We Shall Overcome...maybe.

Technology is a touchy subject when it comes to environmental sustainability. Many believe technology is the answer because it solves the short-term problems. For example, fish stocks are running low, so we can apply technology to genetically engineer them or, fresh water basins are starting to decrease at a rapid pace around the world, so why don’t we use technology and enhance desalinization processes. What most members of society don’t realize is while technology may fix the short-term issues involving depleting resources or climate change, the long-term effects of a technological fix may be just as catastrophic.

Here and now the world is in crisis. Polar ice caps are melting, rivers are at all time low levels, the ozone layer is depleting and natural resources are being over-consumed. Lucky for us, technology is here to save the day. In our society and others around the world, we are adept to consuming vast amounts of goods and services. This desire to buy our every want and need is part of our culture and is not something most would give up lightly – this is just a fact we have to accept. Technology allows this consumer culture to continue, while making people feel that they are contributing to saving the environment. Technology then becomes our savior…at least in the short term.

But what happens when the side effects of technology outweigh the positive environmental impact they were supporting? This is a frequent question with stratospheric ozone depletion. Some scientists and environmentalists think that by blasting chemicals to technologically alter or build-up the ozone layer will solve the problem of climate change. If implemented correctly, ignoring the politics of it all, an average citizen could be convinced this is a great idea. Again, technology has provided a fix. However, the long-term effects of stratospheric ozone depletion have yet to be sufficiently discovered, and the idea of who would govern such a system has not yet been conceived. This example supports my main argument, that while technology is a great thought, it is not a solution. Technology does not fix a problem; it only delays the catastrophic effects or makes life easier. In a time when everything must be short, quick, simple and efficient technology will always be our savior but, technology can’t be designed as an end to our means.