Modern Technology Owes the Environment an Apology

By

Osama AL Khatib
ID Number: 100032404

27th July 2010

Submitted to: Mr. Val Moran ENGLISH 102

Table of contents Abstract Introduction 1. Advantages of using modern technology 1.1. Reducing the pollution.
1.1.1. Radiation 1.1.2. Hybrid technology 1.1.3. Recycling

3 4 5

1.2.

Chemical usage.
1.2.1. Fertilization 1.2.2. Insecticides

1.3.

Genetic technology.

2.

Disadvantages of using modern technology 2.1. Pollution.

2.1.1. Air pollution 2.1.2. Water pollution

2.2.

Radiation.
2.2.1. Nuclear radiation

2.3.

Chemical usage.
2.3.1. Insecticides

2.4.

Genetic technology.

3.

Conclusion

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4.

References
2

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Abstract
This report explains an argumentative issue about the impact of the modern technology upon the environment. The report is divided into 6 main sections: namely, Abstract, Introduction, Advantages of using modern technology, disadvantages of using modern technology, Conclusion and finally the References. Section 1 the advantages, provides information and examples about the pros of modern technology on the environment by talking about radiation, hybrid technology, recycling, fertilization and insecticides. Section 2 the disadvantages provides information and examples about the cons of modern technology on the environment by talking about air pollution, water pollution, nuclear radiation, insecticides and genetic technology. And finally the conclusion talks about the difficulty to determine either to be with or against the modern technology.

Introduction

The impact of modern technology upon the environment is a double-edged dagger. Some people believe that the modern technology is beneficial to the environment. However, other people have other points of view. These opinions are based on the cultural, ethical, financial and scientific background that each person has. But does the modern technology really owe an apology to the environment? And what are the reasons for that? Before taking the decision, we should think carefully about the modern technology and its grace on the environment. It may owe an apology to the environment, but not all of its branches have this apology.

1.

Advantages of using modern technology

1.1.

Reducing the pollution.

1.1.1.

Radiation

Radiation technology uses the power of rays that travels through air or materials in order to give the desired objective. Modern technology uses satellites and communicational channels to help improving and benefiting the environment by Topographic Mapping. For instance, topographic maps can be used in studying the surface of the environment trying to observe the life of the living things such as, studying the growth of some plants and trying to protect them against extinction. In addition to this, it is used in predicting the disasters such as volcanoes and earthquakes and assessing the damage that can be resulted. So, by predicting the disaster we can reduce the damage in the environment by evacuating the animals that live there, and hence, we reduce the damage as possible as we can. [1]

1.1.2

Hybrid technology

Hybrid technology is environmentally friendly technology. Hybrid cars for an example are one of the implementations of this technology. It has the same aspects of the gasoline-powered cars but it benefits the environment by reducing the impact of gases that released by gasoline-powered cars on the environment by reducing tailpipe emission. So, by using this technology we lessen the danger of the emissions, greenhouse gases and other harmful gases such as CO and CO2 that may cause problems to the environment. Therefore, this technology has a great role in conserving the environment. [2]

1.1.3

Recycling

Recycling technology is an environmentally green activity. It is used to reduce the wastes and maintain the environment around us clean and healthy by remaking the wastes of us and the environment into a new product. For an example, we Re-manufacture the wastes of us such as papers, cans, glass, metal, plastic and other wastes to produce a new product that can be used again. So, instead of leaving the wastes pollute the environment, we benefit from them. In fact, by recycling just 35% of our wastes, we reduce toxic emissions in the environment equivalent to taking 36 million cars off the road.[3]

1.2.

Chemical usage.

