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sands of people directly exposed to the hazards of disposing of IT equipment. The impact of the‘recycling’ in Asia on the environment in terms of air and soil pollution is difficult to quantify butmust be significant if China has banned imports!Is IT any good for the environment?Apart from the direct physical impact that IT has on the environment and despite the relatively largeamount of natural resources required to build PCs, it is worth delving into other more positive linksbetween IT and the environment.Advances in computing technology allow us to analyse environmental data with greater speed andaccuracy. Ever more accurate geographic and meteorological models allow us to predict weatherpatterns with greater accuracy and some day might bring us one of the holy grails of scientific modelling:the earthquake predictor.Computer-aided design and manufacture provide us with the tools required to build ever moreefficient engines; and research into fuels to replace our dwindling fossil fuel reserves might not befinished before the reserves run out were it not for computers. The increase in telecommuting andInternet messaging has a direct impact by reducing vehicle emissions.Michelle Dewberry, Sir Alan Sugar’s new Apprentice, is going to mastermind Xenon Green, SirAlan’s new environmentally friendly IT recycling company. Let’s hope the company is a runawaysuccess!Justin LatterIT Department13