Introduction

i. The Nature of Technology

(Defining Technology)

Technology: The human species' use of technology began with the conversion of natural
resources into simple tools. Recent technological developments have lessened physical barriers to
communication and allowed humans to interact freely on a global scale.

Source: "Science/Technology." Science and Technology | Our Future Planet. 7 Lansdown Crescent,
Bath BA1 5EX, n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.

ii. Technological Dualism

- refers to the fact that technological change often has both positive and negative impacts on
people and society.

iii. Technology and the Natural Environment

There has been an increasing concern about the impact that technology has on yhe environment.
Speed of change in human civilization has been occurring faster than changes in the natural cycle
of the environment.
*Technology has accelerated the process of change.

Source: Vijirayar. "Impact of Science & Technology on Environment." LinkedIn SlideShare. N.p., 20
Dec. 2015. Web. 02 May 2017.

A. Direct or Intentional Impacts

Application of Chemical Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Inseticides
Good: High yield > Economic Development
Bad: Change in Soil Chemistry > Soil Degradation

B. Indirect or Unintentional Impacts

- Experience after a long time when they become cumulative
- Not reversible
- Related to pollution and environmental degradation
- Use of chemicals such as DDT, BHC, etc.,
- Excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and a number of other chemicals

C. Industrial Growth and its Environmental Impacts

1. Industrial expansion - release of enormous quantities of pollutants (ex. ions of chlorine, sodium
sulphate, magnesium phosphate etc.)
Coal
2. Coal consumption in thermal plants - flyash, smoke, sulphur oxide, and other gases
3. Burning of hydrocarbon fuels
- increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- when carbon dioxide concentration increases, carbonic acid concentration may also increase
( CO2 + H2O > H2CO3)
4. Increase in global temperature
5. Carbonic acid changes the soil chemistry

*Industrial wastes - chemicals, metals, solid wastes, and garbage

*Release of CFC (Chlorofluorocarbon) - depletion of ozone
* Sulphur dioxide reacts quickly with atmospheric moisture > Sulphuric Acid
- Consequences: respiratory diseases and Acid Rain

Reading A
Environmental Penalties of High Technology

Disadvantages
Four Major Environmental Penalties of High Technology
1. Greenhouse Effect - trapping of infrared readiation near the Earths surface
2. Ozone depletion
3. Acid rain - precipitation of higher than normal acidity
4. Waste disposal
* Source: Reddy, Ranga. "5 Bad Effects of Technology in Environment." For Mind Peace.
N.p., 16 Oct. 2016. Web. 02 May 2017.

Effects of technology in the environment

1. Increase in Travel
- We travel more and also unnecessarily sometimes. By this we contribute to air pollution directly.
The current technology is so advanced that we travel from one part of the world to another in short
time. This is great but has greater risk for human life and environment.The pollution generated
from these travels is huge. It is in the form of air, water and even noise pollution types. These
pollutions poses health hazards.
2. Excess power consumption
- Power consumption is high due to technology. We use technology in education, work place, at
home and even in remote places. We are addicted to television, smart phones and other gadgets.
3. Generation of more waste
- We contribute a large amount of toxic waste in the name of technological up-gradation.
4. Excess use of gadgets
- Addiction to gadgets and apps leads to need for WiFi and other wireless connectivity. Due to these
wireless technology, the radiation exposure is high leading to silent health problems. Even it is
believed that some birds also get extinct in the region of these wifi enabled areas.
5. Excess deforestation
- In the name of development, comfort etc. there is widespread deforestation. This is possible due
to the larger capacity of machinery technology. We can see rapid extinction of many species of
plants, birds and animals due to widespread deforestation.

CONCLUSION: Technology may have gotten us into trouble, technological innovation can help
extricate us.

