Lojo, Delilah
Harmonizing Technology with Ecology: A Closer Look
by Delila I. Lojo
Technology and Ecology – in Diametric Opposition
Technology, sometimes referred to as the “Big T”, has become a household term for many people. It has also been defined in various ways. While machines, hardware, computers and such are all associated with technology, it is generally agreed that Technology is more than all these. Perhaps an inclusive definition from Stan Rose (1990) covers a good definition, as follows:
“Technology is a reproducible and publicly communicable way of doing things. The key word COMMUNICABLE shifts Technology into the world of ideas, language, beliefs, culture -- which explains why T-transfer from industrialized to non-industrialized nations is difficult until, either directly by acceptance or indirectly by acculturation, the receiving populations adopt western values, beliefs, perceptions.”
As such , technology has been equated with Progress, and vice versa.On the other hand, Ecology is defined as the scientific study of the distribution, abundance of life and the interactions between organisms and their natural environment. The term was coined by German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1866, when he defined it as "the comprehensive science of the relationship of the organism to the environment”. The word "ecology" is often used colloquially in such terms as social ecology and deep ecology and in common parlance as a synonym for the natural environment or environmentalism. Likewise "ecologic" or "ecological" is often taken in the sense of environmentally friendly.
In many of the current discourses on both economic development and environmental conservation, technology and nature are viewed in diametric opposition. Scott Lothes has stated that modern technology has been accused of “ruthlessness toward nature”. This is seen in the many ways that technology has harmed nature: floods, landslides, health issues, rivers drying up, unexpected temperature changes, animals going extinct and many more.
The advocates of both technology and nature (ecology) have long depicted the two as being at odds with each other. Scott Lothes even highlighted that such antagonism is destructive, as some form of technology is necessary for human survival on almost the entire planet.
While everybody agrees that Technology and Ecology should be harmonized, it is common knowledge that there are not enough measures being impelmented to promote this type of harmonization. As such, man continues to experience the deleterious effects of such neglect.
Being "Hooked" on Technology: "The Great Emotional Weakness of our Era"
Because of the progress that technology brings about, people get hooked on the big T, even to the extent of virtually worshipping it. Being updated in technology means being on top. There is always a rush to acquire new equipment with new features, including new machines, computers, mobile phones, and new cars. It gas gotten to be an addiction.
On top of the “addiction”, people get alienated from each other. In 2009, Handan Tülay Satiroglu, a Turkish-American independent journalist, wrote about technology and “addiction” to gadgets. He noted that modern technology allows us to reach out, but rarely to truly touch. It substitutes kaleidoscopic, brief, and shallow interactions for long, meaningful and deep relationships. As such, this type of addiction is now being referred to by Handan as the “Great Emotional Sickness of our Era”.
But to be fair, Handan further pointed put that technology alone is not to blame. Technology is only an enabler. Handan feels that the blame is on us, as “we have chosen to be over-plugged and under-connected, to immerse ourselves in an endless, unrestrained virtual experience. Add to this the cut-throat individualism, workaholism, suburbanization and relentless consumerism that define our modern existence,”
Hence, we may have found ourselves slowly slipping, in the words of T.S. Elliot, "into a splendid desert, a domed steepled solitude, when a stranger is lonely in the midst of a million of his race."
Technology therefore, does so much more than harm the environment. It also affects human relationships in a negative way. Our decreasing face-to-face interactions over the last 20 years may not only lead to social alienation but , more importantly, dangerous health effects.
Is such an “addiction” controllable? J Satan Rowe agrees that it IS controllable. He suggests that the first step is “RECOGNITION that we have a problem, that technology is a predicament, which then suggests the need to understand it and find satisfying alternatives to its destructive facets”.
Barriers to Harmonizing Technology and Ecology (T & E)
The main barrier to this T & E harmonization is the lack of the proper way of thinking; in this particular case, it is the lack of thinking on a cosmic perspective.
Primack and Adams clearly pointed this out when they said : “Earth as a planet is integrated into the cosmos, but our current thinking about it is not, and therein lies the root of many problems: we are out of tune with our planet and our universe.”
As a reinforcement of this notion, the Leopold Letter of 2001 further highlighted that we live in a culture that seems to assume that all of our problems can and must be solved with technology. One thing we seem to have forgotten along the way is that there is a cost to every technology. We have not always done a good job of assessing the costs, particularly those with long-term consequences, and now some of those costs are catching up with us.
In The Ghost Dances authored by Paul Saffo in 2005, it was noted that a large percentage of our global population still consider technology to be magic, in the literal sense. Up to this day , technology is still perceived to wield so much magic.
Lastly, Jon Van Mater , expressed that a sense of separateness rather than of wholeness seems to dominate human thinking at this stage of our evolution; and so we wreak havoc on each other .
