technology will destroy our planet

Technology Will Destroy Our Planet

Social Impact of Technology: Media Presentation

Taylor Chafe & Jeremy Guzzo

GNED 1002

April 12, 2015

Introduction Humanity has consistently increased our use and dependency on

technology to suit our needs, with little or no regard to its impact on the Earth.

This has lead to massive technological advancement, but severe damage to the environment.

We have created significant environment damage with this technology in numerous ways, including Global Climate Change and nuclear technology.

Nuclear Technology:

Since the Second World War, humanity has been using and testing nuclear fission weapons. These weapons split radioactive atoms which leads to the release of massive amounts of energy and large amounts of radiation.

The initial release of energy obliterates the surrounding environment, however the resulting radiation creates the most devastation.

The radiation is absorbed by the ground, air, water, plants, and animals. Radiation kills living organisms and can remain active in the affected area for thousands of years, depending upon the material used in the weapon.

Weapons of Mass Destruction-

Nuclear Technology:

The only use of nuclear weapons in war was by the United States on two Japanese Cities during WWII. This resulted in the death of over 125,000 people, and the utter destruction of the surrounding environment of the two cities.

Modern nuclear weapons are prevalent and more powerful which significantly increases the risks of nuclear war and its effects on our planet.

Weapons of Mass Destruction-

Radiation Exposure

Nuclear Technology:

Radioactive materials are used in the production of nuclear energy. Through the production process, extremely toxic waste is produced and must be disposed of.

These toxic materials emit radiation that with extended exposure can be fatal. The key difficulty with disposing of the material is the “half-life” of the waste which can vary from a portion of a second, to over 4 billion years.

Due to the material’s half-life, the area used to store the materials will be contaminated long after humanity will be around to use it.

If this process is continued, these areas will only become larger and more plentiful, destroying greater amounts of land.

Nuclear Energy and its Waste-

Nuclear Technology:

Over 20 recorded nuclear accidents have occurred across the world in non-military facilities since the 1950s. The worst accident occurred at the Chernobyl power plant in Russia.

The accident that occurred would be equivalent to the explosion of 12 atomic bombs in a concentrated area.

The nuclear meltdown killed 30 operators, and irradiated 125 others. The meltdown exposed radiation to the 125,000 people that lived within 30 kilometres of the power plant. Due to the long lasting effects of radiation and its ability to cause damage later in life, the resulting deaths of the accident is unknown.

It is estimated that the radiation will remain in the area for 48,000 years and should be inhabitable in approximately 600 years.

Nuclear Accidents-

Nuclear Technology:

Despite the disadvantages and risks associated with nuclear technology, it does have numerous advantages.

Aside from the small quantity on irradiated waste, nuclear fission consistently produces energy with a low quantity of waste product.

Without the advancement of nuclear weapons of technology, modern physics would not exist. Our understanding of the universe would be a fraction of what it previously was.

Nuclear Technology Advantages-

Global Climate Change:

The air we breathe is a delicate composition that when altered can have a serious impact on both humans and the environment.

Over that last 100 years, humanity has begun using technology that produces harmful emissions into the air. The primary of which is motor vehicles.

Although suitable replacements for gas powered engines are being developed, they are still commonplace around the world and release massive amounts of dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere everyday.

Air Pollution Through Vehicle Emissions-


Another major source of air pollution is industrial pollution. Factories release harmful chemicals into the air that are byproducts of producing materials such as plastics, metals, and other important materials that are crucial to modern everyday life.

Up to 50 percent of the United State air pollution is caused by industry. Less developed nations have fewer restrictions on air emissions than countries in North America. As a result, the quality of air in those areas can be significantly worse.

An example of this is Beijing, China. The smog produced in Beijing is actually visible from space:

-----------All the grey is in fact smog

Air Pollution Through Industrial Emissions-


Despite being environmentally harmful, we are very reliant on the technologies that cause the most harm to the air.

Modern society relies completely on the industrial production in both places like Beijing and here in Canada. Although the pollutants created through the production are harmful, many important products that we need to survive (food packaging, asphalt for roads, car parts, electronics, etc.) are produced in such a fashion.

Car are extremely crucial to modern life. In every country in the world motor vehicles are relied upon for the delivery of food and other goods, as well as the transportation of people to work or other places. Without motor vehicles, any type of travel more than a few kilometres would take days, essentially preventing any form of modern commerce or travel.

Air Pollution: Important Technologies-


Due to increased water temperatures from global climate change, polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate. This impacts global water levels, temperatures, currents, and chemical compositions of the oceans.

