Sure Outcomes : Essays

TECHNOLOGY WITH A HUMAN FACE

German-born E. F. Schumacher (1911-1977) was a British economist and author. He was confined in Britain during World War II, after which he served for twenty years as economic adviser on Britain's National Coal Board and worked on theories for that country's welfare system. He contributed many articles to the London Times, London Observer, and Economist, and has lectured at Columbia University. One of his books, Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, became a best-seller. In it, Schumacher encourages human fulfillment as the best economic booster and suggests means of obtaining that goal.

            According to Schumacher, the modern world has been shaped by technology and continues to shaped looks sick. We wonder that technology has helped us in many ways, yet the underlying factors of alleviation of poverty and unemployment have not been solved by technology at all. In that case, we have to consider whether it is possible better – a technology with human face. It very strange to say the laws and principles of technology, the product of man, are generally very different from those of human nature of living nature. There is measure in all natural things in their size, speed of violence. The system of nature, which man is a part of it, tends to be self-balancing, self-adjusting, self-clearing. But, it is not so with technology. It recognizes no self-limit principle in terms of its size, speed, or violence. It doesn’t possess the virtues of being self-balanced, self-adjusting, self-cleansing. Somehow, man is dominated by technology and specialization. The modern technology acts like a foreign body and it has become inhuman in the subtle system of nature.

            In his opinion, the modern technology was involved in three crises simultaneously. First, human nature revolts against suffocating and debilitating inhuman technological patterns. Second, the living environment is partially breakdown.  And the third, it is clear that the inroads of the world’s non-renewable resources have become serious bottlenecks and virtual exhaustion loom ahead in the future. It is the result of materialism and limitless expansionism in a finite environment. It is a big question whether we could develop technology which can solve all our problems, a technology with a human face.

                        Schumacher says, “The primary task of technology, it would seem, is to lighten the burden of work man has to carry in order to stay alive and develop his potential”. Technology that lightens our burden would help give us better time to relax and do what we would like, increase our creativity, work things with our hands that give us joy as defined by Thomas Aquinas. Schumacher explains it is not the actual production of ‘total social time’ spent roughly one-fifth of one-third of one half, that is 3.5 percent and the rest 96.5 percent of ‘total social time’ is directly productless.  It pales into insignificance, that it carries no real weight, but alone prestige. Hence, virtually all real production has been turned into an inhuman chore which does not enrich a man but empties him. Taking stock of our goals, everybody would take it a privilege to work usefully, creatively with his own hands and brains can actually produce things and would benefit the society.

            The modern industrial society is not romantic and certainly not utopian. It is in deep trouble and holds no promise of survival. We must have the courage to dream if we want to survive and give our children a chance to survive. We must develop a new lifestyle which is compatible with the real needs of human nature and living nature around us. In order to avoid the dire consequences, both by rich and poor countries, we need a different kind of technology, a technology more productive with a human face.

Schumacher suggests us small and beautiful thought about what he terms intermediate technology – ‘production by the masses, rather than mass productions’. The system of mass production based on sophisticated, highly capital intensive, high energy input dependant, and human labour-saving technology is inherently violent, ecologically damaging. The system of production by the masses mobilizes the priceless resources which are possessed by all human beings, their clever brains and skillful hands, and supports them with first class tools. Schumacher never says that technology in itself is bad. But, he urges us to utilize the scientific techniques that help us get to the truth of the matter and increase our knowledge, to focus on technology that does not lead to giantism, speed, or violence and destruction of human-work enjoyment. What he instead suggests us is to recapture simplicity in all that we do so as to produce a self-balancing system of nature.       

Climate Change and Human Strategy

E. K. Federov is the former director of hydro-meteorological services in the Soviet Union and a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet. This article is a slightly abridged version of  Dr. Federov's opening address to the World Climate Conference held in Geneva, February 12–23, 1979.

E. K. Federov says that human beings are increasingly concerned about irreversible changes taking places in the natural environment, especially in regard to climate change. In the course of their scientific and technological progress, human beings have transformed the environment. When engaging in a large scale development, they tend to forget irreversible changes in the natural environment. Despite these developments, the modern life requires balanced understanding and adjustment to climate and other natural elements.

