LESSON 1

Why the Future Does Not Need Us

OVERVIEW

This topic tackles the danger posed by science and technology unchecked by moral and ethical standards. It primarily
draws insights from William Nelson Joy's (2000) article, "Why the future doesn't need us?", in evaluating
contemporary human experience in the midst of rapid developments in science and technology. Such experience will
be discussed to see whether it strengthens and enlightens the human person functioning in society or not.

INTRODUCTION

 Can you imagine a future without the human race?

 Do you think robots and machines can replace humans?
 Do you believe that there come a time when human existence will be at the mercy of robots and machines?
 Is it possible that medical breakthroughs in the future may go terribly wrong that a strain of drug-resistant
viruses could wipe out the entire human race?
 For some, imagining a future without humans is nearly synonymous to the end of the world. Many choose not to
speculate about a future where humans cease to exist while the world remains.
 However, a dystopian society void of human presence is the subject of many works in literature and film.
 The possibility of such society is also a constant topic of debates.

Why the Future Doesn't Need Us?

 In April 2000, William Nelson Joy, an American computer scientist and chief scientist of Sun Microsystems, wrote
an article for Wired magazine entitled Why the future doesn't need us?
 In his article, Joy warned against the rapid rise of new technologies. He explained that 21st-century
technologies-- genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics-- have become very powerful that it can potentially bring
about new classes of accidents, threats, and abuses.
 He further warned that these dangers are even more pressing because they do not require large facilities or even
rare raw materials -- knowledge alone will make them potentially harmful to humans.
 Joy argued that robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology pose much greater threats than technological
developments that have come before.
 He particularly cited the ability of nanobots to self replicate, which could quickly get out of control.
 In the article, he cautioned humans against overdependence on machines.
 He also stated that if machines are given the capacity to decide on their own, it will be impossible to predict how
they might behave in the future. In this case, the fate of human race would be at the mercy of machines.
 Joy also voiced out his apprehension about rapid increase of computer power.
 He was also concerned that computers will eventually become more intelligent than humans, thus ushering
societies into dystopian visions, such as robot rebellions.
 To illuminate his concern, Joy drew from Theodore Kaczynski's book, Unabomber Manifesto, where Kaczynski
described that the unintended consequences of the design and use of technology are clearly related to Murphy's
Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. "
 Since the publication of the article, Joy's arguments against 21st century technologies have received both
criticisms and expression of shared concern.
 Critics dismissed Joy's article for deliberately presenting information in an imprecise manner that obscures the
larger picture or state of things.
 Others go as far as accusing Joy of being a neo-Luddite, someone who rejects new technologies and shows
technophobic leanings.
 As a material, Joy's article tackles the unpleasant and uncomfortable possibilities that a senseless approach to
scientific and technological advancements may bring.
 Whether Joy's prepositions are a real possibility or an absolute moonshot, it is unavoidable to think of a future
that will no longer need the human race.
 In this case, it is preeminently necessary that the scientific community, governments, & businesses engage in a
discussion to determine the safeguards of humans against the potential dangers of science and technology.

LESSON 2
INFORMATION AGE

OVERVIEW

This topic traces the development of the information age and discusses its impacts on society. It tackles the various
ways the information age and social media have influenced society and human lives.

The Gutenberg Press

 German goldsmith, Johannes Gutenberg, invented the printing press around 1440.
 This invention was a result of finding a way to improve the manual, tedious, and slow printing methods.
 A printing press is a device that applies pressure to an inked surface lying on a print medium, such as cloth or
paper, to transfer ink.
 Gutenberg's hand mould printing press led to the creation of metal movable type.
 Later, the two inventions were combined to make printing methods faster and they drastically reduced the cost
of printing documents.
 The beginnings of mass communication can be traced back to the invention of the printing press.
 The development of a fast and easy way of disseminating information in print permanently reformed the
structure of the society.
 Political and religious authorities who took pride in being learned were threatened by the sudden rise of literacy
among people.
 Wide circulation of information and accessibility of books was made possible by the printing press.

