Week 4

Technology is an interesting part of the I=PAT equation because people hold different opinions on whether it is negative or positive. Some argue that technology is the reason the environment is in the shape it is today. Technology invented the smoke stacks, cars, and power plants that continue to pollute our planet. Others believe that technology can save us by producing "greener" products, as well as innovations that clean up the environment in some aspect.
I believe that technology is actually somewhere in the middle of these two points of view. Technology is very hard to predict. Because of this, it is hard to say what kinds of technology will be invented in the next 10, 20, or 30 years. To say that technology will save us is relying too heavily on an unpredictable variable. I do believe however that technology can offer some hope. If we invest in technologies that could possibly save some aspect of the environment than there will be a better chance that a breakthrough in that particular area will arise. This can be done by giving more government funding to scientists who are involved in research pertaining to the environment, or through private grants.
It is important that we invest in techology while not relying too heavily on it. Along with this it is important that we change our consumption patterns while at the same time doing something about the exponentially rising population on earth. Once we focus on these three things we will be moving in the right direction.