The present scale of human activity is measured both by its size and by the duration over which it takes place comparable with natural occurring phenomena. Now days we live on the planet which has got neither infinite resilient environment nor its resources inexhaustible. In such circumstances, any human error can lead to very large cumulative error. They are vulnerable to climate change. It is both a consequence and a demonstration of the workings of complex process in atmosphere, the oceans and on land.  However, these complex factors do exhibit some continuity and permanence.

There are several atmospheric and oceanic parameters which are responsible for the overall stability of climate in different parts of the world. They include man and extreme temperatures, precipitation amounts, seasonal river discharges etc… they vary from one part of the planet to another. Climate is the sum of all these relatively stable characteristics of the atmosphere. The normal climate of the earth as a whole was much more homogenous during the last several hundred million years than it is at present. There were not the noticeable differences in climate between latitudes. Several tens of millions of years ago this situation began to change. The temperatures of high latitudes fell gradually. About two million years ago this process accelerated and Arctic temperature dropped sharply. As a result a glacial period had taken place in which repeated advances of ice sometimes reached mid-latitudes with intervening periods when the ice moved back. The last glacial advances ended in northern hemisphere about ten thousand years ago.

According to E. K. Federov, there are two kinds of factors that cause the climate to change over long periods of time. The external factors might include the variations in the quality of radiation emitted by the Sun or changes in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The internal factors include the formation and movement of continental areas, the growth of mountain ranges and volcanic activity of various kinds that produces dust and gases which may alter transparency and other characteristics of the Earth’s surface.

In his opinion, human existence would not have been possible without simultaneously transforming various elements of the natural environment. Human existence and development has affected climate patterns on the earth in many ways. The transformation land surface of the planet was by deforestation, ploughing land reclamation, the construction of huge man-made lakes, reservoirs, and the conversion of large areas to a built-up environment and so on. The water and energy balancing have also significant elements led to climate change. These noticeable changes are so far local but likely to become regional and global during the next 200 years.

To mitigate these changes we should develop a clear strategy. We must plan a set of long-term actions which enables man to avoid the adverse consequences of climate changes. They will inevitably occur in the future. It is matter of urgency we should find out what the critical values of different meteorological parameters to avoid such irreversible changes. Finally, E. K. Federov believes that it is possible with the international co-operation to access global problems and calls for ‘Change for the Better’. 

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

‘Emerging Technologies’ is adapted from Technology Review, Inc. highlighting the new emerging technologies in Spain. The opening paragraph of the extract shows that its subject is very much apt to the theme ‘emerging technologies’. Spain is fast becoming a leader in innovation and generating advanced solutions in the industries of aerospace, renewable energies, water treatment, rail, biotechnology, industrial machinery and civil engineering. The country is determined to deepen and intensify its productive specialization in industries that depend on technology and innovation.

Researchers are creating novel types of photovoltaic devices that could finally make solar power a broadly practical source of renewable energy in Spain. At the Solucar solar plant outside Seville, the light rays are coming out of a high tower and falling on tilted upturned mirrors. The truth of the situation is that the upturned mirrors are tracking the sun and radiating its power onto a blindingly white square at the top of the tower creating the equivalent of the power of 600 suns. This tower uses concentrating solar technology (CSP). Solar thermal energy is a technology which harnesses solar energy for thermal energy requirement in industries, residential sector and commercial setup. It works by utilizing heat of the sun.

Spain figures fourth place in its use of solar power and second in Europe with more than 120 megawatts in about 8,300 installations because of its ideal landscape, abundant sun and scarce rain. Spanish companies and research centers are taking the lead in the revival of concentrating solar power. Its installation is quite expensive. Hence, it is effective only in a large scale. At the same time, the photovoltaic system is growing exponentially huge which converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Spanish companies are investing huge in photovoltaic fields and investigate the next generation of this technology in its large production. In contrast, a solar thermal collector supplies heat by absorbing sunlight, for the purpose of either direct heating or indirect electrical power generation. CSP has until recently cost nearly twice as much as traditional natural gas or coal power plants, and it is efficient only on large scale.