“Enigma M4" Cipher Machine

 As years progressed, calculations became involved in communication due to the rapid developments in the trade
sector.
 Back then, people who complied actuarial tables and did engineering calculations served as "computers" .
 During WWII, the Allies, the countries that oppose the Axis powers were challenged with a serious shortage of
human computers for military calculations.
 When soldiers left for war, the problem got worse, so the United States addressed the problem by creating
Harvard Mark 1, a general purpose electromechanical computer that was 50 feet long and capable of doing
calculations in seconds that usually took people hours.
 At the same time, Britain needed mathematicians to crack the German's Navy Enigma code. The Enigma was an
enciphering machine that the German armed forces used to securely send messages.
 Alan Turing, an English mathematician, was hired in 1936 by the British top-secret Government Code and Cipher
School at Bletchley Park to break the Enigma code.
 His code-breaking methods became an industrial process having 12,000 people working 24/7.
 To counteract this, the Nazis made the Enigma more complicated having approximately 37,072,213 possible
permutations of every encrypted messages.

Turing's Bombe

 Turing, working on the side of the Allies, invented Bombe, an electromechanical machine that enabled British to
decipher encrypted messages of the German Enigma machine.
 This contribution of Turing along with other cryptologists shortened the war by two years (Munro, 2012).

Turing's Machine

 In his paper On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungs problem, first published in 1937,
Turing presented a theoretical machine called the Turing machine that can solve any problem from simple
instructions encoded on a paper tape.
 He also demonstrated the simulation of the Turing machine to construct a single Universal Machine.
Modern Computer

 Turing's machine became the foundation of computer science and the invention of a machine later called a
computer, that can solve any problem by performing any task from a written program (DeHaan, 2012)
 In 1976 Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Inc., developed the computer that made him famous: the Apple 1.
Steve Jobs, his friend, suggested to sell the Apple 1 as a fully assembled circuit board.

The Rise of Social Media Platforms

 From 1973 onward, social media platforms were introduced from variations of multi-user chat rooms; instant-
messaging applications; bulletin-board forum systems, game-based social networking sites and business-oriented
social networking sites; discovery and dating websites, blogging platform, video-sharing services, live-streaming,
photo-video sharing, and question-and-answer platforms.
 To date, these social media platforms enable information exchange at its most efficient level.

Fazit

 The information age, which progressed from the invention of the printing press to the development of numerous
social media platforms, has immensely influenced the lives of the people.
 The impact of these innovations can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on the use of these
technologies.

LESSON 3

NANOTECHNOLOGY

OVERVIEW

 This topic discusses nanotechnology and how the manipulation of matter on a nanoscale impacts the society.
 It focuses on both the advantages and disadvantages of nanotechnology.

INTRODUCTION

 Nanotechnology involves the understanding and control of matter at the nanometer-scale.

 The so-called nanoscale deals with dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers.
 A nanometer is an extremely small unit of length—a billionth (10-9) of a meter. Just how small is a nanometer
(nm)? A single human hair is about 80,000 to 100,000 nm wide.
 Nanotechnology can increase the surface area of a material.
 This allows more atoms to interact with other materials.
 An increased surface area is one of the chief reasons nanometer-scale materials can be stronger, more durable,
and more conductive than their larger-scale (called bulk) counterparts.
 Nanotechnology is not microscopy.
 "Nanotechnology is not simply working at ever smaller dimensions, " the National Nanotechnology Initiative says.
 "Rather, working at the nanoscale enables scientists to utilize the unique physical, chemical, mechanical, and
optical properties of materials that naturally occur at that scale. "
 Scientists study these properties for a range of uses, from altering consumer products such as clothes to
revolutionizing medicine and tackling environmental issues.

HISTORY OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

 American physicist Richard Feynman is considered the father of nanotechnology.

 He introduced the ideas and concepts behind nanotech in a 1959 talk titled "There’s Plenty of Room at the
Bottom.
 Feynman did not use the term "nanotechnology, " but described a process in which scientists would be able to
manipulate and control individual atoms and molecules.

NANOTECH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

 Many governments, scientists, and engineers are researching the potential of nanotechnology to bring
affordable, high-tech, and energy-efficient products to millions of people around the world.
 Nanotechnology has improved the design of products such as light bulbs, paints, computer screens, and fuels.