1.2.1. Fertilization Fertilizers are supplemental feedings of nutrients not found in the soil in sufficient quantity to satisfactorily promote plants growth and good health[4]. So, fertilizers are very important to save the plants from death because of the lake of nutrients in the soil. They provide the needed nutrients that the plant must have. In fact, 16 basic nutrients must be available for plants through the soil to let the plant grows healthy and normally. Furthermore, there are many benefits arising from fertilizing such as making the plants harder and resistant to diseases and harmful insects, saving them from the competition of weeds for available nutrients and making the plants grow faster and produce more.[4]

1.2.2. Insecticides Modern technology in the chemical field has many benefits and advantages to us and the environment. For instance, by using chemical technology we produce different types of insecticides that protect our plants against diseases and harmful insects. For an example, in the 1990s, approximately 37% of the potential yield of plant crops was destroyed by pests in North America.
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Nevertheless, this percentage was decreased enormously by using the insecticides. [5] In addition to this, the insecticides protect the plants from certain lesions such as Potato Leaf Roll Disease [6], Tomato Mosaic Disease [7] and many other diseases that are caused by insects and viruses. So, it protects the environment and save it from degradation.

1.3.

Genetic technology.
Scientists use their knowledge and modern technology simultaneously to benefit the environment. For an example, they can increase the resistance of plants against pests, weeds, diseases and herbicides by modifying their genes and making mutations for them. So, they maintain the abundance of plants in the environment and limit their death. Moreover, by using this technology we can increase the nutritional value of foods make the plants yield in different seasons. As an example, Mango fruit matures only in summer. However, by modifying its genes we can make it matures in different seasons such as winter, fall or even spring. As a result of that, we can make the desired plant matures whenever we want to prevent it from extinction. [8]

2. Disadvantages of using modern technology

2.1.

Pollution.

2.1.1. Air pollution Many dangerous gasses are released into the air due to human activities that are related to technology and its implementations such as factories, transportation and refrigeration processes. For an example, industrial factories release many dangerous gasses during their operations such as carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons which cases damage in ozone layer, and nitrogen oxide.[9] in addition, cars and other kinds of vehicles also pollute the air by releasing poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide and dioxide.[10] As a result of these gases, the average temperature of the earth rises continuously causing Global Worming. his glo al worming resulted to raise the average temperature of the earth from 2.5 10.4 F y 2010 as asa e site said.[11]

And as a result of this increase in the temperature, the ice started to melt and causes an increase in the sea level from 10 25 cm in contrast with the previous 100 years.[12] Therefore, modern technology has a an enormous role in polluting the air.

2.1.2. Water pollution Beside the role of modern technology in polluting the air, it also has a big role in polluting the water. For instance, factories are considered as the most pollutant of water nowadays, approximately more than 50% of water pollution is caused because of industrial factories. These factories discharge their wastes such as oil, petrochemicals, mercury and other types of pollutants into lakes and oceans without any interest causing the pollution. And this pollution causes the death of aquatic creatures.[9] In addition to factories, Oil tankers also pollute the water if something wrong happened such as Leakage or collisions with other ships.

2.2.

Radiation 2.2.1. Nuclear radiation

Nuclear energy has become a very important source of energy nowadays. However, the pollution that is caused by it is the most dangerous one in the world. Nuclear energy harms us and the environment by its radiations. In addition, the impact of this kind of pollution does not disappear quickly; it remains for 100 years and even millions. Moreover, this kind of radiations is very poisonous toward the living thing and causes many diseases and even death. For an example, in some places in Ukraine, the soil is unsuitable for cultivation because of an explosion of nuclear power plant called Cherno yl happened in 1986. In addition to this, the soil will stay unsuitable for cultivation for millions of years because of the damage of nuclear radiation.[13]

2.3.

Chemical usage
2.3.1. Insecticides Despite of the benefits of using the insecticides, we should be careful while using them as the plenty uses of them harms the plants instead of benefiting them. The extravagant use of them leads to many problems such as toxity, stunts the growth and sometimes kills the plants. In addition to this, the use of the insecticides decreases the biodiversity because it kills the micro-organisms in soil. And hence, reduce soil fertility. [14] Moreover, insecticides also harm the animal as it harms the plants. The reason for this is, when the eaten plant has suffered from a disease and an animal ate it, the disease will transfer from it to the animal, so the animal also will suffer from the disease and may transfer the disease to the humans.

2.4.

