Development
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Martha M Kaluwe
Technology and the Environment
“Third World Dumping.”
There are several environmental problems that concern me, and the following is the most troubling; Dumping in the Third World Countries by the industrialized Western countries, usually in the name of charities. With the highly prevalent technology there is saturation of materials infested with toxic poisoning, lead and other harmful substance. The West has come to the extent of dumping GM food, dangerous drugs with consequencial side effects, and electronic equipment like computers and other devices that nolonger have market here. The sad thing is sometimes these commodities are transported in the name of aid to Third World countries. According to guardian.co.uk. “Two leading International environment and development groups accused the US of manipulating Southern African food crisis to benefit their GM food interests and using the UN to distribute domestic food surpluses which could not otherwise find a market.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2002/oct/07/gm.famine
On the other hand the poor Third World countries have it tough to balance between the need for food in order to survive and avoidance of the long term side effects that might accompany such handouts. The balance between hightech digital computer convenience and lack of disposable mechanisms is posing great danger to the Third World countries. Some observers wonder whether it is a good idea to flood these items in the Third World countires in the first place when the threat they pose to the environment without proper disposal is so well known. Back home in the West we have to deal with “corporate welfare,“ a phenomenon incomprehensible to normal reasoning. Only politicians can justfy it. As a result of this predicament society as a whole is raising a question of ethics in this matter. (Henslin, James. p. 431.)
How to eliminate dumping in the Third World is food for thought. I personally would encourage would be donors in my community to consider donating materials that are new or in very good condition and also sending along with the equipment like ‘computers’ clearly written labels that state the warnings and possible alternatives and options for disposing them. “A new report documents one such’cyber-age nightmare’ a cluster of villages of China where computers still bearing the labels of their onetime owners in America are ripped apart and strewn along rivers and fields.” http://www.ustoday.com/technews/2002/02/25/computer_waste.htm
I believe that there can be harmony between technology and the environment. If we follow the greenhouse rules, attempt to understand and follow the policies on global warming and work together with other Nations, not manipulating them for the best interest of American economy something good can come out human corporate effort to befriend nature. “Permaculture proposes that we make our peace with nature, abandon misplaced faith in the technological fix and connect through ‘intelligent design’ to freshly edible Earth.” http://www.newint.org/subscriptions/web/
On the other hand when it comes to drugs there are a lot of natural remedies form China, the Carribians and Africa. We need to use our technology to test those natural medicinal roots and fruits and use them appropriately without dancing to the tune of the pharmaceutical industries who only care so much about their profit. “There is double standard in the labelling of the drugs” by major companies like Organon on ‘anabolic steroids.’ This is a good example of how human lust for wealth can take the place of caring for life. http://www.newint.org/issue.129/hunger.htm
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chemistry and Industry, December 1992
Rift emerges over Third World Dumping. (Issues on Hazardous waste disposal)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5255/is_199212/ai_n20256498
Copies of the full report ‘An International Study on the Availability & Marketing of Anabolic Steroids. December 1982-March 1983 are available, including
Airmail postage from: International Organization of Consumers Unions, Regional
Office for Asia & the Pacific, P.O. Box 1045, Penang Malaysia.
Henslin, James M. Essentials of Sociology, A Down to Earth Approach. Pearson, Allyn
& Baston. Boston MA. 2008.
Puckett, Jim. AP. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2002/02/25/computer_waste.htm
Phillippines Nutrition Program. 1978-82
http://www.newint.org/issue.129/hunger.htm
Vidal, John.The guardian, Monday October 7, 2002
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2002/oct/07/gm.famine
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