Living in individual habitats

I think we are supposed to respond to eachothers blogs now? So I suppose I will do that....

I think that it is a valid point to say that technology itself can be good or bad, even at the same time. When we say that a certain technology can help alleviate our emissions that is a good thing but when do we see the positive effects of such a technology? Do we use it correctly? How do we ensure that everyone uses it?

That seems to be the biggest concern, that Hillary brought up, which are incentives. Does the government have the only hand in giving incentives to being more green? For using environmentally friendly technology (which we do have) are tax incentives the best thing we have? What about shareholders of a company? They have the power to invest in only environmentally friendly corporations, or to press that the firm they are investing in to develop/use said technology.

Far to often, we as individuals say we may do our part and throw the coke can in the recycling bin but large amounts of pollution stems from factories, cars, etc. We assume the government will pass a magical piece of legislation, enforce it, and all will be better. While we need the laws an dthe government to take action we can't simply wait for that. The voice of the majority needs to say in unison that we need to use these pieces of technology to ensure our own survival and the sustainability of what we have now for the future. At the individual level we can make sure our own actions are that of environmentally mindful, however, there is much more we can do. We can join and help in different NGOs that work towards a greener world. We can pressure congress to move forward on legislation today rather then years from now. We can produce better facts and use a 'scare'tactic (even though this seems to be whats happening now). We can donate money. We can only purchase technology that is the best for the environment.

We discussed in last class the market and economy being the driving force. Its a reciprocal relationship. We purchase these new products because there is a high supply, to meet the high demand. Its economics but we are the agents that create the market. We can change our preference which will change what is marketed. Its happening already, car commercials, etc. These are the changes that need to grow in volume. We can change our perception and the promotion of clean technology can help but we are the actors that need to be that change. We are the ones that innovate and create new technologies.