Techno-Fix: Why Technology Won't Save Us or the Environment

Michael Huesemann · Joyce Huesemann

Oct 2011 · New Society Publishers

About this ebook

Nanotechnology! Genetic engineering! Miracle Drugs! We are promised that new technological developments will magically save us from the dire consequences of the 300-year fossil-fueled binge known as modern industrial civilization, without demanding any fundamental changes in our behavior. There is a pervasive belief that technological innovation will enable us to continue our current lifestyle indefinitely and will prevent social, economic and environmental collapse.

Techno-Fix shows that negative unintended consequences of technology are inherently predictable and unavoidable, techno-optimism is completely unjustified, and modern technology, in the presence of continued economic growth, does not promote sustainability, but hastens collapse. The authors demonstrate that most technological solutions to social and technology-created problems are ineffective. They explore the reasons for the uncritical acceptance of new technologies, show who really controls the direction of technological change, and then advocate extensive reform.

This comprehensive exposé is a powerful argument for why we can and should put the genie back in the bottle. An insightful and powerful critique, it is required reading for anyone who is concerned about blind techno-optimism and believes that the time has come to make science and technology more socially and environmentally responsible.

For more information, please visit technofix.org .

Ratings and reviews

I could not pass the first chapter, where they spent a good time trying to discredit scientific method. The last phrase I read before give in was "the belief that nature is orderly and deterministic has been proven false by science itself", that is a paradox that can be written more straight forward like "the belief that science can prove anything has been proven false by science itself". And that immediately before appealing "quantum theory" as every modern charlatan does.

About the author

Michael Huesemann, PhD is a research scientist with a special interest in sustainability and critical science. He has specialized in environmental biotechnology for more than 25 years.
Joyce Huesemann, PhD is an activist and academic who has taught at several universities and participates in environmental, wildlife protection and companion-animal organizations.