Technology has both advantages and disadvantages for the planet. While technologies like renewable energy and GPS have benefits, weapons, pollution, and oil spills have severely harmed the environment. The development of nuclear weapons and their use in Hiroshima demonstrated the destructive potential of technology. Similarly, the BP oil spill released over 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, damaging thousands of miles of coastline. Unless solutions are found to curb pollution and prevent future disasters, technology will likely continue to negatively impact and potentially destroy the planet.

1. Technology Will Destroy Our Planet
By: Chad Van Dam

2. Introduction:
As time has progressed we have advanced the technology we can
create. Over time weapons have evolved from swords to firearms
and finally nuclear weapons. These weapons have become
increasingly more destructive and can potentially destroy the
planet. Also industrial speaking it has polluted our air and caused
negative effects to our ozone layer. In this presentation I will show
you the pros and cons of these technologies and there impact on
society.

3. Advantages of Technology on the Planet
• Protects us against harm and potential threats, for example firearms
from intruders.
• Has created green energy sources such as solar power and turbines to
generate electricity with wind.
• Advances in technology is arguably the reason that mankind with
survive! Our advances in technology (think computers, microwave and
cellular communications) are the reason that we are able to support a
world population that exceeds 6.95 billion people. ("Will technology
destroy," 2013)
• Technology is the reason that farmers are able to product more crops per
acre of land. The reason we have plants that can grow in the harshest
climates. Tech is mankind's savior. ("Will technology destroy," 2013)

4. Advantages of Technology on the Planet
Continued
• We can come up with technologies to help keep the planet healthy
and nourish it from previous industrial pollutions.
• We can replace our non renewable resources with renewable
technologies
• We can locate threats more easily with advanced GPS software's
and drones.

5. Disadvantages of Technology on the Planet
• With industrial technologies a lot of pollution has depleted our
ozone layer.
• Created weapons of mass destruction and chemicals that harm the
planet and animals in it.
• The impact of technology on environment has increased. Due to
the cost of health products, pollution and the different
diseases, which attack people, health costs have increased.
("Assessing the impact," 2008)

6. Disadvantages of Technology on the Planet
Continued
• Injury - Risk of accidents from traffic, explosions, falls, heat
stress, operation of machinery, handling of physically hazardous
wastes and resources (e.g. sharps), loss of hearing (Hay).
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals - Inhalation (e.g. air
pollution), dermal contact, ingestion of contaminated food and
water (e.g. pesticide residue) of hazardous chemicals and of
radioactive material (Hay).

7. Destruction caused by technology : Hiroshima
On August 6, 1945, the United States used a massive, atomic
weapon against Hiroshima, Japan. This atomic bomb, the equivalent
of 20,000 tons of TNT, flattened the city, killing tens of thousands of
civilians (Rosenberg). As you can see the destruction caused by
these technologies are detrimental to the world. It was only
invented with the intent to bring harm.

8. Destruction caused by technology : BP Oil Spill
From the BP oil spill you can see how technology can go
wrong and end up harming the environment. Here is some
information about the Oil Spill to show the effects:
• In the BP Oil Spill, more than 200 million gallons of
crude oil was pumped into the Gulf of Mexico for a
total of 87 days, making it the biggest oil spill in U.S.
history ("11 facts about," ).
• 16,000 total miles of coastline have been
affected, including the coasts of
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida ("11
facts about," ).
• The initial oil rig explosion killed 11 people and injured
17 others ("11 facts about," ).

9. Negative Technology Impact Facts:
• Pollution - Air, water, heat and noise pollution can all be caused by
producing and using technology ("Environmental issues," 2013).
• Consuming resources - Non-renewable resources, including precious
metals like gold, are used to make technology. ("Environmental issues,"
2013).
• Waste - Manufacturing technology creates large amounts of waste, and
used computers and electronics get thrown out when they break or
become outdated ("Environmental issues," 2013).
• Health hazards - Using toxic materials that can harm our health can
cause cancer, and technology addiction can lead to other health
problems like obesity and carpal tunnel syndrome ("Environmental
issues," 2013).

10. Conclusion
It is easy to see the negative impacts technology has had on the
world so far and is not far out of reach to say it will destroy the
Planet. With the nuclear weapons and oil spills to name a few
negative impacts it is easy to see that these disasters will slowly
destroy the planet. Unless we come up with technologies to prevent
these disasters you can expect more problems to arise in our
environment.

11. References:
• Will technology destroy us?. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.debate.org/opinions/will-technology-destroy-us
• Assessing the impact of technology on the environment.
(2008, January 10). Retrieved from
http://voices.yahoo.com/assessing-impact-technology-
environment-792233.html?cat=15
• Hay, J. (n.d.). Impacts involving human health and safety.
Retrieved from
http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/publications/integrative/enta/aeet/
6.asp

12. References Continued:
• Rosenberg, J. (n.d.). The atomic bombing of hiroshima and
nagasaki. Retrieved from
http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/hiroshima.htm
• 11 facts about the bp oil spill. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-bp-oil-
spill
• Environmental issues. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/facultyPages/environmen
t/issues.html