Archbishop Desmond Tutu unveils WorldPC’s new name!
On Monday, September 24th, 2012, esteemed member of our Board of Recommendations, Archbishop Desmond Tutu unveiled WorldPC’s new name and logo, WorldLoop, in the presence of 250 supporters, amongst them his Royal Highness Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme, member of the Dutch Royal Family.
This is a week of important significance for WorldPC and all its stakeholders who stand behind the importance of extending the benefits of ICT in developing countries by turning e-waste into sustainable, human and economic resources.As we celebrate the one year anniversary of the inauguration of our first member facility in Africa, we are excited to announce the official end of the WorldPC Pilot project, one year later with the announcement of our new name, logo and website. ICT hardware extends beyond PCs and our new name, logo and tagline epitomizes this important note, emphasizing the ability to turn an environmental hazard into something that is socially, environmentally and economically positive by changing the status quo flows of precious fractions from product to landfill and reversing the flow of waste from north to south to resources benefiting south and north.The announcement was made at a special event, held in honor of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s recent visit to the Netherlands and to commemorate the 250,000 computer donation made to our founding organization Close the Gap. New partnerships were announced as well as public statements of support of the WorldLoop initiative, emphasizing the reality that truly sustainable ICT for development solutions are available today, bringing positive benefits of ICT hardware throughout the entire product lifecycle and beyond.
Under the banner of a new name, WorldLoop is continuing its mission to raise awareness, establish a standard for e-waste management and facilitate the creation of environmentally sound e-waste management systems to developing countries.
Photo (from left to right): Olivier Vanden Eynde (WorldLoop); Drs. Hennie Wesseling (WorldLoop Board of Directors); Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme; Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Barbara Toorens (WorldLoop); Prof. em Dr. Wim Blonk (WorldLoop Board of Directors); Thomas Poelmans (WorldLoop); Peter Sabbe (Recupel); Jan Vlak (WeCycle)
Press release: http://close-the-gap.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Press-release-Close-the-Gap-and-Desmond-Tutu-24-09.pdf