Caution against a future global disaster

Technological developments have brought benefits to humankind but they have also entailed abuse of skills and technology by some people to cause great harm. The two world wars caused enormous loss and damage to life and property. At present super powers of the world have developed nuclear arsenals that have the potential to be catastrophic for human beings.

Since 1950, especially, the world acquired enormous scientific knowledge. But wrongdoers can abuse these developments to cause damage and destruction, locally or globally.

People of all ages today use mobile phones and laptops. But the downside of this obsession is that the young generation is rather going into individual isolation; their mental faculties do not grow as a result. Often they enjoy obscene and objectionable material released by unscrupulous business groups.

Uncontrolled use of toxic preservatives in foodstuff by greedy people for increasing shelf life is another danger. Adulterated food, sold in restaurants and fast food bars, seems to attract the young generation, particularly students and working class. These can cause damage to mainly internal organs.

Effluents from industries, transport vehicles and aircrafts are polluting the earth unthinkably. The resulting increase of temperature may cause natural calamities including melting of polar ice caps which may cause rise of the ocean level leading low-level countries to go under water. Due to all kinds of pollution human ailments have been on the rise. This situation will also affect all other living beings on earth.

It seems that the present civilisation in an attempt to solve all human problems has created more problems resulting from abuse of developments in science and technology.

Dr Jasim Uddin Ahmed

Language veteran (Ekushey Padak 2016), nuclear scientist, poet, religious scholar, social worker, and retired director of UN IAEA.