ENERGY

 Nanotechnology is helping inform the development of alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
Solar cells, for instance, turn sunlight into electric currents.
 Nanotechnology could change the way solar cells are used, making them more efficient and affordable.

WATER

 Access to clean water has become a problem in many parts of the world.
 Nanomaterials can strip water of toxic metals and organic molecules. For example, researchers have discovered
that nanometer-scale specks of rust are magnetic, which can help remove dangerous chemicals from water.
Other engineers are developing nanostructured filters that can remove virus cells from water.
 Researchers are also experimenting with using nanotechnology to safely, affordably, and efficiently turn saltwater
into freshwater, a process called desalination.
 In one experiment, nano-sized electrodes are being used to reduce the cost and energy requirements of
removing salts from water.

OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP

 Scientists and engineers are experimenting with nanotechnology to help isolate and remove oil spilled from
offshore oil platforms and container ships.
 One method uses nanoparticles' unique magnetic properties to help isolate oil.
 Oil itself is not magnetic, but when mixed with water resistant iron nanoparticles, it can be magnetically
separated from seawater.

NANOTECH AND PEOPLE

Clothing

 Scientists and engineers are using nanotechnology to enhance clothing.

 By coating fabrics with a thin layer of zinc oxide nanoparticles, for instance, manufacturers can create clothes
that give better protection from ultraviolet radiation, like that from the sun.

Cosmetics

 Many cosmetic products contain nanoparticles.

 For instance, the nanoparticles used in sunscreen (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) provide reliable, extensive
protection from harmful UV radiation.
 These nanomaterials offer better light reflection for a longer time period.

Food

 The food industry is using nanomaterials in both the packaging and agricultural sectors.
 Clay nanocomposites provide an impenetrable barrier to gases such as oxygen or carbon dioxide in lightweight
bottles, cartons, and packaging films.
 Silver nanoparticles, embedded in the plastic of storage containers, kill bacteria.

Nanomedicine

 Nanotechnology can help medical tools and procedures be more personalized, portable, cheaper, safer, and
easier to administer.
 Silver nanoparticles incorporated into bandages, for example, smother and kill harmful microbes.
 This can be especially useful in healing burns.
 Nanotech is also furthering advances in disease treatments.
GREY GOO AND OTHER CONCERNS

 Unregulated pursuit of nanotechnology is controversial. In 1986, Eric Drexler wrote a book called Engines of
Creation, which painted a vision of the future of nanotech, but also warned of the dangers.
 The book’s apocalyptic vision included self-replicating nanometer-scale robots that malfunctioned, duplicating
themselves a trillion times over.
 Drexler’s vision is nicknamed the "grey goo" scenario. Many experts think concerns like "grey goo" are probably
premature.
 Even so, many scientists and engineers continue to voice their concerns about nanotech’s future.
 Nano-pollution is the nickname given to the waste created by the manufacturing of nanomaterials.
 Some forms of nano-pollution are toxic, and environmentalists are concerned about the bioaccumulation, or
build-up, of these toxic nanomaterials in microbes, plants, and animals.
 Nanotoxicology is the study of toxic nanoparticles, particularly their interaction with the human body.
 Nanotoxicology is an important research field, as nanomaterials can enter the body both intentionally and
unintentionally.
 Another concern about nanotechnology is the price. Nanotech is an expensive area of research, and largely
confined to developed nations with strong infrastructure.

CONCLUSION

 It should be noted that nanoscience and nanotechnology have been emerging rapidly during recent years,
 It is imperative, therefore, that experts and governments support themselves with enough knowledge on how
nanomaterials work for the benefit of society.

LESSON 4

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs) and GENE THERAPHY

OVERVIEW

 This topic discusses the moral and ethical issues concerning GMOs and their impacts on society.
 It also sheds light on the various forms and applications of gene therapy.

