I’m not against communication technology. I love my android phone, computer and even my kindle. But I’m very careful with everything and try not to be swayed by the “latest” and “newest” editions of anything. We are marketed these things without really being given information on the real cost of things. Cell phone and wireless technology uses what has become known as “conflict minerals” — and the conflict is in Africa, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and surrounding areas. If you don’t know about this, it’s not necessarily an oversight on your part. Our media rarely talks about it. Mining and the theft of resources has been a huge plague in Africa, one that has built so much of the wealth of the developed world.

The waste and trash left over from the constant upgrades and the flashy new items we are made to feel are essential cause problems in China, Africa, SE Asia — anywhere poor countries are willing to “recycle” developed world trash and mine these items for the minerals that were originally mined in horrific conditions. They are recycled in horrific conditions.

If you aren’t familiar with the life cycle of your devices, I urge you to look up how they are made, who is making money, and who is being condemned to slave labor, wars, and destroyed natural resources.

I think about archetypes a lot, and I recently thought of the Medusa myth where the gaze of that powerful female Gorgon could turn a person to stone. I think our Medusa is more male, the salesman — the culture of sales — and how they turn our hearts to stone when we buy into extreme forms of consumerism.

I’m not sure what the solution is, but I did make a painting to illustrate my idea. I used all my old devices and cords and chargers, all so perfect when I saved up money for them, and now so many broken or out of date. Technology that is no longer supported. I think the painting is finished.

(The shadows are a nice yellow green that doesn’t photograph well.)

What do you think?

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