[Themaintainers] Letter asking Google to extend the life of Chromebooks

Sun May 21 09:46:24 EDT 2023

Not so! Any organization can sign. I have some connections with European
groups who have signed but if you know of relevant groups elsewhere in the
world that you could forward to, please do so. Thanks for clarifying!

On Sun, May 21, 2023 at 3:28 AM Camille E ACEY <connect at camilleacey.com>
wrote:

> Hey Lucas,
> I am assuming this is US-specific?
> Camille
> Camille Emefa Acey - https://camilleacey.com
> "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence; it is self-preservation and
> that is an act of political warfare." - Audre Lorde
>
> May 18, 2023 8:34:39 PM Lucas Gutterman <lgutterman at pirg.org>:
>
> Hi all,
>
> E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the U.S. and is exasperated
> by short-lived tech. School Chromebooks are a prime example with a clear
> solution.
>
>
> Over the last four months, we’ve been working with schools who are
> concerned with sustainability issues related to Chromebooks. We're asking
> Google to act.
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2chPPXiA5wBX4Gh76hu4cKCHaENdSRVQC7vPpUYCQ9PIGA9khiAGC6NK305026Myufa-xDkasjKz9aw20oDEDOkbiKe9KoFuObbO3f5vgK8TREVMwrSZ72SHlF2hkSnAc5vMmoAc_e9ninvmVsBMRBBgL3692kJMkCSwYok56b9A6NWV01TnbQ-e0PukqVpjAVUF51pn35UEOkCer5CN4>
> Working Chromebooks can reach an “Automatic Update Expiration,” at which
> point they no longer receive updates and often can’t be used in the
> classroom. Schools have sent us photos of piles of thousands of working
> laptops headed for the recycler.
>
>
> [image: Chromebook Churn Banner v2 low-res.png]
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2z0zWRPcjuSDeOpFOhKRmOHXbuDHM2HfzvrcPyE6jYJQJA9khiAEjECtBZBgfpCvYJZbMMzB0v_gtSBNNjHfAR_AslEMa4aA-0xNjIDwKjbjBYZW4lQyfFVQ6UA0M_keD0xNU2u0u-AnNPz2Puyg9fDZzeJfxzeVqYieUY0uVLrV_TKtJg_8YMkc4ofr-aJID_jEeSRL-kN_RPHG-kl6u>
>
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2PzYRjeQV0aFNw0q5WO5FFKoRqIkCk-_5vE9JF0YVZb4MA9khiAHUbtkkbxog26GDynQkDS8_MWQKdmNK-mp2z7IAF2NQ5I_9rzzWRS-wsjl0NDKloP_zFIaOLIAl0pulkweku5VO7Xud6ZpNl3iGoCaKs8TRJcGOCv-cvczXuuzStPGnnXscmOSrzDuXGLCiQNjrw8WWGdLGzibWyhK9>
>
> We took these concerns directly to Google, and definitely got their
> attention thanks to widespread media coverage. I think we have an
> opportunity to keep working laptops off the scrap-heap as a result.
>
>
> [image: Justin-twitter-chromebook-1-1000x563.png]
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2vaK0-d9BSdeJQ3YcRhpsSmGPzxxPwHCeUdHDJfKvlwkPA9khiAGpVCFBVN5bDdhugpJuEfOt7Z1aG_6GFPP1Xc2_Ge_SNDFR2ZkGT-Ph588OMptx1-jRNBJ7bKLvFx-4Ql3HpZYiAVqGm94ocKCuV-RgMZ97lHL5cCDq9FstJMa3zTSIInE1mUKX2Ui9Tgg4YaSWKFpN97zNySHVikDHNFyuJOOGd30v3hXpYVcy2fJhv7J1Pg9xIGRyCVCL-S1Qf8JuOzm_Z-rGp7SQK5B47HVyj1VfKAAY>
>
