Technological Fix

Technological Fix

1. North-South Divide?

   • Southern and Eastern Europe has fewer Internet users than the North
   • Latin America has similar Internet usage to Europe, despite being less developed
   • Some megacities in LDCs have high Internet usage

2. Barriers to Technology

   • Environmental Determinism
   • Physical
     • e.g. solar + wind energy only suitable in certain areas
   • Political
     • e.g. North Korea
   • Environmental
     • e.g. Organic Farming
   • Religious
     • e.g. Catholic objection to contraception Amish communities go without technology
   • Military
     • Strict control of nuclear technology

3. Technological Leapfrogging, e.g. The Green Revolution

   • Economic Impacts
     • Yields increased dramatically
     • Increased food security
   • Social Impacts
     • Machinery = Unemployment
     • Increased rural-urban migration
     • Only well-off farmers could afford new tech
     • Improved diet + health
   • Environmental Impacts
     • Eutrophication
     • Damages biodiversity
     • Some crops wiped out by pests + disease

4. Sustainable Technology

   • Economic
     • Cost-effective
     • Affordable
   • Social
     • Human health and wellbeing
     • Tech should benefit all people
   • Environmental
     • Little Pollution
     • No adverse effects on ecosystem
   • Resources
     • Renewable resources
     • Avoid fossil fuels

5. Possible Futures?

   • Divergent
     • No tech transfer
   • Convergent
     • Increased tech transfer to LDCs
   • Sustainable
     • Switch towards renewables