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Not to be overlooked by Holdren et al. was promotion of the notion that technology must be throttled. Their Limits to Growth Bible had targeted “technological optimism” as the “most dangerous reaction” to its world model, depicting “faith in technology” as a “diversion” from the problem of growth in a finite system; and as preventing “us from taking effective action to solve it.” Thus did they label scientists and engineers as “technologists,” saying, “Angry opposition to de-development can be expected from some technologists who are used to having their schemes for progress accepted without question by a dazzled public… if the ODCs are to be de-developed and civilization is to persist, the halcyon days of unquestioning public acceptance of technological ‘progress’ must disappear forever.” Nuclear power plant cancellations, oil drilling bans and shrinking NASA budgets became steps in that direction. And perhaps in February 2010… |