Volume 6, Issue 1
Fall, 2008
Can We Rely On Technology
To Fix The Problems It Created??
A Look Into
What We're Doing to Fix Some of the World's Biggest Problems.
Created
by Michael R. Tucker
Image created by Michael R. Tucker 2008
It seems as if everywhere you
turn you hear about new breakthroughs that are going to turn the world
around. Whether they be cars that getter better gas mileage or groups
that encourage you to go "green," we as a society are finally starting
to see just how much our lifestyle and choices effect not only our
immediate surroundings, but also every living thing on this planet. We
are feeling the effects of warmer summers and more devastating weather.
We are watching the price of oil skyrocket as world leaders say we are
heading into a shortage. We are watching the numbers of obese children
rise and the profits of video game creators soar. Amidst all this we
are being reminded constantly that technology isn't slowing down, no
matter where the planet is headed. It seems as if every adverse
situaiton has a technological solution, but is technology always the
answer?
This article looks into some of our society's most pressing
issues, including the effects of plasitc waste, the oil crisis, and
increasing obesity in both American adults and children. The problems
are presented with information gained through research, along with some
solutions that are currently being researched and implemented. By
showing both the problems and possible solutions, I hope to lay the
basis for you to come to your own conclusion to the question that will
soon be the focus of everyone's attention: Can we rely on technology to
fix the problems it created?
To begin, think about what people do on a daily basis. To create an
example, I'll develop a story about Tim. He's 24 years old and he works
as the manager of an outdoor outfitters store about 2 miles from his
home. He goes to work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. then goes home unless he
goes to hang out with friends. He lives alone in a small, two-bedroom
house and has a pet labrador retriever named Sadie. All in all, he's
pretty much your average young American. His schedule is much like many
other Americans, so we'll use this story to illustrate what types of
impacts simple activities have when you look at them on a larger level.
Every morning, Tim gets up and prepares breakfast. He heats up pastries
in the toaster or
pours a bowl of cereal and milk. He also likes a small glass of milk on
the side. When he uses the use the last of the milk, he rinses it out
and throws the empty jug into the garbage can under the sink. He
eats, brushes his teeth, runs out the door, and begins his morning
commute to work. He sits in traffic for a while until he finally
reaches the store to begin his day's work.
A few hours later he gets
off and stops by the grocery store to pick up some milk and leaves
the
store carrying the milk in a plastic bag. He gets home, unloads,
and takes Sadie out to play for a minute. He then comes back inside and
sits down to watch television and unwind for a moment.
After a few
minutes his stomach starts to growl a little bit, so he starts to think
about dinner. He decides to make a
run to a nearby fastfood restaurant that's only about a mile away, then
take it back home to eat in front of the television while watching the
evening news.
When he's done eating, he cleans up and begins to settle
in for
the evening, only to prepare himself for the same routine the next
day. Pretty simple, right??
Let's take a look into what
effects this lifestyle may hold...
I am currently a
student at Georgia Southern University, where I am pursuing a degree in
business
management with a minor in professional and
technical writing. I am a member of the Omicron Delta
Kappa Leadership Honor Society and
participate in various intramural sports. I love music and riding trails
by bicycle. You can reach me at
michael_r_tucker@georgiasouthern.edu or through Facebook. Feel free
to contact me with any questions regarding
this article or if you want to ride some trails! All images in this
article are my work unless otherwise noted,
in which case the owner of the copyright has granted
permission for use in my article.
Index
Page 1: Plastic Pollution
Page 2: Automobile Pollution
Page 3: Plastic Bags
Page 4: Health Issues
Page 5: The Answer
Background image created by Michael R. Tucker 2008
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