INTRODUCTION

 The cells of a human being or other organism have parts called “genes” that control the chemical reactions in the
cell that make it grow and function and ultimately determine the growth and function of the organism.
 An organism inherits some genes from each parent and thus the parents pass on certain traits to their offspring.
 Gene therapy and genetic engineering are two closely related technologies that involve altering the genetic
material of organisms.
 The distinction between the two is based on purpose.
 Gene therapy seeks to alter genes to correct genetic defects and thus prevent or cure genetic diseases.
 Genetic engineering aims to modify the genes to enhance the capabilities of the organism beyond what is
normal.
 Ethical controversy surrounds possible use of the both of these technologies in plants, nonhuman animals, and
humans.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 People have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding
techniques.
 Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet
corn to hairless cats.
 But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent
generations, has been limited to naturally occurring variations.
 In recent decades, however, advances in the field of genetic engineering have allowed for precise control over
the genetic changes introduced into an organism.
 Today, we can incorporate new genes from one species into a completely unrelated species through genetic
engineering, optimizing agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical
substances.

CURRENT USE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 Agricultural plants are one of the most frequently cited examples of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
 Some benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture are increased crop yields, reduced costs for food or drug
production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition and food quality, resistance to pests
and disease, greater food security, and medical benefits to the world's growing population.
 Advances have also been made in developing crops that mature faster and tolerate aluminum, boron, salt,
drought, frost, and other environmental stressors, allowing plants to grow in conditions where they might not
otherwise flourish (Takeda & Matsuoka, 2008).
 Other applications include the production of nonprotein (bioplastic) or nonindustrial (ornamental plant)
products.
 A number of animals have also been genetically engineered to increase yield and decrease susceptibility to
disease. For example, salmon have been engineered to grow larger and mature faster, and cattle have been
enhanced to exhibit resistance to mad cow disease (United States Department of Energy, 2007)
 The pharmaceutical industry is another frontier for the use of GMOs.
 In 1986, human growth hormone was the first protein pharmaceutical made in plants (Barta et al., 1986), and in
1989, the first antibody was produced (Hiatt et al., 1989).
 As of 2003, several types of antibodies produced in plants had made it to clinical trials
 The use of genetically modified animals has also been indispensable in medical research.
 Transgenic animals are routinely bred to carry human genes, or mutations in specific genes, thus allowing the
study of the progression and genetic determinants of various diseases.

POTENTIAL GMO APPLICATIONS

 Many industries stand to benefit from additional GMO research.

 For instance, a number of microorganisms are being considered as future clean fuel producers and biodegraders.
 In addition, genetically modified plants may someday be used to produce recombinant vaccines.
 In fact, the concept of an oral vaccine expressed in plants (fruits and vegetables) for direct consumption by
individuals is being examined as a possible solution to the spread of disease in underdeveloped countries, one
that would greatly reduce the costs associated with conducting large-scale vaccination campaigns.
 Work is currently underway to develop plant-derived vaccine candidates in potatoes and lettuce for hepatitis B
virus (HBV), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), and Norwalk virus.
 Genetically modified animals have even been used to grow transplant tissues and human transplant organs, a
concept called xenotransplantation.
 The rich variety of uses for GMOs provides a number of valuable benefits to humans, but many people also worry
about potential risks.

RISKS AND CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING THE USE OF GMOS

 Despite the fact that the genes being transferred occur naturally in other species, there are unknown
consequences to altering the natural state of an organism through foreign gene expression.
 After all, such alterations can change the organism's metabolism, growth rate, and/or response to external
environmental factors.
 These consequences influence not only the GMO itself, but also the natural environment in which that organism
is allowed to proliferate.
 Potential health risks to humans include the possibility of exposure to new allergens in genetically modified
foods, as well as the transfer of antibiotic-resistant genes to gut flora.
 Horizontal gene transfer of pesticide, herbicide, or antibiotic resistance to other organisms would not only put
humans at risk, but it would also cause ecological imbalances, allowing previously innocuous plants to grow
uncontrolled, thus promoting the spread of disease among both plants and animals.

