalances of power which can be used to manipulate.
- Restricts users and developers.
- Threatens security and privacy.
- Is opaque (closed source); full functionality may not be known to users.
Free / libre software is so-named because it pertains to liberty. It consists of 4 essential freedoms which empower users and developers. It reduces e-waste by prolonging the life of devices.
Examples of free / libre software include:
Microsoft WindowsGNU / LinuxMicrosoft OfficeLibre OfficeWindows Media PlayerVLC Media PlayerMicrosoft OutlookThunderbirdGoogle ChromeMozilla FirefoxYouTubePeerTubeFacebookFriendicaTwitter / XMastodonZoomJitsi MeetAndroidLineageOSAlexaHome Assistant
"Introduction to Free Software and the Liberation of Cyberspace"
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In January 2024 Help Me IT was set up to deal with e-waste and provide support for the local community:
- Support for digital inclusion as part of the Get Connected Swindon network, The Digital Poverty Alliance and The National Digital Inclusion Network.
- Support for free / libre software following the Free Software Foundation's Freedom Ladder campaign. We educate on its principles, install it to devices, and provide guidance.
- Receiving and providing donations of computers, mobile phones, and tablets.
- Repair and refurbishment of devices and peripherals.
- Web development.
- Tech support.
- Sharing skills and knowledge.
Help Me IT have sessions at the Swindon Hub on Thursdays 2-5pm and Fridays 10am-1pm.
The Get Connected Swindon network have organised a campaign to reduce e-waste by switching from Windows to Linux. Hands on guidance and support are provided along with tea and conversation.
This episode of the Birds and Bees radio show covered software's connections to e-waste: the current situation, problems, solutions, and local activities. The guests were:
- Jacob Badcock: Studying e-waste for PhD at UCL.
- Dr Andy Farnell and Helen Plews: Cybersecurity experts from Cybershow UK
- Mark Tidey: Co-ordinator of Get Connected Swindon, part of Swindon Borough Council's Live Well team.
- Terry Johnson: Officer for equality, diversity and inclusion for Voluntary Action Swindon.