Dare to repair: The fight for the right to repair
Discovery
BBC
4.3 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 19 July 2021
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Many electronics manufacturers are making it harder for us, to fix our broken kit. There are claims that programmed obsolescence is alive and well, with mobile phone batteries designed to wear out after just 400 charges. They claim it's for safety or security reasons, but it pushes constant replacement and upgrades. But people are starting to fight back. Mark Miodownik talks to the fixers and repairers who are heading up the Right to Repair movement which is forcing governments to act, and making sustainability and value for money part of the consumer equation.
Producer: Fiona Roberts
(Photo: A pile of discarded computer circuit board. Credit: Tara Moore/Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to introduce myself. |
| 0:03.6 | My name's Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport podcasts. |
| 0:08.1 | I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with a leading journalist, experienced |
| 0:12.2 | pundits and the biggest sport stars. |
| 0:14.3 | Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights straight from the players' |
| 0:18.5 | mouths. |
| 0:19.5 | But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is our unique access to the sport world. |
| 0:24.9 | What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to |
| 0:28.8 | dedicated sports fans across the UK. |
| 0:31.2 | So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more. |
| 0:42.0 | This is Dare to Repair. |
| 0:48.2 | The series looking at the repairability of our electronic gadgets and appliances. |
| 0:53.5 | Mum, my charge is very good. |
| 0:55.5 | Can you fix it or do you have to get a new one? |
| 0:58.6 | This week I look at our right to repair. |
| 1:09.4 | Alex, your toast burns again. |
| 1:12.4 | I'm Mark Miodovnik and on Dare to Repair on the BBC, I've been exploring why when it comes |
| 1:17.5 | to electronic gadgets and household appliances, we are now much more likely to throw them away |
| 1:22.2 | when they break rather than get them repaired or attempt to fix them ourselves. |
| 1:26.8 | And given that we are facing a crisis in electronic waste, which is unsustainable both |
| 1:31.8 | economically, materially and some argue morally, why are manufacturers making electronics with |
| 1:38.5 | short lifespans and putting up the barriers to repair? |
... |
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