UNINTENDED IMPACTS ON OTHER SPECIES: THE BT CORN CONTROVERSY

 One example of public debate over the use of a genetically modified plant involves the case of Bt corn.
 Bt corn expresses a protein from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis.
 Prior to construction of the recombinant corn, the protein had long been known to be toxic to a number of
pestiferous insects, including the monarch caterpillar, and it had been successfully used as an environmentally
friendly insecticide for several years.
 The benefit of the expression of this protein by corn plants is a reduction in the amount of insecticide that
farmers must apply to their crops.
 Unfortunately, seeds containing genes for recombinant proteins can cause unintentional spread of recombinant
genes or exposure of non-target organisms to new toxic compounds in the environment.
 Another concern associated with GMOs is that private companies will claim ownership of the organisms they
create and not share them at a reasonable cost with the public.
 If these claims are correct, it is argued that use of genetically modified crops will hurt the economy and
environment, because monoculture practices by large-scale farm production centers (who can afford the costly
seeds) will dominate over the diversity contributed by small farmers who can't afford the technology.

GMO'S AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC: PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS CONCERNS

 According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, public acceptance trends in Europe
and Asia are mixed depending on the country and current mood at the time of the survey (Hoban, 2004).
 Attitudes toward cloning, biotechnology, and genetically modified products differ depending upon people's level
of education and interpretations of what each of these terms mean.
 Support varies for different types of biotechnology; however, it is consistently lower when animals are
mentioned.
 Furthermore, even if the technologies are shared fairly, there are people who would still resist consumable
GMOs, even with thorough testing for safety, because of personal or religious beliefs.
 The ethical issues surrounding GMOs include debate over our right to "play God, " as well as the introduction of
foreign material into foods that are abstained from for religious reasons.
 Some people believe that tampering with nature is intrinsically wrong, and others maintain that inserting plant
genes in animals, or vice versa, is immoral.
 When it comes to genetically modified foods, those who feel strongly that the development of GMOs is against
nature or religion have called for clear labeling rules so they can make informed selections when choosing which
items to purchase.
 Respect for consumer choice and assumed risk is as important as having safeguards to prevent mixing of
genetically modified products with non-genetically modified foods.
 In order to determine the requirements for such safeguards, there must be a definitive assessment of what
constitutes a GMO and universal agreement on how products should be labeled.
 These issues are increasingly important to consider as the number of GMOs continues to increase due to
improved laboratory techniques and tools for sequencing whole genomes, better processes for cloning and
transferring genes, and improved understanding of gene expression systems.
 Thus, legislative practices that regulate this research have to keep pace.
 Prior to permitting commercial use of GMOs, governments perform risk assessments to determine the possible
consequences of their use, but difficulties in estimating the impact of commercial GMO use makes regulation of
these organisms a challenge.

CONCLUSION

 GMOs benefit mankind when used for purposes such as increasing the availability and quality of food and
medical care, and contributing to a cleaner environment.
 If used wisely, they could result in an improved economy without doing more harm than good, and they could
also make the most of their potential to alleviate hunger and disease worldwide.
 However, the full potential of GMOs cannot be realized without due diligence and thorough attention to the risks
associated with each new GMO on a case-by-case basis.

LESSON 5

BIODIVERSITY AND A HEALTHY SOCIETY

OVERVIEW

This topic focuses on the interconnections among society, environment, and health. It tackles the value of
biodiversity as a source of food, medicine, and other biological resources in relation to the consumption of goods.
The topic specifically covers the relationship of biodiversity with (a) health and medicine; (b) food; (c) energy; (d)
water storage and flood control; and (e) air and water treatment.

INTRODUCTION

 Biodiversity is defeined as the varietu of life present in an ecosystem.

 Biodiversity is important in how society benefits from it.
 There are three different types of biodiversity: genetic, specific, and ecological diversity.
 Genetic biodiversity refers to the variations among organisms of the same species. These variations are usually
passed down from parents to offspring.
 Species diversity refers to the variety of species within a particular region.
 Species diversity is influenced by the the environmental conditions in the region.
 Species are the normal measure of biodiversity for these are the basic units of biological classification.
 Species are grouped together in families based on shared characteristics.
 Ecological diversity refers to the network of different species in an ecosystem and the interaction of these
species.
 The variations of climatic and altitudinal conditions along with varied ecological habitats are the reasons for the
richness in biodiversity of a particular region on Earth.
 Society benefits greatly from the richness of biodiversity since humans can source from nature's biological
resources such as food, medicine, energy, and more.
 Biodiversity in natural ecosystems can also regulate climate, flood, pollination, water and air quality, water
storage, decomposition of wastes, among others.
 However, these numerous benefits of biodiversity are vulnerable of exploitation.
 Humans need to be responsible in optimizing the benefits of biodiversity through proper utilization of science
and technology.

