Global recession might help internet growth

[Karin Geiselhart]

Tony wrote:
>Will the net help us learn?

Hardly off-topic. In our global system, it may be our best hope.Langdon
Winner's essay (posted the other day) reminds us to get our priorities
right. quoting him:

'Can it be that we find the suffering of hundreds of millions of our fellow
human beings insignificant when compared to the puzzle of finding a Y2K
fix? How about replacing the systems that pour toxic chemicals into the
air, water and land, slowly poisoning human populations and other species?
Let's eliminate the errors in our tax laws that encourage energy waste and
other ecologically destructive practices. And let's fix the development bug
that destroys good farmland and devastates the world's forests.  These are
among the steps that would be taken by those hopeful about Earth's future.

I'm told that if all goes well, if enough time, money, and effort are
invested, our computers will actually remember that a new millennium has
arrived.  Alas, we humans may forget to update our spiritual clocks,
ignoring a momentous turning point and the challenge it presents.'

Let's remember why we think the Internet is great: because it allows us to
communicate and access information which is important to our common future.
It can help us learn to get our priorities right and where best to place
our energies. 

KG
  


PhD student
Faculty of Communication
University of Canberra
http://student.canberra.edu.au/~u833885/home.htm