Term Paper on "Technology on the Environment"

Term Paper 4 pages (1161 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

As Chiras etal argue (viz. 101, 111), wealthy and poor nations face very different choices in designing and implementing environmental policy. The far-seeing leaders of poorer countries understand just as well as the far-seeing leaders of wealthy countries that population growth must be limited, land set aside, pollution controlled. But poorer countries have far fewer choices because of their lesser political and economic power. Brazilian leaders and workers, for example, understand the environmental costs of open pit mines, but Brazil is also saddled with immense national debt. It does not have enough money to build up clean industry, and so its workers must struggle in mines (or in slash-and-burn agriculture) to struggle to make enough money to feed their families. First World citizens debate about whether they should drive SUVs - and then drive them anyway - while poorer nations try to deal with issues of cities with untreated sewage in the streets and citizens so poor that they will gladly kill an endangered animal if it means that their families may eat.

Poorer nations are dealing with the most acute environmental problems - severe water and air pollution, erosion, desertification, massive unplanned urbanization, high rates of population growth. Their governments try to meet these problems, but tend to do so in piecemeal fashion while the First World, with less severe problems (even as First World nations contribute far more to the greenhouse effect and global warming) have the political luxury of trying to create more holistic solutions.

One of the worst consequences of technological change on the planet has been the onset of global warming. Chiras etal's description of what we may have let ourselves in for should certainly make each one of us reconsider our own actions and those of our governments (Chiras etal 506-8).

Among the possible negative effects of global warming are large-scale die-offs of sea life as the oceans warm up to a point where many animals (adopted to cold waters) may die. One way to combat this consequence of global warming is to limit fishing now, which will help bring various marine populations up to a level that they may survive.

Another possible consequence is coastal flooding, which could devastate estuaries and other wetlands. Countries could build offshore walls (such as in hurricane zones) to help buffer these areas.

Famine is a possible outcome of global warming. A shift to a vegetarian diet by most or even all people (backed by governmental pressure) could limit the damage caused by (for example) less grain being produced because vegetarian diets are far more efficient than meat-based ones.

Global warming itself is a negative consequence - as animals and plants will suffer from increased temperatures. A commitment to alternative fuels for vehicles and buildings would help this problem - as would an immediate ban on SUVs.

If human technology has caused terrible damage to the environment, it may also do good. We can genetically modify species that can survive current environmental problems, turn to sources of energy that are renewable, replant forests. Technology gives us vast powers, and if technology is not precisely neutral than it is certainly not wholly evil. It can be used for environmental good. If we will only do so.

Works Cited

Chiras, Daniel, etal. Natural Resource Conservation: Management for a Sustainable Future (8th ed.).… READ MORE

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