The International Effects of Technology essays

The International Effects of Technology essays The International Effects of Technology Nuclear technology has been around since the middle of the Twentieth Century; masterminded under intense global military pressures, nuclear technology raises many questions about the value of a technology that has the capability to render the planet unfit for human occupation. The secret race to divide nature into its most miniscule components the result of which created a tremendous source of previously unknown energy, has characterized our short history with this dangerous knowledge. Created with short-term goals in mind, nuclear technology has wrought human and environmental devastation as well as the political dilemmas we find ourselves in today. The production and use of nuclear technology are matters of not just national or regional, but international concern; our global population lives in a global ecosystem, the destruction of which affects us all. The race to develop nuclear technology was a secret effort spearheaded by the United States in order to decisively end World War II by means of weapons of mass destruction. This effort was characterized by the myopic views of society embroiled in a war of global dimensions. Therefore, the goal to win the war took precedence over the consequences of researching, developing, testing and finally firing these weapons upon population and military centers of the enemy. These weapons were developed without foresight, disregarding the consequences of even possessing the required knowledge and raw materials not to mention the actual fallout resulting from their use. The end justified the means; the short-term solution was technically successful, the weapons deployed as expected, the enemy was devastated and the world has never quite been the same. There was in fact, very little foresight that went into planning how to safely procure raw materials, test detonations, monitor byproducts, dispose of radioactive waste and manage the cle...