HEALTH and MEDICINE

 Since 2600 BC, people have been using plants to treat illnesses, hence the practice of herbal medicine.
 Cupressus sempervirens (Cypress) and Commiphora myrrha (myrrh), for instance, have been used to treat
coughs, colds, and inflammation since the ancient times.
 Herbal medicines were also used in healing rituals and in the treatment of injuries resulting from wars or
accidents.
 Various plant-based drugs such as gargles, pills, infusions, and ointments were used in Ancient Egypt as well as in
Ancient China.
 Beginning 100 BC to 300 BC, the Greeks recorded the collection, storage, and use of medicinal herbs.
 During the Dark and Middle Ages, monasteries in England, Ireland, France, and Germany preserved the Western
knowledge of treating illnesses using herbal medicine.
 As such, the use of herbal medicine in ancient civilizations were dependent on the biodiversity present in their
respective environments.
 For example, Salvia apiana (California sage), was an herbal plant used by Indian tribes of Southern California to
aid in childbirth and was believed to protect the immune system from respiratory ailments
 Another example, Alhagi maurorum (camel thorn), secretes a sweetand gummy substance from its stems and
leaves called manna during hot days.
 Manna from the camel thorn contains melezitose, and sucrose, an invert sugar.
 It is believed to have diuretic, diaphoretic, laxative, expectorant, gastroprotective, antiseptic, and anti diarrheal
properties.
 The plant Ligusticum scoticum (Scottish lovage) is believed to treat hysterical and uterine disorders. Its seeds are
used to relieve flatulence and to stimulate the senses.
 Many medicinal products available in the market today are derived from natural substances from plants. Salicylic
acid, the active ingredient of the antiinflammatory drug, aspirin, for example, is derived from the bark of a willow
tree.
 Morphine, one of the most widely known painkillers which was first marketed and used in the 1800's, is derived
from Papaver somniferum (Opium).
 After penicillin underwent its first clinical trials in 1938 and the first indication of antibiotic resistance to penicillin
was reported in 1941, new antibiotics from microorganisms and bioactive natural products continued to be
discovered.
 At present, more and more developments are being introduced in the pharmaceutical inductry to produce new
drugs for the treatment of diseases.

FOOD

 Food is the basic need for human survival.

 As the population of Earth's grew, the demand for food increased.
 Crops that can be grown were discovered and cultivated and animals were domesticated.
 Throughout history, agriculture and cultivation evolved from picking desirable crops and breeding animals to
maintaining stable supply of food to last for long periods of time.
 Farmers and fishermen rely on healthy ecosystems for their livelihood. About 39 of the leading 57 global crops
need birds and insects as pollinators.
 Agrobiodiversity is the result of careful selection and innovative developments by farmers, fishers, and herders
throughout the years.
 Harvested crop varieties and non-harvested species in the environment that support the ecosystems for food
prodcution fall under agrobiodiversity.

ENERGY

 Humans rely on energy provided by ecosystems to do the necessary activities in order to survive.
 In the Stone Age, heat energy from fire was used mainly for survival against harsh cold environments, for
cooking, and for communication.
 In 1000 BC, coal as a source of energy was used by people in northeastern China for heating and cooking.
 In 400 BC, water energy or hydro power was used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans for irrigation.
 In 347 AD, the earlist known oil wells were developed in China.
 In 500 to 900 AD, the Persians started to use wind-powered grain mills and water pumps.
 Wind energy was also used to navigate through bodies of water.
 Biomass, coal, and natural gases are all examples of energy created by nature
 From the development of the use of energy sources throughout history, it can be seen that there was no direct
nor indirect exhaustion of biodiversity in the utilization of energy sources.
 However, the effects on the environment and the risk of potential accidents when using energy alarmed many
environmental organizations.

