1. Environment and Technology
Preview
Main Idea / Reading Focus
Protecting the Environment
Science and Technology
Quick Facts: World Internet Access
Faces of History: James D. Watson

2. Environment and Technology
Preview, continued
Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts
Video: The Impact of September 11, 2001

3. Environment and Technology
Main Idea
People are working together to protect the environment and using science and technology to improve living conditions around the world.
Reading Focus
What are people doing to protect the environment?
What changes are recent advances in science and technology bringing to the world?

4. Protecting the Environment
How do we balance growth and development with practices that will help protect the resources and environments we all count on?
Improved nutrition, medical treatment have led to dramatic increase in world’s population
1 billion to over 6 billion since 1800
Industrialization, development have placed great strain on world’s resources, environment
Major challenge: achieving sustainable development
Resource Use
Economic development that does not permanently damage resources
Try to balance need for development with protection of environment
Limit use of resources
Set aside areas where no development allowed
Sustainable Development

5. Forests
In areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America, Amazon region of Brazil, deforestation—clearing of trees, taking place at rapid rate
Trees burned, cut down to dig mines, clear land for farming, ranching
Some species of animals, plants have become extinct as result
Deserts
Sahel region of West Africa, people struggling with desertification—spread of desert-like land conditions
Caused partly by drought, partly by human activity
Trees cut for firewood, livestock overgraze land
Without plants, wind blows rich soil away; land becomes useless

6. Pollution
The global environment has been seriously affected by pollution. Human beings have always polluted their environments, but pollution did not become a serious issue until the Industrial Revolution.
Revolution brought new industrial processes
Created waste products that harmed water, air, land
By 1960s, began to be threat to human survival
Threat
Countries cannot agree on how best to fight pollution
One debate, issue of global warming
Rise in surface temperature of earth over time
How To Fight
Could bring disastrous changes in Earth’s climate
Many scientists believe air pollution caused by human activity has caused global warming
Global Warming

7. Laws and Problems
Some governments have taken legal action against pollution, global warming
Many nations do not have strict pollution controls in place
United States has passed many environmental laws but is one of largest polluters
Some fear strict emissions limits could harm economic development
Environmental Laws
Even with environmental laws in place, pollution, toxic waste can be released due to accidents at industrial facilities
1984, toxic gas leak at Indian factory killed over 15,000, injured a half-million more
1986, meltdown of Soviet Union’s Chernobyl nuclear plant sent deadly radiation into air over parts of Europe
Accidents

8. What environmental issues face the world today?
Find the Main Idea
What environmental issues face the world today?
Answer(s): pollution, global warming, deforestation, desertification

9. Science and Technology
Advances in science, technology have greatly changed world in
recent years
New discoveries brought great benefits, raised new questions, challenges
Space Exploration
Data from satellites, space shuttle missions have given scientists new information about origins, development of stars, galaxies, planets
Other data helping scientists understand earth’s climate change
Development of new technologies from space experiments
Scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses
Farther-flying golf balls

10. The Information Age More Advances Instant Communication Digital Divide
Other advances in science, technology have led to great changes in way we transmit, receive information
Exchange of information so important, some say this is Information Age
Instant Communication
Space satellites transmit signals for cell phone, satellite television
Personal computers, Internet link people, educational institutions, businesses, governments; people work, shop, maintain friendships online
Digital Divide
Not all areas of world have joined Information Age
Difference in access to Internet and other information and communications technologies called digital divide; obstacle many trying to overcome

12. Medicine and Genetic Engineering
Great medical advances took place in years following World War II
Medicines, vaccines developed to prevent spread of contagious diseases, treat physical, mental illness; techniques developed to transplant organs
Advances in ultrasound, laser, and computer technology allow doctors to more easily treat human body
Developments in study of genes, heredity have led to rapid growth in biotechnology, use of biological research in industry
Some biotechnology companies manufacture vaccines to treat diseases
Genetics
Other biotechnology companies genetically modify food plants
Altering genetic makeup of plant, animal called genetic engineering
Plants can be hardier, more productive than conventional
Grown where other crops struggle
Altering Genetic Makeup

13. Modified Crops Green Revolution
Genetically modified plants part of green revolution
Attempt by agricultural scientists to increase world’s food production
Food Production
Scientists developing new types of wheat, rice, other food crops
With enough water, fertilizer, pesticides, modified crops produce more than unmodified
Advocates
Believe genetically modified crops can reduce pesticide use
Say farmers will make more money on crops
Concerns
Genetically modified crops might have harmful effects on humans, environment
Could see possible reduction of genetic diversity

14. Possibilities, Questions
Human Genetics
Another use of genetic engineering being debated, cloning
Process of creating identical organisms from a cell of original organism
Cloning
Cloning offers possibilities for improving livestock, medical research
Presents serious moral, ethical, legal questions
Possibilities, Questions

16. Make Generalizations
How have recent advances in science and technology brought both great benefits and new challenges?
Answer(s): possible answer—hardier crops, larger yields; debate on the ethics of DNA research and work such as cloning

18. Video The Impact of September 11, 2001
Click above to play the video.