Dim Bulb, II

 

 

 

I looked further into the “made in China” angle of compact fluorescent lightbulbs and, indeed, currently China, not U.S., manufactures them. If incandescent litebulbs are banned in the United States by 2014, think of what this means.

And think of all the many appliances, tools, and machines that use litebulbs – not just our homes. This is potentially a national security matter.

Below are two articles on this angle.

~Eowyn

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GE Workers Say: ‘Screw That (Made in China) Bulb’

by James Parks, May 12, 2007

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/05/12/ge-workers-say-screw-that-made-in-china-bulb/

 

How many U.S. workers does it take to make a light bulb? If General Electric has its way, the answer is none. GE, the company that was built on Thomas Edison’s light bulbs, is putting workers and consumers in a position of having to choose whether they want to save the environment or save U.S. jobs.

 

GE is promoting new, energy-saving bulbs known as compact fluorescents, or CFLs, which are made in China. These bulbs last longer and use less energy than the typical incandescent bulbs found in most U.S. homes—but they can cost up to 10 times as much.

If GE has its way, it will no longer manufacture light bulbs in the United States. Since 1980, employment in GE lighting plants in this country has dropped by 68 percent.  If everyone switched to the Chinese-made CFL bulbs, all U.S. plants would close.

 

Instead of letting GE make all the profits and send jobs to China, GE’s workers, who are represented by 13 unions, have launched a “Screw That Bulb” campaign. They are mobilizing to save the environment and their jobs.

 

Environmentally sustainable technology was supposed to stimulate our economy, not lead to more jobs in China, they say. But GE is refusing to invest in the advanced technology needed to produce the bulbs here so U.S. workers can have a future.

 

You can take action and help save U.S. jobs and the environment. Sign the “Screw That Bulb” petition asking GE to manufacture green bulbs in U.S. plants. Workers and consumers shouldn’t have to choose between a green environment or a pink slip for America’s workers.  

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Constitutionality of light bulb ban questioned
Congressman doubts China imports answer to U.S. energy crisis
Posted: June 19, 2008
By Alyssa Farah
WorldNetDaily

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=67573

 

Members of Congress are beginning to have second thoughts about the ban on incandescent light bulbs effective in 2014 as a result of an energy bill signed into law earlier this year.

 

Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, says his objection is very basic – the Constitution doesn’t authorize Congress to do anything remotely like banning a product that has been used safely and efficiently for more than 100 years in favor of Chinese-imported compact fluorescent light bulbs that pose considerable health and safety risks.

 

Poe cited the dangers associated with CFLs, which carry small amounts of mercury that can enter the environment through breakage and disposal. He also objected to reliance on the CFL alternatives when, currently, all are made in China.

 

“Congress passed an energy bill that should be called the anti-American non-energy bill because it punishes Americans for using energy when it should be finding new sources of available energy,” Poe stated.

 

From the floor of the House, Poe addressed the dangers of the CFL bulbs, explaining the extensive cleanup required by the Environmental Protection Agency for simply breaking a bulb. When a bulb, which contains mercury, is broken, according to the EPA, the room must be evacuated for 15 minutes and aired out with windows, but not before all glass is removed, placed in a sealed glass jar and disposed of outside. Any remaining glass must be picked up with tape. In addition, central heating or air conditioning units must be turned off.

 

This is what the EPA officials say about light bulbs they want the public to use.

In addition, the bulbs cause photographs to fade and can interfere with radio signals, television and remote controls, according to Poe.

 

“Madam speaker, I have a Constitution here, like most members of Congress,” Poe said. “I carry it with me, I’ve read it through and through but I don’t see anywhere in the U.S. Constitution where it gives the government the right to control the type of light bulbs used in Dime Box, Texas, or anywhere else in the United States.”

 

Poe criticized Congress’ focus on regulation rather than working to develop natural resources during an energy crisis.

 

“I yearn for the day when Americans took care of America by developing our own abundant natural resources like coal, natural gas and crude oil to provide affordable energy to Americans,” Poe remarked.

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