Follow Up on Previous Post Where Is The Love?

Alright, so I said a lot of things in that post about humanities abuse of the natural world.

My husband thought it was well written, but him being an academic (associate professor in physics) did not agree with my humanistic, natural, more ‘normal’ outlook on science and technology.

As you have probably gathered, I am not very technologically minded and only just manage to put basic posts on here. Sometimes I even mess them up, photos not linking, links not linked, categories not ticked! That does not bother or affect me as it would to someone whose job and life revolve around the Internet and computers. I am an out-of-doors type that has to be physically moving to feel they have achieved something, so sitting writing on here is quite a challenge for me. Not bombing off to paint something or drum, clean the house (inside and out, even the roof) or put in a French drain! Yes I put in a French drain down the side of our house, which took me 2 weeks. Everyday after work (cleaning houses, running a cafe) I would adorn my builder’s outfit (holey jeans, paint covered shirt) and crack on digging, cutting drains, laying concrete etc. The job took a long time, to most people, but I had the patience and some time (even when it got dark) to complete the task to an almost perfect standard. I did not use power tools, and I know had it not been for the invention of plastic, concrete and glue that the drain would not exist and had those things not been invented I would not have a house to make use of it.

I fully understand that scientific & technological inventions are fundamental to our future, but when they get put into the wrong hands, that’s when it all goes pear shaped. Example: someone who wants the quality of life for thousands of people to be bettered invents a dam. A solo person cannot make this happen and needs the backing of government to create it. Money is injected and handfuls of people work together eventually removing the project from the scientist & engineer. In the beginning everyone benefits, but after a while all responsibility for the upkeep is left solely to the government & water board. They then tax the water usage, add whatever toxins to detoxify & clarify the water, drain excess water to prevent failure and inform the public if they need to reduce water usage in times of drought, all in the best interests for the people. Sounds good, right? But what involvement & knowledge do we really have of our water? The scientist has been paid and let go, until something goes wrong and their knowledge is needed to rectify a problem. Said scientist might have concerns of what chemicals are being added and maybe try to persuade the dam owner to try more natural products, having full insight into how things might pan out in future. If the suggestions made, cost the government too much money then all moral issues of the health & welfare of the public, goes out the window. Business brains knock out the scientific rational brains. I’m not an expert on dams or water so this example is a mere skim of government involvement in our lives.

I respect scientists that have made a morally correct contribution and have enriched our lives, giving the majority of us lucky few, healthy, educated, adventurous, safe, long lives. I do not have respect for governing bodies that have abused these concepts, capitalized on their creation and stomped on morality. Many politicians are not corrupt and have gone into the business hoping to do good, but they either get voted out or cannot bare to be associated with such a body and leave with a hole in their heart and their esteem quashed.

What I was trying to get across in the last paragraph on the piece (the one my husband took issue with) was indeed we need new inventions, exploration and understanding but do we have to do it in such a fashion that it devours & exploits nature. Should we not be working with gravity, solar/wind/water energy, plants, seasons, animals to harmonize our existence so the Earth can sustain our future races?

By “downing tools and pondering not probing” I was merely suggesting that a reduced speed, giving people time to gather data and assess future responses, might be the way to go. I did not say, “Lets down tools, live in caves and give up all technology for it is bad!” I kind of like living in my house with all it’s conveniences, but I am happy picking up my two sticks a bit of wool and creating something that will keep myself or fellow beings warm.

My grandmother was born on the Shetland Islands, off the coast of Scotland. She lived in small house with 13 brothers & sisters and was put to work gathering potatoes, looking after the land and knitting fishing nets, from a very young age to help the family survive. She had simple pleasures and worked hard all her life creating a clean, safe environment, warming meals and clothing for her family. She was not a university graduate, nor did she have a career as such, but she taught me more than anyone could on how to be a capable, tough, content, self-enriched, independent woman.  Without her ‘primal’ upbringing to guide me, I would not have been able to put in that French drain. Thanks Mam!

I hope this has enlightened the academic thinkers as to where my ‘normal, substandard, not as intelligent as you’ brain explores. And that I’m not turning my back on science, just hate being a hypocrite when we discuss the issue, because obviously I couldn’t get my point across to the world without technology & science and am therefore stuck in the continuous self flagellating predicament. Thanks Technology!

I wanted to post this today, but the electric was switched off for maintenance, big thanks to the powers that be!!