<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div id="yiv989844262"><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div>Hi all,</div><div><br></div><div>Apology in advance for the off topic post, but I thought it's something this group would support.</div><div><br></div><div>http://www.change.org/petitions/microsoft-ceo-stop-promoting-e-waste</div><div><br></div><div class="yiv989844262descriptions"><div>You have probably seen Microsoft's recent
television advertising campaign promoting new PC purchases. One ad shows
a women reluctant to replace her 4 year old PC because she didn't need a
new PC. Another campaign is giving away Xbox game systems to new PC
buyers.</div><div><br></div>
<div>Microsoft is doing this so that people will start using Windows 7,
it's latest Operating System. Microsoft has a history of products that
force consumers to buy new equipment, but it has never been so blatant
in asking people to replace their PCs.</div><div><br></div>
<div>We are all aware of the problems of e-Waste. Even when recycled, most
equipment ends up in China where the "processing" is causing cancers in
children. See 60-Minutes expose of the issue at: Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/60minutes/main4579229.shtml">http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/60minutes/main4579229.shtml</a></div>
<div><br></div><div>A typical PC, with the occasional hardware upgrade can last over ten years. Why replace it after only four years?</div><div><br></div>
<div>Please ask Microsoft to stop promoting e-Waste.</div></div></div></div></div></body></html>