The most common technology so far, is based on the series of parabolic troughs, huge curved mirrors about 18 feet wide that collects the sun’s rays and focuses it on a receiver’s pipe in the middle. Oil streams through that pipe along a loop of troughs. The mirrors slowly track the sun from the east to west during day time hours, and the oil reaches about 400^oc which is transferred to a steam generator for the production of electricity by running a turbine. The tower technology works on the same principle as the troughs – the sun’s heat – but uses curved mirrors called heliostats. It directs the sun’s light to a central receiver at the top of the tower. The engineering behind such a plant takes into account both the need to heat up the receiver and the importance of moderating the energy directed at it. The tower in the Slucar plant is also provided by a small amount of natural gas in a rainy or cloudy weather prevents the plant’s full operation.               

Spain would like to jump-start the production of Solar Energy with its advanced research and would like to be the first in the local to global access to the necessary technology.

     

Water:  The Elixir Of Life

-  Sir.C.V.Raman

          In this essay “Water-The Elixir Of Life”, Sir.C.V.Raman brings out how water is indispensable to plant and human life and how it also causes evils like soil-erosion. He also tells excess of water can be preserved for good purposes.  
        In the first part of the essay, Raman talks poetically of the beauty of water.  Water trickling down the rocks or water collected in small ponds that satisfy the thirst of passing cattle are beautiful sights.  Big tanks play a vital role in South Indian agriculture.  Much of the rice is grown under them.  It is a beautiful sight to watch the sun rise or set over them.

    One of the most remarkable facts about water is that it carries silt to far-off places where it is finally deposited .The land where silt is deposited is usually very fertile. The silt that mixes with the salt water of the sea precipitates rapidly. The colour of the water changes successively from the muddy red or brown to yellow and green and finally to the blue of the deep sea. These varying shades are also fascinating.

         The flow of water has undoubtedly played a great part in geological processes. Rapidly flowing water carries away the rich top layer of the soil. This phenomenon is called soil erosion. The problem of soil erosion is of major significance in various countries especially in India. Soil erosion in the initial stage is unnoticed. Later, it results in the formation of deep gullies, ravines and ruts. These things affect agriculture. The terracing of the land, the construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the practice of contour cultivation and the planting of some types of vegetation are the measures that can be used to check soil erosion.  

      Water is the basic of all life. Every animal and plant contains water in its body, water is essential for its body. Moisture in the soil is equally important for the life and growth of plant trees.

    The conservation and proper utilization of water is fundamental for human welfare. At present streams and rivers wastefully empty themselves into the sea. It is clear that the adoption of techniques preventing soil erosion would help to conserve and keep the water where it is wanted.

The Secret of Work

     Swami Vivekananda is the renowned Indian Hindu monk and philosopher. He is well known for his extensive exposition of the four types of Yoga – Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga. The lecture titled, “The Secret of Work” belongs to his extensive comments on the Yoga of Action (Karma Yoga). The revered Bhagavad Gita, in its famous shloka states: “karmanye vaadhikaa raste, maa phaleshu kadaachanaa”, reveals the secret of work to us. Swami Vivekananda does use this Gita Shloka as a foundational cornerstone for this lecture which serves as a commentary for those who wish to implement its message in their daily lives.

Swami Vivekananda begins by noting that the world is full of miseries and they cannot be cured. Ignorance is the mother of evil and of all the misery we see. Unlimited desires lead to misery. Unless man changes his nature, miseries cannot be removed completely by any of the physical help. He suggests that the only solution to this problem is to make mankind pure and spiritually strong and educated. Then only we may convert the whole world into a charitable asylum where there is no misery at all. Vivekananda opines that a great deal of our existential confusion about work has to do with our chronic judgment — and, most cripplingly, self-judgment — regarding “good” and “bad.”  They both make a chain that binds our soul. We should work incessantly with a spirit of non attachment to it.