Reading C
Industrialization and Environment

Opportunities
Alternative Futures: Sustainability and Social Change
Sustainable Society
does not exceed its environmental carrying capacity
can persist over generations without undermining either its physical or social systems of
support
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs

Driving Forces of Environmental Change:

1. 1. population size and growth
2. 2. institutional arrangements, political-economy
3. 3. cultural values & belief systems
4. 4. technology

Seven (7) Kinds of Requirements for Sustainability:

1. Population
- Dampen population growth & stabilize size
2. Biological base
- Conserve & restore biological base, including fertile soil, grasslands, fisheries, forests &
freshwater & water tables
3. Energy
- Gradually minimize/phase out use of fossil fuel
4. Economic Efficiency
- Principal source of materials is recycled goods
5. Social Forms
- Social forms compatible w/ natural, technical, & economic characteristics. Existence of
coordinated decentralization & flexible centralization.
6. Culture
- Culture of beliefs, values, & social paradigms that define & legitimize natural, economic & social
characteristics
7. World Order
- Societies are connected w/ each other & to a shared environment. Cooperation in the negotiation
of sustainability.
Achieving sustainability will entail
1.Establishment of limits on population and economic growth
2.Emphasis on development tailored so that economic advances can be ecologically sustainable

Reading D
Towards Environment-Friendly Technologies
I. Strategies for Agriculture (by Crosson and Resenberg)

Sustainable Agriculture:
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
- is the major resource for research on new agricultural technologies for the developing countries.
a. reduce the environmental burden of pesticides and fertilizers
b. reduce the demand for irrigation water
c. continue to improve crop production per hectare.

Sample Technologies
1. Nitrogen-fixing - reduce the demand for fertilizer by fixing the nitrogen in the soil
2. Water harvesting - calls for the land to be shaped to permit rain to run off large upland areas into
collection devices or to spread out over smaller areas in sufficient quantities to wet the root zone
fully
3. Gravity-flow irrigation systems - made up of basins and furrows which can be improved by laser
levelling to guide the machines that level growing plants.
4. Trickle or drip irrigation system - deliver water directly to a small area adjacent to an individual
plant.
5. Multiple cropping --- growing two or more crops simultaneously in a single filed

II. Strategies for Energy use (by Gibbons, Blair, and Gwin)

Sample Technologies
1. Reliance on nuclear power - its use does not emit carbon dioxide or pollutants that cause acid
rain and generates 17% of the worlds supply of electricity
2. Solar-power generation - convert solar energy to heat; cheaper than nuclear energy
3. Hydroelectric power - carries high capital and environmental costs
4. Biomass - consists of wood and organic wastes; provides energy for much of the world
5. Geothermal energy - extracts heat from the underground masses of hot rock ocean-thermal
6. Energy conversion - exploits the difference between the oceans warm surface waters and its
cold depth

III. Strategies for Manufacture (by Frosch and Gallopoulos)

Todays industrial operations do not form an ideal industrial ecosystem, and many subsystems and
processes are less than perfect, but there are developments that can cause optimism.

Sample Technologies
1. Designed engineered scrap - used in the manufacturing of metals and plastics
2. Tailoring the production of waste from manufacturing process so that waste can be fed
3. Directly back onto that process or into related one
4. Designing packaging to incorporate recycled materials

BIBLIOGRAPHY
From Readings
(a) Richard Brennan, Environmental Penalties of High Technology
(c) Paul Smith, Industrialization and Environment
(d) Scientific American, Towards Environment-Friendly Technologies

From sa mga si-nend mo at nahanap ko

[1] Reddy, Ranga. "5 Bad Effects of Technology in Environment." For Mind Peace. N.p., 16 Oct.
2016. Web. 02 May 2017.
[2] "Science/Technology." Science and Technology | Our Future Planet. 7 Lansdown Crescent, Bath
BA1 5EX, n.d. Web. 02 May 2017.
[3] Vijirayar. "Impact of Science & Technology on Environment." LinkedIn SlideShare. N.p., 20 Dec.
2015. Web. 02 May 2017.
[4] Technology and the Environment. Retrieved from:
www.napavalley.edu/people/gbell/Documents/.../Soc%20122%20ppt_ch15.ppt