However, through his various examples, it can be assumed that his personal definition of technology is extremely broad, including all new ways our world functions, not just machinery and computer software. DDT is a widely recognized chemical which is famous for eventually mutating the eggshells of birds. I personally remember reading about this particular biomagnification process including DDT in my grade eight textbooks. By Suzuki bringing forth a well-known topic and using it as his example, the reader is able to understand where his argument about technology originates. Suzuki wants us to be aware of our negative affects on the environment in order to maintain the health and stability of all living organisms within it, not just us humans. Everything on the earth, living and nonliving, are all connected and there is a balance that needs to remain in order for everything to function properly; technology is disrupting this balance, pushing harmful chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and machinery into our culture that eventually trickle down destructive side effects. Through the lessons learned by the use of DDT Suzuki believes that more research and studies need to be performed on a product before it’s release into consumers hands. Suzuki states, “by carefully outweighing the benefits and bad side effects, we could make a more informed decision on whether to allow new …show more content…
On the other hand, Suzuki explains that these tests are extremely biased and can never fully predict the outcome of an extended case or in a diverse area. To prove his beliefs, he discusses testing procedures done before oil drilling can occur in the Arctic. The relatively small scale of drilled holes tested compared to the amount that will actually be used makes the whole study rather pointless. By not including a significant amount of variation in a study, the level of misinformation and lack of reliability of the study increases substantially. Many people in our contemporary society believe that anything new is better, especially when it comes to technology. Individuals seem to be impatient and ignorant and think that if it makes their lives easier for a short period of time, the next generation can worry about the aftermath. Suzuki is trying to bring these effects to our attention now in hopes of realizing that there may not even be "the next generation" if things continue to the way they are. Suzuki proclaims, “And perhaps it’s time to realize we don’t have to do everything just because we can.” (346). I concur with this statement. Just because we have the technology and skill set to create and invent all these new things affecting our way of life, does not mean we have to alter so much that we become entangled in a web of destruction.