The Green Manufacturing Expo, Exposed

So I took a trip over to the Green Manufacturing Expo at the Jacob Javits Center recently, only to learn that the expo was only one teeny, tiny part of a general manufacturing expo, where going green was hardly the trend. There was a ton of medical supplies, robotics, and more teeny, tiny pieces of plastic than you can imagine. The exhibitors proudly showed off inch-long bits, whirly doohickies, miniscule gears, tubing, piping, tape, baby bottle nipples, lenses, optics, doodads, tools, instruments, you name in – all made of out toxic plastics, silicons, and blah blah blah blah. Bottom line, I was duped into thinking it was a manufacturing expo dedicated to making all the little bits that make our society go in a way that is gentler to our environment. Not so. It was just the same old same old. But I thought it would be more fun to sticking to my original line of questions, so I did that. And that WAS fun. But it was also educational, because it turns out that the green trend has been replaced. The new trend on everyone’s mind in the manufacturing world seems not to be going green, but staying domestic. Who cares if it’s bad for the environment – as long as it keeps jobs in the States, it’s a righteous manufacturing process. In the manufacturing world, it seems like taking care of your country’s finances has trumped taking care of your country’s air, rivers, forests, etc. The world is a funny, funny place, my friends. Just like this alternative news video here. Enjoy!