Technology and Insight: Clear-cutting in British Columbia

I am frequently torn by the role of technology when viewed in the context of the environment and ecology. On the one hand, technology and technological innovations are often the source of environmental degradation (pollutions, toxic chemcials, destruction of eco-systems). And on the other hand, technology and technological innovations (often the same ones!) are keys to improving efficiency, increasing productivity, and restoring, repairing, and repairing ecosytems and the environment. I also don't buy into the often repeated dichotomy of Man vs. Nature. To draw the distinction between us and the rest of the world is a false distinction and doesn't do anything to bring clarity to the argument.

Which brings me to the point of this post: clarity. One thing I think that technology can do is to bring us insight and clarity to our understanding of our world and our place in it. An example. When Google maps first came out people starting making innovative combinations of the maps and their particular concerns and interest. Take this website from someone up in British Columbia, concerned about the effects of the timber industry's intense lumbering. The author used Google maps and satellite imagery to focus in on areas used for lumber. Something so "simple" such as a piece of paper is brought into clear focus as you can see the patchwork of clearcutting as we are reminded of the destruction that goes into making that piece of paper.