“Right to Repair”//
　　So,/what should we do?// A new and powerful approach to this problem/is a movement to protect the “right to repair,”/which is gaining momentum in the US and Europe.// This movement aims to force manufacturers of electrical and electronic products/to recognize the right of consumers and technicians/to obtain information necessary for repairs/and perform repairs on their own.//
　　The right-to-repair campaign/is gaining ground in the UK and EU.// In the UK,/a new law will require manufacturers/to provide spare parts for their products to consumers/for the first time.// The goal is to protect consumers/and reduce environmental impact/at the same time.// The UK government claims/that this will reduce e-waste by 1.5 million tons each year,/as well as carbon dioxide emissions.//
　　In the EU,/the first eco-design regulations/that set standards for repair/have come into effect.// This means/that manufacturers of washing machines,/dishwashers,/refrigerators, etc./have to ensure that customers can replace components/using easily obtainable tools.// The French government has set the goal/of making 60 percent of electrical and electronic devices in France repairable/by 2026.//
　　Furthermore,/in the US,/about 20 states have already filed right-to-repair bills.// It is expected that other states will follow suit.// However,/some of the big companies/are lobbying against the legislation,/making it difficult for the government/to push the new laws through.//
“Owner Society”//
　　In a “consumer society”/where people continue to consume disposable products,/ecological destruction is inevitable.// On the other hand,/in an “owner society”/where products are cherished and repaired,/companies and consumers can move/toward reducing the burden on the environment/by sharing responsibility.//
　　Which society do you want to live in:/a “consumer society”/or an “owner society”?// Your choice may determine the long-term fate/of this planet.//