Technology Archives - Corporate Watch https://corporatewatch.org/product-tag/technology/ Thu, 15 Apr 2021 12:16:09 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://corporatewatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/cropped-CWLogo1-32x32.png Technology Archives - Corporate Watch https://corporatewatch.org/product-tag/technology/ 32 32 TECH: A Guide to the Politics and Philosophy of Technology https://corporatewatch.org/product/tech-a-guide-to-the-politics-and-philosophy-of-technology/ Tue, 15 Dec 2020 22:09:35 +0000 https://corporatewatch.org/?post_type=product&p=8685 A brief introduction to the politics and philosophy of technology - a simple guide to how interacts with society and the world around us.

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]]> Click here to download a copy for free

Click here to read it online

Technology is everywhere. Its influence on our lives is enormous.

But how does it function?

How does it affect us?

Who does it serve?

Can it support radical social change towards free and equal societies living in harmony with nature?

Are humans fated to wind up as pets for hyper-intelligent robot hamsters?

These are -mainly- important questions. However, the dominant view is that technology is apolitical and inevitable, that it represents human progress, making our lives easier, more fulfilling, or just ‘better’. Let’s dig a little deeper.

We are at a unique moment in human history – an ecological precipice, perhaps a social tipping point. Whatever path we take, unravelling technology and the dilemmas it presents will give us a clearer view of the horizon ahead of us.

This book is a brief introduction to the politics and philosophy of technology – a simple guide to how interacts with society and the world around us. We hope you find it useful.

“Technology is not neutral. We’re inside of what we make, and it’s inside of us. We’re living in a world of connections — and it matters which ones get made and unmade.” Donna J. Haraway

 

 

 

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]]> Technofixes: a critical guide to climate change technologies https://corporatewatch.org/product/technofixes-a-critical-guide-to-climate-change-technologies/ Sun, 17 Sep 2017 12:59:07 +0000 http://cwtemp.mayfirst.org/?post_type=product&p=3614 This report investigates the large scale technologies that corporations and governments are putting on the table, including hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, agrofuels, electricity from nuclear, solar and wind, as well as a range of ideas to reflect the sun’s energy or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It finds what works, what doesn’t, the present state of these industries and where they’re heading. It explains why, even though many of the technologies do work, the corporate-capitalist model cannot deploy them effectively, and it goes in search of more realistic and socially just solutions.

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]]> This is the crucial time. The science is clear; greenhouse gas emissions must begin to decline well within the next couple of decades. Whether runaway climate change is avoided is largely down to the policy decisions taken now and in the next few years. We cannot afford to wait for miraculous technological breakthroughs but must work with what we’ve got.

The debate on climate change is surrounded by hype and vested interests. Technologies are being considered not for their effectiveness but for their profitability. Some proposed solutions would actually lead to an increase in emissions. Many would bring about great social injustice.

Beyond that, the promise of a future technofix is being used as a stalling tactic by those who want to keep on burning fossil fuels.

This report investigates the large scale technologies that corporations and governments are putting on the table, including hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, agrofuels, electricity from nuclear, solar and wind, as well as a range of ideas to reflect the sun’s energy or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

It finds what works, what doesn’t, the present state of these industries and where they’re heading. It explains why, even though many of the technologies do work, the corporate-capitalist model cannot deploy them effectively, and it goes in search of more realistic and socially just solutions.

Published in 2008.

Click here to download this report for free.

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