The Necessity for a Truly Global Approach

The shrinking nature of the world today absolutely necessitates a world-wide approach to reconciling nature and technology, something which the visionary Richard St. Barbe Baker espoused in his own lifetime.

And the existence of images such as the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, revealing in just one comparatively small and typical segment of the universe, myriad galaxies (each of which must in turn contain myriad planetary systems of its own) reinforces the reality that our planet, while large to us, is actually extremely finite. Therefore, realizing that our planet can be despoiled and made unlivable for humans and much if not all other life is a first step in gaining worldwide accord for environmentally-safe technology.

With the reality of astronomical knowledge such as the Hubble images, no thinking person can now deny that Earth is a finite body (a mere speck, really) floating in an unimaginably vast universe. Even those who believe our planet was created, and is being watched over, by a god or gods must now realize that we humans can indeed do great harm to our only home, which like anything else can only take so much abuse.

Not seeing that is akin to members of an isolated tribe somewhere on Earth not realizing that technically-advanced civilizations also exist on the same planet. To say the least, it’s dangerously short-sighted.

The failure of the U.S. to participate in the “Kyoto Accords” is an example of the difficulty in attempting to convince some countries to adhere to certain environmental guidelines while others (like China) choose to ignore them. Many U.S. politicians see adhering to the Kyoto Accords as meaningless when other countries get away with ignoring them. (However, while the Kyoto Accords may be an issue of dissention, China is adopting many innovative techniques to reduce environmental damage due to technology, as we’ll discuss later. Prominent Chinese thinkers know that the industrialization of their country cannot mirror the destructive path followed by the United States and other western countries, if disastrous results are to be avoided.)

However, unless more effort is made in the very near future, possibly irreparable environmental consequences may occur. Isn’t it more prudent to do all we can to prevent such possible consequences, rather than merely assume they won’t arise? Like driving at full speed in a blinding fog, a philosophy of merely “hoping for the best” just won’t cut it.

We have to think ahead and be prepared for what might be around the corner.

(CONTINUE READING)