All these authorities are one is saying that the absence of mindset of the people is perhaps the main, if not the only barrier to harmonizing T & E. Because of this thinking that is generally referred to as “out of tune”, the strategies to harmonize should be focused on , primarily) correcting and re-directing this type of mindset to the proper way.
What are The Options Towards Harmonization?/
The steps to harmonize should initially focus on developing the right mindset . This can be followed by a subsequent focus specific projects . It is proposed that the following options be strongly considered:
Programs , projects and activities to develop a cosmic perspective , a cosmic thinking and a cosmic mindset. This is certainly easier said than done, considering that the current “non-cosmic” mindset has been in place for many years. While it will take so much effort to make changes, it can ( and it has to ) start somewhere. This can be incorporated through seminars, school curricula, and related projects targeting different sectors of society.
Such efforts should focus on the interconnectivity of all the beings in this cosmos , reflecting how much harm could happen ( and has already been happening) if technology would be allowed to continue without proper regard to environmental well-being. And time is of the essence.
The business sector and the corporate world should give and should be given additional efforts. Most of the advances in technology come from the private sector. At the same time, the private sector is the main source of pollutants that have been harming the environment. They are also the ones “disturbing” the ecosystems in the mountains and wooded areas to give way to new high-rise buildings, golf courses, manufacturing plants and other similar business establishments. Top management of corporations should be asked to allocate time and resources to ensure more environmentally-friendly outputs. Corporate foundations should be asked to prioritize eco-friendly projects.
Youth-directed efforts should also be very beneficial. The youth represents a major portion of the population, especially in the Philippines. They can influence their peers, the younger generations and even the adults.
In the field of agriculture, there are new ways of nurturing the field and developing new ways of raising crops that are more eco-friendly and at the same time sustainable and profitable. These newly developed methods should be made known to more farmers , agriculturists and other stakeholders.
Engaging NGOs ( non-governmental organizations) and related coalitions can be a major sources of support. They have the numbers, the network and most of all, they have the influence.
Indicators of Positive Trends
While harmonizing T and E is a major problem, there are indicators of positive trends over the recent years that can be further help fast-track the harmonization process.
Examples are as follows:
New Spirituality among some groups leading to increasing consciousness on connecting with the environment, connectivity, etc. This is happening across different religious groups. Such new spirituality also focuses on spreading information on harmful effects of climate change, especially if it remains unabated.
Eco friendly practices. Increasing number of people preferring organic and other healthy foods, segregating / composting home garbage , tree-planting, engaging in physical fitness programs and other ways of caring for the environment .
The Clean Air Act of the Philippines, promoting more eco-friendly activities and penalizing acts inimical to the environment. The challenge now is for the lawmakers to ensure that the implementing rules and regulations are followed.
The rice terraces in the Philippines have just been declared a non- GMO zone. Let us hope that more areas will follow suit. We need more GMO –free zones in the country.
New agricultural eco-friendly techniques have been developed and tried on smaller scales. These can be further developed to be implemented on a larger scale. Such an n ecological approach would try to achieve higher production goals by using nature's own ecosystem instead of relying solely on technology.
The city of Marikina in Metro Manila and the town of Los Banos in Laguna have just passed a legislation , essentially limiting the use of plastic bags. Other cities and towns should follow suit.
New partnerships and campaigns to promote environmental care, including initiatives from the private sector and non-government organizations , or NGOs.
All these are indicators that a new consciousness have started to emerge. It remains, however, that so much still has to be done, and to be done or a much larger scale, if we have to save this planet. Unfortunately, time is not on our side.
New Cosmic Consciousness – Balancing T and E – Avoiding Further Destruction
The overarching notion that drives all these is an emerging, new cosmic consciousness.
But while it has started, it still remains a HUGE NEED. There is still so much to be done.
Scott Lothes has pointed out that establishing the proper balance is both difficult and essential; and while some technology can enable humanity's existence, too much will ensure our destruction.
On many counts, the new cosmic consciousness will certainly avoid further destruction.
References:
1. Joel Primack and Nancy Ellen Abrams, The View form the Center of the Universe
(Penguin Group, USA, 2006)
2. J Stan Rowe, Essays in Ecology, (NeWest Books, Edmonton. 1990)
3. Jon Van Mater, Our Place in the Spiritual Ecology,
https://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/science/sc-jvmj2.htm , 2007
4. The Leopold Letter ,
https://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/nwl/2001/2001-2-leoletter/director.htm , 2001
5. Thomas P Hughes, Human-Built World: How to Think about Technology and Culture,
2003
6. Handan Tulay Satiroglu, Lonely in an Electronic Wilderness: "The Great Emotional Weakness of our Era," the WIP. https://www.alternet.org/story/136300/, 2009
7. Scott Lothes, Balancing Technology and Nature in the Coastal Communities of Potiki , https://www.scottlothes.com/writing/balancing.htm, 2008
8. Paul Saffo, Ghost Dances , 2005