The central idea of Gita preaches us the non attachment of work will make us masters and not slaves. Vivekananda notes, there is an even more important requirement for character than the acquisition of “good tendencies” — the desire for liberation from attachment, freedom from clinging to the very notions of good and bad, in work and in life. Every ripple of our actions leaves an impression on the mind which finally determines our character. When a man wishes to do good things in spite of his evils thoughts, the sum total of his tendencies is called Samskara. Thus, he compares human beings with tortoise. The tortoise tucks its feet and head inside the shell and will not come out even though you break the shell into pieces. In the same way the man who controls his indriyas would remain unchangeably established character. It’s worth pausing here to note how challenging it is for an individual mind to not mistake Vivekananda’s central point for advocacy of laziness or resignation. Quite the contrary, he suggests subtly that our best work comes when we stop being so preoccupied with the end result and instead surrender ourselves to the experience itself, non-judgmentally. But what keeps us from relating to work in this way is a kind of self-enslavement — something all the more pertinent today.

Swami Vivekananda speaks about the life being ‘unattached’. Only real life makes us ‘un attached’. It is inspired by love with freedom. Every act of love brings real happiness. Noting that attaining this non-attachment is “almost a life’s work”. Vivekananda argues that it’s nonetheless the only true gateway to freedom. He offers a poignant analogy to better illuminate this freedom from preoccupation with results and returns. There are two ways, in which we can work without expecting anything in return, are love and to become free in the mortal world. Ultimately, Swami Vivekananda argues, our compulsion for productivity and our attachment to specific results are an act of selfishness. Doing meaningful work, on the other hand, is an act of mercy.

WORK BRINGS SOLACE

            A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a distinguished scientist, took charge as a President of India in July 2002. His name is associated with the development of India’s first satellite launch vehicle SLV-3, and the ‘Agni’ missile. He advocated plans to develop India into a developed nation by 2020. He has received many honorary doctorates and the Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990) and Bharata Ratna (1997). He is a voracious reader, writes poetry and plays the Rudra Veena.

            Recollecting the journey with a rocketry genius, Wernher Von Braun, Kalam speaks how he could make his vision his religion and mission for success. Kalam was fortunate of flying in an Avro aircraft with Wernher Von Braun from Madras to Trivandrum. Wernher Von Braun was a scientist, designer, product engineer, administrator and technology manager, all rolled into one. Kalam was filled with awe that he was travelling with a giant of missile systems. During his journey Kalam observed that the father of modern rocketry to be so humble, receptive and encouraging. Wernher Von Braun questioned him about the missile work of Kalam and listened to his replies with rapt attention like a student. Wernher Von Braun suggested Kalam that one doesn’t just build on success, but also on failures. He advised him that mere hard work cannot fetch honor. Wernher Von Braun was so self-effacing that his personality made Kalam feel comfortable throughout their journey.

            With the encouragement of Wernher Von Braun, Abdul Kalam was lured towards his goal. He wanted to complete his mission of creating SLV, a genuine Indian design. Mean while three deaths of his family depressed him a lot. To overcome all these, he needed total commitment to work. He gave up everything outside SLV circle; (no family, no friends, no more weekends or holidays etc...) he had kept a hold button on his life which throws light on his single-minded devotion towards his goal.

            Individuals like Kalam are often called ‘workaholics’. He objects the term which implies an illness. He admits that the desire to work at optimum capacity leaves hardly any room for anything else. In his opinion, total commitment is the common denominator among all successful men and women.

            ‘Flow’ is an overwhelming and joyous experience while working with total involvement. During flow, action follows action avoiding distraction demands on one’s attention. The distinction between self and activity disappears. Although they were working very hard, they were relaxed, energetic and fresh. It was the fact that even the difficult targets they had set actually seemed achievable for his team.

            Kalam felt tremendous surge of confidence over the SLV-3 project. The first requirement to get into flow is a challenging work. It makes him realise that he is performing a task better today than he did yesterday. The other pre-requisite for being in flow is an uninterrupted span of time. It is very difficult to switch into the flow state in less than half an hour. There were occasions when without being conscious of his hunger, Kalam and his team worked on in a state of flow. Thus, Kalam opines that the single-minded devotion to work brings success.