[PEN-L:28686] Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Drudgery

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't find the term appropriate technology patronizing.  Shiva was
pretty accurate in what she said about the Green Revolution.  Like the
Monsanto Roundup-ready genetically modified seeds, it was intended to use
more industrially produced fertilizers and pesticides.  The grinder was
appropriate technology because -- at least I got this impression from the
article that somebody went into the village, worked with the villagers on
a particular need, and produced a useful technology.

No one in their right mind argues for the wholesale elimination of modern
technology, but much can be done this simple techniques.  John Jeavons has
developed a system in which people can grow all their food on a garden
plot in about half an hour per day.

His method is not necessarily the answer to the world's woes, but it shows
that simple techniques can also work.

On Sat, Jul 27, 2002 at 04:15:18PM -0400, Doug Henwood wrote:
> Don't you find something a touch patronizing about the notion of
> "appropriate technology"? Should it end there? Should they want farm
> equipment too? A TV? Or will that corrupt their prelapsarian
> innocence?

--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx