Technology

The use of technological advancements, particularly in the production of goods and services, that leads to increased output with the same resources or the same output with fewer resources.

A technological advancement that is incorporated into new capital goods, such as machinery, tools, or computers, improving their productivity.

The ability of technology to reduce the need for labor in production processes.

A resource shared by multiple individuals or groups, where individual actions can negatively impact the resource's sustainability, leading to overexploitation.

The excessive use of a shared resource, often due to short-term individual gains outweighing long-term collective benefits, leading to depletion or damage of the resource.

The process of catching fish beyond sustainable levels, leading to a decline in the fish population.

The ability to harvest fish at a rate that maintains the fish population and allows for long-term sustainability.

Shared resources that extend beyond national boundaries, such as oceans, international river systems, and outer space.

The competitive use of a shared resource, like fish in the ocean, encourages advancements in technology to extract more of the resource. This can lead to overexploitation and depletion of the resource.

The depletion of fish stocks due to overfishing. This is an example of the 'Tragedy of the Commons' where modern fishing technology allows for unsustainable harvesting.

A method of fishing that involves dragging a large net along the seafloor, capturing fish indiscriminately and damaging ecosystems.

The depletion of fish stocks leads to a decline in revenue and livelihoods for fishermen, potentially forcing them to seek alternative sources of income, sometimes engaging in illegal activities.

The unintended and often harmful consequences of using technology. It's when a technology's benefits are outweighed by its negative effects on the environment, society, or human health.

A powerful insecticide widely used in the 1940s and 50s. While initially celebrated for its effectiveness against mosquitoes, its long-term effects on ecosystems and human health were not fully understood.

The unintended negative effects of DDT on wildlife, primarily birds. Its accumulation in ecosystems caused thinning eggshells and population declines.

Industrial-scale animal farming prioritizing efficiency and production over animal welfare. It often involves overcrowding, confinement, and heavy reliance on antibiotics, leading to disease outbreaks and environmental pollution.

A type of technology that is appropriate for a particular situation or context, considering the available resources and needs. It emphasizes local solutions and sustainable practices.

The overuse of antibiotics in factory farms creates a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These bacteria can then spread to humans, making infections harder to treat.

Large-scale hog farms produce excessive amounts of manure, which can contaminate waterways with nitrogen and phosphorus. This leads to algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and aquatic ecosystem damage.

Implementing technologies that are not suited to the needs and circumstances of a particular region or population. Often leading to inefficient use of resources, social disruption, and economic disparities.

The belief that any problem can be solved by technological innovation, regardless of the complexity or root cause.

The overuse or inappropriate application of technology due to incentives or regulations. Often leads to inefficient or harmful outcomes.

The tendency for foreign consultants and advisors to recommend high-tech solutions for development, often without proper context or consideration of local needs and limitations.

Creating policies that favor capital over labor, potentially leading to higher unemployment and hindering economic growth.

The use of technology for social control or manipulation, often by authoritarian governments.

The process of promoting technology, often through subsidies or development aid, to encourage exports and industrialization.

The tendency for regulations and incentives to encourage the use of high-tech solutions, even if simpler or less expensive alternatives exist.

The idea that technology can be used to alleviate problems, even if those problems were created or exacerbated by technology in the first place.

The potential for nuclear weapons to cause widespread destruction, leading to catastrophic consequences for life on Earth.

The spread of nuclear weapons to nations that do not currently possess them.

The use of nuclear weapons by terrorist groups to cause widespread destruction and panic.

The ability of a nuclear weapon to disrupt electronic systems through a powerful electromagnetic pulse.

The immediate damage caused by a nuclear explosion, including radiation, heat, and shockwaves.

The long-term consequences of nuclear war, including radioactive fallout, climate change, and damage to the ozone layer.

The potential for conflict and instability in regions with a high concentration of nuclear weapons.

The deliberate use of conventional weapons against civilian targets in order to achieve military or political objectives.

A situation where two or more parties possess such a destructive capacity that they would be annihilated in an attack, making any attack irrational.

The US and Soviet Union's competition to accumulate more nuclear weapons. Both sides feared the other gaining an advantage and potentially using those weapons.

The massive military buildup under Ronald Reagan, aimed at countering Soviet nuclear capabilities.

A term describing how the abundance of natural resources in a country can lead to conflict due to internal or external competition for these resources.

A type of war involving the control or exploitation of natural resources, such as oil or minerals.

Wars fought within a country due to ethnic or religious tensions, often with no clear victor.

Conflicts arising from failed states, where governments have lost control and are unable to provide basic services.

Wars fought against non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, often involving unconventional tactics and targets.