This document discusses the impact of technology on the environment. It notes that while technology has brought many benefits, its rapid development and society's growing dependence on it have led to increased resource extraction, pollution, and other threats to the planet. Several historical examples are given of technologies like DDT, lead, and asbestos that were widely adopted but later found to be toxic. The author argues that humanity has developed technologies faster than it can responsibly manage them and must shift society towards more sustainable living to ensure technology preserves the environment rather than destroys it.

1. Technology Will
Destroy Our Planet
Social Impact of Technology
By Tyler Roy

2. Technology in the Environment
 Instead of fantasizing
about a robot invasion, I
have decided to treat this
as an
environmental/social
question. Will technology
and our dependence on it
destroy our home, or will
technology preserve it?

3. Technology
 I find it hard to answer this
question because technology
cannot be referred to as an
entity nor can blame be
associated to something that
is the collaboration of our
efforts as people.
 Whoever is to blame,
technologies’ exist today that
threaten our planet.

4. Technology Boom
 With unmatched intelligence, people have
wielded this knowledge to develop
technologies to cater to all of our desires.
 Technological development is increasing
exponentially.
 Resource extraction and pollution are
increasing with it.
 Investigations into environmental impact
weren’t thought about much until the late
20th century.
 Dependence on technology is double edged
sword that may be our destruction in the end.

5. A Smart Guys Opinion
“It has become appallingly obvious that our
technology has exceeded our humanity.”
Albert Einstein.
 I liked this quote because it refers to the
Atom bomb as out of our grasp.
 Humanity is too irresponsible to manage
emerging technologies effectively and cannot
be trusted with power so infinite.

6. Technologies to Watch
 The widespread use of pesticides and
pharmaceutical products is considered
essential for agricultural, industrial and
domestic use. These products were
developed to protect public health and the
agriculture and livestock sectors.
 Numerous studies show the negative
effects on the environment and on human
health.

7. Silent Spring
“It is ironic to think that man might
determine his own future by something so
seemingly trivial as the choice of an insect
spray.”
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring.
Rachel Carson on the effects of DDT and
the ignorance of man to its toxicity.

8. We’re in a Toxic World
 Lead commonly used in gasoline, pipes and
paint was a great idea until the toxicity of
lead to the environment and human health
was made public.
 Once widely used substances such as
asbestos and heavy metals have also been
phased out of manufacturing processes due
to toxic effects that have killed many and
hurt the natural environment.

9. The Oil and Gas Industry
 The coal and gas industry
contributes a staggering
amount to greenhouse gas
emissions globally. As the
primary source of energy
production since the
industrial revolution, man’s
dependence on fossil fuel is
almost unbreakable.
 Global warming as well as
habitat destruction is a very
real and deadly prospect for
our world.

10. Weapons
 The defense industry is the
subject of incredible
amounts of technology
spending worldwide.
 Military inventions like GPS
have benefitted society a
lot.
 Inventions like the Atomic
Bomb keep the planet in
constant threat of
destruction.

11. J. Robert Oppenheimer
“I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”
J. Robert Oppenheimer, quoted from Bhagavad
Gita.
 This quote is significant because it happened at a
pivotal time in our history.
 The first atomic bomb (invented by
Oppenheimer) had just been tested in Nevada.
 The phrase basically describes and fears a new
power which is open to mis-use.

12. Technology is in Our Hands
“The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal
hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty, and
all forms of human life.”
John F. Kennedy.
 I liked this quote because even in the early 1960s, it could
be seen that technology provided great economic and
social benefits but could also destroy us if not properly
managed.
 Technology is our inventions to do with them what we will.
How can we allow technology to destroy us when it is just
an extension of our efforts and ideas.
 More true than ever in Kennedy’s time, the world was naïve
to the consequences on rapid technological advance.

13. Technology is in Our Hands
“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting
the kids working together and motivating
them, the teacher is the most important.”
Bill Gates.
 Enforces the idea that it is not technology
that must be crucified or reformed for its bad
behavior, it is the mentality of the people that
must be changed and it starts with education
and awareness.

14. Will Technology Save us
 Governments are beginning to promote
this change.
 Incentives awarded for investment into
Green Energy
 Tougher pollution laws and the restriction
of harmful chemicals
 Education and awareness programs are
the best way to inform this and future
generations about sustainable living.

15. Society Shift
 I am glad that world powers are beginning to
understand the challenges ahead of our
civilization.
 Throughout the 20th century, smart men like
Einstein, Gates, Oppenheimer and Kennedy
saw the destructive power in technology and
warned of its mis-use by a society blinded by
progress.

16. Conclusion
The dependence we share for everyday
technology is immense. Our dependence drives
our choices and therefor society is also driven
largely by what we are dependent on.
With our thirst for oil and love of
manufacturing it is almost impossible to
choose technologies that are cleaner.
If society is able to make a lifestyle change, we
can turn technology into our savior instead of
our demise.