Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- user:tkresock:start [2020/05/19 07:47] – tkresock
+++ user:tkresock:start [2020/05/19 08:17] (current) – tkresock
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 --------------------------------------------------------------------\\
 --------------------------------------------------------------------\\
-SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH TECHNOLOGY\\
+URGENT MESSAGE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY\\
 \\
 The history of technology is a long and ever advancing series of innovations.  Each step along the journey has created many new products along with an elevated status of the human experience.  Many of these changes are very good and highly beneficial for us, but the cost of proceeding in this manner has become too great. As new products are made and demand increases, more and more resources are taken from the natural world to the point of catastrophy. As the strain upon the planet grows worse and worse, rapid innovations coupled with ever increasing use of fossil fuels accelerates the damage.  True progress is something that benefits society without destroying the planet.  What is needed today is a new process that redefines the status-quo, allowing humanity to continue without exterminating the life of the planet in the process.
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 analysis and opinions in an interview with Jo Confino of ‘the Guardian’. He speaks of the modern “techno-industrial culture that is destroying the world”.  Deeply influenced by the environmental philosophy of Arnes Naess, who spoke of ‘deep ecology’ vs. shallow ecology. Tompkins argues systematic analysis and technology criticism are crucial to the conservation of natural resources.(5)
-Technology can be frightening as well as amazing.  Artificially Intelligent, autonomous technology would be amazing, but an artificial intelligence gone rogue seems like a larger danger.  If machines learn to program themselves, they begin making decisions on their own, without human intervention. Machines acting for themselves beyond humans control could be bad or good, but some like Steven Hawking have argued the risk is too great of a threat.(6)  Others like Garry Kasparov think that humans could benefit from working together with computers more closely.(7)
+Technology can be frightening as well as amazing.  Artificially Intelligent, autonomous technology would be amazing, but an artificial intelligence gone rogue seems like a larger danger.  If machines learn to program themselves, they begin making decisions on their own, without human intervention. Machines acting for themselves beyond human control could be bad or good, some like Steven Hawking have argued the risk is too great of a threat.(6)  Others like Garry Kasparov think that humans could benefit from working together with computers more closely.(7)
-After all, we need all the help we can get.
+After all, we need all the help we can get in addressing the crisis that confronts us.
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 Maybe part of the solution would be for humans to learn to use the technology they already have, better.  Before engineers build another technology that gets out of control, before we exhaust all the resources available to us, before politicians enact more laws, why don’t we become better stewards of what we already have?  As new changes to the climate hurt the economy controlled by the rich and powerful more and more, maybe they will act to stop burning fossil fuels when the danger hits their pocketbook, though it’s bound to bankrupt the rest of us far sooner.
-I doubt very much these changes will occur, but just because I do not have a solution and cannot see a way forward doesn’t mean there isn’t one.  All of the efficiency in the world won’t bring back one extinct species or another lost ecosystem, but we can do our part by sharing some of the urgency within our circle of influence and work together with other like minded people to bring more attention to the crisis.  We can begin by examining our own lives as well, and think about the environmental impacts of our purchases and habits before we buy, which is one of the few powers we have.
+I doubt very much these changes will occur, but just because I do not have a solution and cannot see a way forward doesn’t mean there isn’t one.  We can complain about it, but all of the talk in the world and good intentions won’t bring back one extinct species or another lost ecosystem.  What is needed now is action, we can act now more efficiently to do our part. By sharing some of this urgent message within our circle of influence and by working together as a team with other like minded people we can bring more attention to the crisis, even if it's just a silly protest.  We should each examine our own lives as well, and think about the environmental impacts of our purchases and habits have before we buy, which is one of the few powers we have.  If we care about the planet, if we care about our future and our children's future we need to act quickly before it's too late.
+Technology has led us to this point, and the need to use it effectively may be a critical part of the solution.  I urge you to follow my links and think about this message seriously.
 \\
 \\