Description
Zed Books The Perils of Progress The Health and Environment Hazards of Modern Technology and What You can do About Them by John Ashton and Ron Laura
This work offers a challenge to our society's largely unquestioning commitment to new technologies, and practical advice on how to deal with their adverse effects. While modern technologies have no doubt brought many benefits, the authors argue that our confidence in them is seriously misplaced. They consider an array of health and environmental issues including: the damaging effects on human health of certain microwaves, including those from mobile phones and television transmission towers; the effects of aluminium in food and other consumer products; and the evidence that the acids in margarines may be more detrimental to health than butter. While revealing that much is disagreeable about modern technology, each chapter ends with a positive and empowering 'What You Can Do' section. In these, readers are offered practical help on the steps they can take to protect both their health and the condition of the environment.