Tools, techniques and weapons

It is one of the great prides of man to have invented the tool. Ethologists have certainly shown that the most advanced primates already use some of them, for example well-chosen pebbles to break pruned nuts or stems of wood to fish termites. Paradoxically, the achievements of which one can be most proud as technologie pass towers, such as bulldozers, tankers, offshore stations, nuclear power plants, represent ecological, real or potential disasters. Even more common utensils such as refrigerators, appliances, electronics, packaging, are not without serious consequences for the environment. Rather, this pride should give way to some mistrust.

Although man has invented the most sophisticated machines, he lacks the necessary cautious reflex to avoid the environmental consequences of their use. The ecological openings of recent decades are certainly in the right direction, although the measures expected of industrialists often carry out good promises rather than concrete ones. Carbon trading, the dismantling of nuclear power plants and submarines, and methane extraction projects are striking examples. Consumer efforts also remain very inadequate, and are far from disarming the interests of the great lobbies.

Environmental disaster will only be avoided at the cost of much deeper awareness.