1. Technology And The Environment
Chapter 17
Technology And The Environment

2. Ecology: Studying the Natural Environment
Ecology- study of how living organisms interact with the natural environment
Natural environment- earth’s surface and atmosphere, including living organisms as well as the air, water, soil, and other resources necessary to sustain life
Technology- knowledge that people use to live in a physical environment

3. The Role of Sociology
Study how we interact and relate to the natural environment and impact it
Survey what people do in relationship to the environment

4. The Global Dimension
Environmental issues transcend national boundaries and are global in scope
Ecosystem-system composed of the interaction of all living organisms and their natural environment
All living things are interrelated
Change in one part impacts the other parts

5. The Rising Power of Technology
Humans have always impacted the environment
Primitive tools had less of an impact
The onset of industrial technologies led to a major increase in human impact on the environment

6. The Rising Power of Technology
The Environmental Deficit- profound and long-term harm to the environment caused by humanity’s focus on short-term material affluence

7. The Rising Power of Technology
There are three major reasons for understanding the deficit:
1. Environmental quality a social issue
2. Environmental damage is often unintended
3. The deficit is reversible

8. Population Increase Population growth came about with
Industrial technology and higher living standards
Improvements in medicine
Population growth and its effect on poverty
Population growth, technology and the strain on environmental resources

9. Cultural Patterns: Growth and Limits
The Logic of Growth
U.S. based on the value of material comfort
Optimistic view
Productive technology has made our life better
Progress will continue
We will figure our way out of environmental problems

10. Cultural Patterns: Growth and Limits
The Logic of Growth
Criticisms of the logic of growth thesis
Resources are finite
We will not be able to solve all environmental problems
The more powerful and complex the technology the more damage

11. Cultural Patterns: Growth and Limits
The Limits to Growth
Book written by Donella Meadows
Pessimistic view
Growth must have its limits
Must limit our growth before we destroy the environment
Resources are limited

12. Solid Waste: The Disposable Society
Material rich with products
Value convenience
Many products are built to be disposable
Landfills and running out of space
Volume
EPA- 30,000 landfills that contain hazardous materials

13. Solid Waste: The Disposable Society
Much of what goes into landfills takes a long time to degrade
Solution-turn waste into resources
Recycling

14. Preserving Clean Water
Hydrological cycle-the earth naturally recycles water and refreshes the land
Renews the water supply
Cleans the water
Two major concerns related to water
Water supply
Water pollution

15. Preserving Clean Water
Inadequate Water Supply
Rainfall
Rivers and lakes
Underground reservoirs
Other
Population growth and the demand for water
Complex technology and the demand for water

16. Preserving Clean Water
Water Pollution
Dumping of toxic waste
Water borne micro-organisms are found in some sources of drinking water and carry infectious disease
Typhoid
Cholera
Dysentery

17. Air Pollution Industrial technology and air pollution
Factory smoke stacks
Automobiles
Smoke from coal fired utility plants
Particles

18. Acid Rain
Precipitation, made acidic by air pollutants, that destroys plant and animal life
Power plants and the burning of fossil fuel
Contaminates water supplies
Deteriorates physical buildings
Destroys plant and animal life

19. The Disappearing Rain Forest
Regions of dense forestation, most of which circle the globe close to the equator
Deforestation of the rain forest
Population growth and demand for resources
Demand to raise the standard of living in countries where the forests are located
Impact on biodiversity

20. Global Warming Global warming
Industrial production and the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Greenhouse effect-rising temperatures
Impact on plant and animal life

21. Declining Biodiversity
Three problems related to the decline in biodiversity
1. Biodiversity and the decline in sources
of food
2. Loss of genetic resources and medicine
3. Extinction of species is irreversible

22. Structural-Functional Analysis: Highlighting Connections
Three sources of pollution from the Functionalist perspective
1. Technology as a source of environmental
pollution
2. Culture as another source of pollution
Values and attitudes that guide our behavior as it relates to the environment
3. Interconnectedness of social life

23. Structural-Functional Analysis: Getting the Big Picture
Pollution is a byproduct of industrial production and consumption

24. Social-Conflict Analysis: Highlighting Inequality
Pollution is rooted within inequality and self-interest
The pursuit of corporate interest and profit is the cause of pollution
Rich countries are overdeveloped and exploit the environment

25. Social-Conflict Analysis: Highlighting Inequality
Environmental racism- pattern by which environmental hazards are greatest for poor people, especially minorities

26. Conservatives: Grounds for Optimism
Conservatives and growing environmental awareness and better management of the environment
Logic of growth model
Anti-Malthusian

27. Liberals: Grounds for Concern
Neo-Malthusians
The limits to growth
Resources are finite
Better management and conservation of resources

28. Radicals: Grounds for Fundamental Change
Support the liberal agenda
See capitalism and global inequality as a source of pollution
The radical transformation of the global order and a reduction of production and consumption