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2vmRl303thtsoxEaFfwTuxwQld8bRV4kVC3AzgeUtmvQSA9khiAEt4iHUwCzkLjRFBRrYIGw8HeX4RXvouLJWAc2kjz-hVUNAOwbpnWyaQM4yjaiLyMuQzoJK394cA7IahiVtA8nIuytaxrdSYrPEXvggAKlZiUpFPb-Dwiq47A8rnkjBkibVwnAUJynvFcnNedknf8TNuNmKwkQQVai_qCwZq8NgAf58oCBNYeORX1ZRlD3GvhIxitGKv-EOSjBb8TcLp5GdUq0OA5fgQyGt0B8_bHdE5kro>
>
>
> *Now I’m asking you to join me in calling for Google to extend the life of
> the 13 Chromebook models expiring in three months
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2iY-Nd6vFBhuZpfOV1XJ-doriA8wJ15NIXGnxh8Sp6IsVA9khiAFocyjm4UupAUAUpbDUHLIeSkoWOoxdau60A2hwF1tirfxpmCG1YMRTR_UsiB9o3LO9O_Oqhn3TooATbMPln1QJQ6Pa_vuvHLjIF7PjzKllaC6iXt5LwlZHuduDtnkADgTaqwTDYQNubzv2vAehiAM65KVnJ-RErlFB>*
> *.* Would you or your organization be able to *sign onto the letter*
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2LM0KQI2gUky4DUgbwo7o4Cn3jOAiT73CHImx_rpZBX0YA9khiAHkTbfq711WHUysbyit-ycO54BmFtgYp-MbX4oV1NDtv_bcfRJs13m0NiyYajMo-OA6lQhKU32va3VGGt5A-qP-2n0cAdTQyC27fnMGzqqDqlTIKVXp8knniltoNuCO4Dqu-3VXB0frIaRlOZM9BSUdDHfJ9Cid-Ubf>
> ?
>
>
> Chromebooks come with an Automatic Update Expiration date, after which
> software support ends. The lack of software support can block essential
> uses such as accessing state testing websites and make devices vulnerable.
> Google could extend the life of these models, most of which are still
> available for purchase online. Two models are still being sold as “new” on
> Amazon and Office Depot, even though they’ll expire in just three months.
>
> Google isn’t solely responsible for the disposability treadmill that keeps
> us replacing our phones, laptops, tablets, and appliances with new
> products. However, their sustainability commitment to a circular economy
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2rE6PF1BVNChIuuCcW4Z4jnpmh1k8_sWwG0bENNfQBUwaA9khiAHaJ4raUT9txajlx4jmlWcVqEku6vTVg6ymkUw2yO2EtI8IouvVXcdRD8KuI2Lgf4Q9WTHVi4ucdoErZymOBvWiRT6XBIggTJRdEcyBQLmTMElNJ6nL8-_Kz_BZyVB4fTpmODsI58gSbGGqQ8n_qKoLtKtlH2YJ64mp4I5ddtQM0lrwy2RPKA4x_NoagnNZOS9JRbm944gr4PVlXg>
> states Google is, “constantly looking for new ways to build products,
> design out waste and pollution, and keep materials and resources in use for
> as long as possible.” In the United States, we generate about 6.9 million
> tons of e-waste each year
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2FH4Za9j0LNSQQCiQoQwn9X-OJSWVr1XOKOiQ9GkET9IdA9khiAGwtF5cmKTkl3KksoGu1-_pgeEAPUGwwEhGtv_XnlCBs-5PIrGEnGv2vyWQZ32_yUtYehvMiwv6RX-pFY8BnYmACpUQPX6PbIGFPSwIz4rTY3EKaL2pjswbpfz3XCcC46acm8GzwuXJ3URDDPsyyou0tVmoPoP-etSoWiGR-bZrRGCKWYIOEEVjMBsrwvw_xj434gUauq-VOC2yEi6uqHqQOlKwuD4BSUwnMaW2U84rkoqjlhyZy1Xyf9AQfSnIG6RwqsP0zyhWXg>
> which is equivalent to throwing out 120 Chromebooks every second. We can’t
> afford to keep replacing technology at the current rate. Google has the
> power to lead the industry towards a circular economy with longer lasting
> laptops.
>
> These 13 Chromebook models will expire in 3 months while most are still
