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Should We Change the Weather Even If We Can?
jonerik writes "According to this article in today's Christian Science Monitor, science will be able to make significant changes in weather systems in the next few decades. More than simply seeding clouds to produce rain, the technology will be available to nudge hurricanes out of the path of population centers, for instance. The big question is 'Should we?' 'Even if we can do this, is this something we really want to do?,' says Dr. Ross Hoffman, a vice president with Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc., who adds, 'Before we can really control weather, we have to be able to observe the weather and forecast the weather much better than we do now.' On the other hand, according to the article the genie may already be out of the bottle: 'According to the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO), at least 25 countries are engaged in weather modification projects to enhance rain and snowfall, or suppress hail. In the United States, 12 states have had weather modification programs. Texas runs a program at the county level for rain enhancement, while North Dakota is focusing on hail suppression.'"
Look at it this way, if we wait until the technology is perfected and we know all the impacts, you'll never see the benefits of it.
Not only that, but the only way to really perfect a technology like this is by applying it.
Yes, it could have some catastrophic effects, but fuck it, you only live once (unless you're a Hindu, but then nobody cares what you think anyway)! As for future generations, if we wipe ourselves out, they'll never notice anyway.
Being careful about raping mother nature is for quiche eaters...
Down with Saudi Arabia!!!
My thoughts exactly!
Things like cancer and AIDS are good for the human species collectively, even if they suck for a bunch of people.
I've done some work on cancer diagnosis (specifically on certain types of leukemia), and even though I doubt my work is going to help anyone in the near future, I do somewhat regret having done it, simply for the reasons stated above.
All of our medical technology has basically pulled us out of the Darwinian game of life. If it weren't for modern medicine, hemophilia would likely have been (nearly) eradicated by natural selection already. Of course, causing a major weather catastrophe or two will certainly help control the population. Lets not forget that this could eventually be used as a weapon (especially since some of the techniques are rather cheap/simple relative to nuclear devices).
Regardless of this weather stuff, the population is out of control (this is mostly a third world problem) and will need to be dealt with. Lots of sci-fi authors have covered the topic of selective breeding programs. I wouldn't call the concept of needing to schedule some sort of executions (in a century or so) completely unrealistic (but, it seems highly unlikely now).
Down with Saudi Arabia!!!
Not only does David Eddings recycle his own ideas shamelessly in every "new" book he writes, but in this case he's also recycled Ursula LeGuin's ideas.
Bad writing is excuseable, if the plotting and character development show signs of originality and insight beneath the cliches and awkwardness.
Of all the writers I've read, Eddings is second only to Robert Jordan in his failure to show signs of either positive quality.
Even Piers Anthony is a better author, for crying out loud!
Any sufficiently well-organized community is indistinguishable from Government.
"I doubt the people who stand to profit from weather modification will willingly wait one year let alone decades."
"As usual the extent of peoples concern for the rest of mankind and the future is but a shadow of their love of money."
I like how you assume that the profit made is solely monetary, let alone that the only profiteers are faceless, souless corporations (yadda yadda yadda).
I as a member from the general public would "profit" greatly from, say, not having to worry about category 5 hurricanes bearing down on my ass and flooding me out of my home (if not outright killing me). The same goes for tornadoes, lightning storms, hailstorms, blizzards...
But if the first and only thing you're able to think about is money, you should be worrying about yourself instead of those "evil corporations" you resemble so well.
Not all Americans think that way. I, as a REAL American who believes in the principles this country used to have, hate our fucking stupidass monkey president. If that fuck wins again, I'm leaving. Canada here I come... Canadians seem pretty decent. Not like all the stupid SUV driving, gun enthusiast, ill-mannered, "me first" fucks that call themselves Americans. This country is going down the toilet...
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