WATER STORAGE and FLOOD CONTROL

 The earliest recorded civilizations were situated near rivers or lakes which made their livelihoods dependent on
water.
 Water from rivers and lakes was also used for irrigation.
 To cope with the adverse effects of the changing tides, floodways were utilized to prevent flooding communities
that usually result in damaged crops.
 Aqueducts were invented & built by Romans and & Greeks, to maintain stable water supplies to communities
that were far from bodies of water.
 Then, in the late 19th century, with the increasing demand for potable water and irrigation of crops, dams were
built to maintain water supply in communities.
 Biodiversity in forest plays an unquestionably crucial role in water resources. Forests provide natural filtration &
storage systems to provide freshwater.

AIR andWATER TREATMENT

 Some of the gases considered as criteria pollutants like NOx and O3, in moderate amounts, contribute to a
healthy ecosystem and balanced biodiversity.
 Excessive nitrogen stimulates growth of nitrogen-loving plant species but reduces the occurrence of plant species
adapted to low nitrogen environment. It also reduces the forests resilience to drought, pests, etc.
 The effects of global warming are harmful to the environment and its inhabitants.
 Soils store air pollutants temporarily that affect water purification.
 Worldwide efforts are being made to decrease nitrogen deposition to the biosphere to enhance plant species
diversity and relative species richness in grasslands.

PROTOCOLS on BIODIVERSITY

 There is a need to enhance the implementation of regulations and worldwide protocols, such as the Montreal
Protocol & Kyoto Protocol.
 The Cartagena Protocol among ten Pacifi countries, namely: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshal Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau,
Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Tonga, aims to ensure the safe transport, handling, and use of
LMOs that may have adverse effects on the environment.
 t was adopted in January 29, 2000 and was enforced in September 11, 2003
 It is linked to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which helps to protect Pacific communities and biodiversity
from the consequences of living modified organisms.
 It requires having facilities in place through proper processes.

CONCLUSION

 Thus, strict implementation of environmental laws among industries and communities alike must be ensured to
prevent further damage of biodiversity from air pollution and water pollution.
 There should also be efforts to ensure that whatever treatment is employed, it should not promote mass
pollution transfer from one matrix of the other environment to another.

LESSON 6

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

OVERVIEW

 This topic reviews key concepts on climate change and its various impacts on society, and weighs in on the local,
regional, and global efforts to address it.
 It primarily aims to inculcate environmental awareness among students.

INTRODUCTION

 Environment includes all living and non-living objects. We live in the environment and use the environmental
resources like air, land and water to meet our needs.
 Development also means meeting the needs of the people. While meeting the ever-growing needs, we put
pressure on the environment.
 When the pressure exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment to repair or replace itself, it creates a
serious problem of environmental degradation.
 If we use any environmental resource such as ground water beyond its limit of replacement, we may lose it
forever.
 Therefore, there is a need to create ‘awareness’ about Environmental protection.
 While efforts are being made at the national and international level to protect our environment, it is also our
responsibility to use our environmental resources with care and protect them from degradation.
 In this lesson we will discuss the meaning and causes of environmental degradation and the importance of
environmental conservation.

LEVELS OF ENVIRONMENT

 Environment is quite complex and can classified into four segments:

(a)Atmosphere

(b)Hydrosphere

(c)Lithosphere

(d)Biosphere

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

 Environment constitutes a very important part of our life. To understand life without studying the impact of
environment is simply impossible.
 The need to protect the environment can be ignored only at our peril because we use environmental resources in
our day to day life.
 Human influence on environment has increased manifold due to the rapid population.
 The environmental degradation poses a great danger to humanities survival.
 It should be realized, sooner than later, that conservation and improvement of the environment are vital for the
survival, and well being of mankind. Natural resources of land, air and water have to be used wisely as a trust to
ensure a healthy environment for the present and future generations.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

