They're calling on you!

Here is a new recycling program
for a wonderful cause.

Spread the word!

Melbourne's Triple R and Melbourne Zoo are drop off points for your unwanted mobile phones.

Some facts I'd like you to consider:

Mobile phones contain the metal coltan and its illegal mining in West Africa is threatening the survival of the Mountain Gorilla (and other primates such as chimpanzees) through loss of habitat and violent unrest.

With 9 million new mobile phones sold in the last 12 months in Australia alone and the fact that we upgrade our mobiles every 18-24 months, that's a huge demand for coltan.

Each time you recycle your old phone the need for coltan is less. The funds raised from recycling phones goes to Zoos Victoria for primate conservation.

from here.

Did you know?

More than 800 million people around the world currently use mobile phones and that figure is growing daily!

In Australia alone, it is estimated that there were 9 million new mobile phones sold in the last 12 months.

Australians typically upgrade their phones every 18-24 months! This exerts enormous pressure on the mining of resources such as coltan needed to manufacture new phones.

80% of the world’s coltan reserves are located within the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As the forest is denuded for mining, the protection once offered by the habitat in it’s pristine state is now no longer able to shelter gorillas and a range of other species from the bush meat crisis.

In Kahuzi Biega National Park, more than fifty percent of the mountain gorilla population has been lost, leaving the species on the brink of extinction.

You can make a difference simply by donating your old mobile phone!

from here.

They are citing four ways we can help:

1. Visit Melbourne Zoo to collect a postage paid recycling satchel, and post your mobile phone to the Aussie Recycling Program. Your phone will be refurbished and resold to disadvantaged community groups.
2. Download and print a copy of our postage paid label and post your phone today!
3. Donate a corporate fleet of mobile phones by following these four easy steps! To register your support simply email the registration form to zvfoundation@zoo.org.au or fax it to (03) 9285 9377.
4. Schools can get involved too! Please contact Kate McCabe at Melbourne Zoo by email or phone (03) 9285 9471 to discuss integrating this program to your curriculum whilst inspiring students to take action for wildlife.

When Melbourne Zoo has made it is so easy to send your old phones in - with their reply paid label you can download straight off their site and return via free post within Australia - well... what other reason do you need to hold onto your old one/s? (Or worse, throw them out)

Why aren't these sorts of findings plastered across billboards in every city of the world? I just don't understand man's need for greed when we KNOW there is a way to prevent such devastation of natural reserves.