This has lead to an increase in flooding of shore areas, extinction of aquatic species, and increased environmental disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis.

Between 2003-2012, the rate of ice thinning in West Antarctica increased by 70 percent. In addition, Eastern Antarctica which was previously gaining mass has remained similar in size since 2003.

https://news.yahoo.com/video/capturing-melting-ice-glaciers-antarctica-212851463.html

Rising Water Levels-





In the Pacific Ocean, there is an area known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Various human trash that is produced through technological advance is compiled into an area that circulates an area of 20 million square kilometres.

This “garbage Island” consists entirely of man made trash, which is highly toxic to any living organism. Approximately 70 percent of the garbage in this patch is actually located beneath the waters surface.

Many animals feed on or are caught in the garbage, which is fatal. This can result in endangerment and extinction of species, which can also result in severe alterations to the food chain.

Plastics within the garbage release harmful toxins that are harmful to aquatic species.

Garbage In the Ocean-


Forests are complex systems that are extremely fragile. Deforestation and destroyed a significant amount of forests around the world. Over 15 million acres are lost each year to deforestation.

Trees within the forest convert carbon dioxide into oxygen which is a crucial process to all life on Earth. Furthermore, forests act as “carbon sinks” which is important in maintaining the fragile balance of the planet’s natural air.

Deforestation is caused by the clearing of land for urbanization or farms as well as the need for fuel or for use in the production of commercial products like paper, furniture, and lumber.

Modern technology has both increased the need for these wood products (increased industrial methods, increased consumer demand) and the ease with which they are collected (harvesting equipment).

Deforestation-


Although deforestation has destroyed nearly half of the tropical forests on Earth, there is a definite need for the land and wood available from forests.

Lumber is needed around the world for everything from construction, to furnishing, to paper, to fuel and these needs are not dwindling with the ever-increasing human population. In Canada there are requirements for replacing trees cut down, but in developing countries there are significantly fewer environmental restrictions.

The human population also impacts the need for further urbanization. With higher population comes the need for more homes, stores, roads and infrastructure to serve the residents. This means the removal of forests to construct these.

Deforestation: A Need for Wood Products-


One of the most shocking effects Global Climate Change has had is the endangerment and extinction of numerous animal species.

Around the world, particular specialized species that thrive in their distinct environment (polar bears) are in danger of dying off. This impacts these particular species, as well as others that are part of the same food chain.

For example, fish around the world are moving Northward, in search of a colder climate. A number of fish species are not able to adapt to this change, and eventually die.

Also, corals are fragile species, and increasing ocean temperatures and changes to the chemical composition can lead to the death of entire coral reefs. These reefs are home to many aquatic species, all of which would die if coral reefs were ruined.

One example of a species that is believed to be extinct due to Global Climate Change is the Golden Toad of Central America. Climate change and drought has altered it’s habitat, leading to the loss of the species.

Extinction-

References

Through the last 200 years, technological advancement has had drastic and unforeseen effects on the natural characteristics of our planet.

For many of these technologies, humanity was not aware of the damage being caused at the time of first use. Now that we have become too reliant on these technologies, it is very difficult to stop using them, despite that we know what they are doing to the environment. Without these technologies however, we would have a significantly less developed society. Were it not for our current level of technological advancement, it might be impossible for us to fix these issues or others that come up, without our technology.

References The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from

http://www.atomicarchive.com/Docs/MED/med_chp10.shtml

Bradford, A. (2013, March 6). Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html

Car-pollution. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.healthvalue.net/carpollution.html

Dell'Amore, C. (2014, April 2). 7 Species Hit Hard by Climate Change-Including One That's Already Extinct. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140331-global-warming-climate-change-ipcc-animals-science-environment/Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/?ar_a=1

McMahon, M. (2015, March 29). What Is Industrial Pollution? Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-industrial-pollution.htm

(n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from https://news.yahoo.com/video/capturing-melting-ice-glaciers-antarctica-212851463.html

(n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.pic2fly.com/China Smog From Space.html

Oskin, B. (2015, March 27). Antarctica's Ice Shelves Are Thinning Fast. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/50282-antarctica-ice-shelves-rapidly-thinning.html

Parry, W. (2012, January 4). Extinctions from Climate Change Underestimated. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.livescience.com/17719-species-extinctions-climate-change.html

Pollution Issues. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.pollutionissues.com/Pl-Re/Radioactive-Waste.html

technology will destroy our planet

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recorded nuclear accidents