 Land, Air, and Water: pollution of land and water has affected plants, animals and human beings.
 The quality of soil is deteriorating resulting in the loss of agricultural land. Soil erosion, as a result of wind and/or
water, costs the world dearly.
 The recurring floods have peculiar casualties like deforestation, water contamination, crop destruction, &
livestock loss.
 The oceans were being turned in to dumping grounds for all nuclear wastes.
 Population Growth: population growth means more people to eat and breathe, and putting an excessive
pressure on land and forest, and ultimately disturbing the ecological balance.
 Our growing population is putting pressure on land, leading to poor quality of productivity, deforestation which
could lead to loss of habitat & dwindling of several species.
 The growing population is not only a problem for the natural environment; it is a problem for any other aspect of
environment, say, for example social, economic, political etc.
 Urbanization: Urbanization is no less a source of pollution, and therefore, a threat to the environment.
 Urbanization means maddening race of people from villages to the cities. The net result of urbanization is dirt,
disease and disasters.
 In a state of growing urbanization, environmental problem like sanitation, ill-heath, housing, water-supply and
electricity keep expanding.
 On the other, the environmental degradation is caused in the rural life due to indiscriminate collection of
firewood, overgrazing and depletion of other natural resources.
 Industrialization: Industrialization coupled with the development of the means of transport and communication
has not only polluted the environment, but also has led to the shrinking of the natural resources.
 Increasing level of heat fluxes, carbon dioxide and particulate, radioactive nuclear wastes and the like create
environment hazards.
 On the other hand, the consumption of conventional source of energy leads to the loss of natural resource. We
are building a world without caring for future generations.

AWARENESS ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

 In the past decades, the environment has attracted the attention of decision makers, scientists and even
lawmakers in many parts of the world.
 They are becoming increasingly conscious of issues such as famines, droughts, floods, scarcity of fuel, firewood
and fodder, pollution of air and water, problems of hazardous chemicals and radiation, depletion of natural
resources, extinction of wildlife and dangers to flora and fauna.
 People are now aware of the need to protect the natural environmental resources of air, water, soil and plant life
that constitute the natural capital on which man depends.
 Unless environmental issues are not solved or not taken care of the coming generations may find earth worth not
living. The need of the planet and the needs of the person have become one.
 There is no denying the fact that environment has to be protected and conserved so to make future life possible.
 Indeed, man's needs are increasing and accordingly the environment is also being altered, indeed, nature's
capacity is too accommodating and too regenerative yet there is a limit to nature's capacity, especially when
pressure of exploding population and technology keep mounting.
 What is required is the sustenance, conservation and improvement of the changing and fragile environment.
 There is no denying the fact that the environment has to be protected and conserved so to make future life
possible.
 Indeed, man's needs are increasing and accordingly the environment is also being altered, indeed, nature's
capacity is too accommodating and too regenerative yet there is a limit to nature's capacity, especially when
pressure of exploding population and technology keep mounting.
 What is required is the sustenance, conservation and improvement of the changing and fragile environment.

THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 Sustainable development has been defined on meeting the needs of the present generation without
compromising the need of future generations.
 All developmental activities involve some amount of environmental degradation.
 What is required is to take into account the damage to environment as a result of development, and strike a
balance between development and environmental protection.
 The aim should be to achieve sustainable levels of people's welfare and development.
 The primary concern is how many people can ultimately be supported by environment and at what level of
quality of life.
 Many scholars and others does not make sense as they all lay stress on "sustainability" of environment together
with development which gives emphasis on (1) the waste be changed into raw-material, rawmaterial into waste,
waste into raw- material: recycling of waste into raw-material.
 The concept of sustainable development is more about environment and less about development; more about
stability and less about change; more about restricting one's wants and less about the continuing material
development more about the non-exploitative attitude towards environment and less about harnessing it; more
about small communities and less about the larger ones.
 It is not a concept of development with environment, but is environment without growth.

CONCLUSION

 Indeed, ecological degradation should stop. Environmental degradation can be controlled and reversed only by
ensuring that the parties causing the damage should be made accountable for their action and that they should
participate in improving environmental conditions.
 What is needed is a set of norms, which bring the demands of development and the compulsion of environment
closer to each other.