Tech saviour

Can technology do it? As the human race heads to the 9 bn mark by mid-century, the challenge of feeding the billions raises the same question again. Will technology, as evilly cast as GM foods, help? Or is it just another chance we have to take? Even if the consequences are far worser than what we face now in the aftermath of the Green revolution?

Can technology take us of the fuel impasse? Provide more fuel for our dreams? can technology in the form of geo-engineering help us continue burning our fossil fuels?

Or is it time to change our outlook on what we call progress? But can we lay down the comforts that 'abundant' energy and resources had afforded? can we dump the GDP? After all, it reveals nothing about income distribution, non-monetary transactions or people’s overall well-being. For example, if you eat at home instead of at restaurants and grow your own food rather than buying it, you’re hurting GDP even as you practice thrift and self-reliance.

Even as the UN Security Council failed at a consensus in terming climate change a direct threat to peace and security, Achim Steiner from the UN Environment Program said climate change would also “exponentially” increase the scale of natural disasters.

Have we reached the 'critical mass' point of drastic transformation that experts are talking of? A transformation that can spell doom on the unlimited growth incline, or one that will bring a change in the collective human consciousness?

Which option would you prefer? Why?