> available for purchase online and four of these devices if you bought them
> on the day they came out, they’d expire after only four years. After that
> expiration date most owners and schools will have no choice but to replace
> these laptops with newer products. Google has extended the lifespan
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2TwjspA6I9pXazn4gOWCclMTNC7Ku6MsndFKiwGZYPLIgA9khiAHR59_YsCwav6IAIgoEc7nBL-XMY_F90FlsxqNunU7KsUIRmP2-uvOfe3XD00wiGQQ5gIT6qcC6nEZFFslw_ib4oIYPZBKiHxGlTJxQQO2MGPziQDhx7RJT0AFYBf9Vy7o5_2wshSbP3-OUdga4cdeHNSCJaL-7yDeQogN2UbmdD4TslQMFioaSnb7n7bEK7jn4ndH9emv3kborKA>
> of Chromebooks in the past. Why don’t they do it again for these expiring
> Chromebooks?
>
> *Please sign on to the letter asking Google to extend the expiration dates
> of these 13 models.*
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2tBSZqja3AwBaJrVXIbuZGLC_S5r1yH9EZPTRlV6RAukjA9khiAFUYu-KRjlmTU_1c-8furEJ1qVhD30Mpdga7P6WAEgmGz14sIC7EJxeaIML6ABO-1VLxyXhZKRFr2lj0YZa5W9iuenShWLvjcOFXhx0PoN_yCqawiiQXp_8u9oqtpcIBflBvpLwwXkZKt93chi2MyH5f4YGJJ0c0ook>
>
> Thanks for your support,
>
> Lucas Rockett Gutterman
>
> PIRG
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/29LoZ9mA4rsihML9Rb8FqVeNoNf7p11-_7kBCyQYlIiQmA9khiAHiT9tBOZst_Sgnsj2H_x1M2J0J-9j1uGHR44_LDdz2qhKXB00jgb4t6FvnHr9sLHAys3Sdh0Rc5ogegphuTF-9lWV-3yFZPbNnwVN0BYwB879e5Xo2bAI4YdM8MD2paMsyGddSLju6Kqn8sANt8kQk2Qy1fO6uEPd0AaHXSsWJMg>
> Designed to Last - Director
> lgutterman at pirg.org
> 347-466-9947
>
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2JK8j3K6pLnSAym1x--jjPC1Pk9T32UiJGYg3j3vzDqspA9khiAG1A5bizdPSlCnXFJf7VFFxthXCH5rQ8O3oc0Vuyw-C6ViwaYIt7jmJA2OAEoQ_bJmiqVqGVKwkAMaENjiQKh3shDQBfZWfEueQOMWEGfqEIw7wKZXRSr2OcoUOWgcz1_BxJhlTY-bf_ylHVAF1rw>
>
> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2AwiMmuNkMVL5R-LiLfBTPyd4IckyUo1XdgOhjTRPWZUsA9khiAEgKTgo6uaBx4SGlGwReel6UvzcOW-FR_BOFvhFwVDk1SHX2sJ1B9IvKLd8w09srjiVVcpDl9SUjZBMPxVV1ni-cmIMDct0orY13P9lSVab0e8qLjYmaB4FKed3Idj3zfBeQ_V4avFdfIBM49HRtAHi5g>
>
> *Come work with us. We're hiring:*
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> <https://publicinterestnetwork-dot-yamm-track.appspot.com/2Io6Xi81CPp6YY_CojqBvs_pHeSMy9nDEQFy_t8muObQuA9khiAF1-M80AHl-Cp7GjI5xiAgumcdhDUK3WmkZ17ldoj8wWGxn-ff58_fNKmCvGHRGyvMYVdwrH7BSzQKVcFErxWP0cgEtU1HD4HbqfEz_roTq2BY8VQ2CLW0Dhvu-KeeY2TjBywrGhg_M1XWL8F6PPGfLXwET7qAw9yKbDTSTokVncg>*
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>
> --
Lucas Rockett Gutterman 🚀

PIRG <https://pirg.org/resources/what-is-right-to-repair/>
Designed to Last - Director
lgutterman at pirg.org
347-466-9947
<http://www.twitter.com/lg_rocket>
<https://www.linkedin.com/in/lgrocket/>

*Come work with us. We're hiring:*
*Right to Repair Advocate <https://pirg.org/jobs/right-to-repair-advocate/>*
*New Economy Campaign Associate
<https://pirg.org/jobs/new-economy-campaign-associate/>*
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