Genetic technology
By using this technology, scientists can harm the environment either deliberately or unintentionally. They can harm the environment deliberately by creating viruses and modifying its genes to make them lethal and fatal. Also, by modifying the genes of some insects, they make them resistant to the insecticides and not affected by them. As a result of that, lesions will spread among plants and destroy them. In addition to this, if these lesions have transferred to the animals, they will cause many diseases and epidemics. Moreover, many problems and diseases can infect plants and animals because of this technology but unintentionally. For instance, by making mutations for either animals or plants, some mistakes can happened during the operation and causes problems and diseases were not anticipated such as disabilities, changing the aspect of a plant negatively like the shape and the volume, producing new lethal viruses and many other things.[15]

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Conclusion
To conclude, it is difficult to determine either to be beside the use of modern technology or against it. As we see, the implementations of modern technology to the environment range from beneficial to harmful. In other words, the implementations of modern technology may benefit the environment and cause problems at the same time. Nevertheless, the human choices are the solutions to ease the determinations of making the modern technology either harmful or helpful. But we must do our best trying to make the modern technology and the environment complement each other by taking the priority of conserving the environment first. Also, we have to force the government to put strict rules to monitor and control the activities of factories that affect the environment. In addition, we have to spread the consciousness about the dangers and the benefits of the modern technology among people to make them able to take their choices by advertisements and Seminars.

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References
[1] L.Ray. Uses of Satellites in Disaster Management. [Online]. Available: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4965765_uses-satellites-disaster-management.html on 23 July 2010. [2] All hybrid cars. Pros of Hybrid Vehicles. [Online]. Available: http://www.allhybridcars.com/advantages-of-hybrid-cars.html on 24 July 2010. [3] (2008, Apr). What is Recycling 7 Benefits of Recycling. [Online]. Available: http://www.pacebutler.com/blog/what-is-recycling-7-reasons-why-we-should/ on 23 July 2010. [4] Environmental Benefits of Using Fertilizers. [Online]. Available: http://www.agroservicesinternational.com/Environment/Benefits.html on 25 July 2010 [5] Insecticides - Benefits Of Insecticide Use.[online]. Available: http://science.jrank.org/pages/3599/Insecticides-Benefits-insecticide-use.html on 23 July 2010. [6] M.Putnam and C.M.Ocamb.(2010, January). Potato (Solanum tuberosum) -- Potato Leafroll Virus (Leaf Roll).Plant Disease Control. Available: http://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/disease.cfm?RecordID=898 on 26 July 2010. [7] L. Pfleger and R. J. Zeyen.Tomato-Tobacco Mosaic Virus Disease. University of Minnesota. [online].Available: http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg1168.html on 26 July 2010. [8] D.B.Whitman.(2000, April). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?.CSA.[online].Available: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php on 23 July 2010. [9] J.Minar. Pollution Caused By Factories. Articleclick.[online].Available: http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Pollution-Caused-By-Factories/3232 on 26 July 2010. [10] Air and breathing.Alpha online.[online].Available: http://www.nutramed.com/environment/carsepa.htm on 24 July 2010. [11] B.Dunbar. (2007, Nov). Global Warming. NASA. [Online]. Available: http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/global_warming_worldbook.html on 26 Jul. 2010. [12] P.Rekacewicz. (2000). Sea level rise due, past and scenarios due to global warming. United Nations Environment Program. [Online]. Available: http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/sea-level-rise-due-past-and-scenarios-due-to-global%20warming on 26 Jul. 2010.

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[13] (2002, Nov.). Chernobyl Accident. World Nuclear Association. [Online]. Available: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/chernobyl/inf07.html on 26 Jul. 2010. [14] C.Pearson. The Effects of Insecticide.eHow.[online].Available: http://www.ehow.com/about_5187760_effects-insecticide.html on 25 July 2010. [15] J.W.Drake, B.Charlesworth, D.Charlesworth, and J.F.Crow. Rates of Spontaneous Mutation.Genetics.[online].Available: http://www.genetics.org/cgi/content/full/148/4/1667 on 26 July 2010.

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