Toward a Postindustrial Toward a Postindustrial World: Living in a Global World: Living in a Global

AgeAge

Chapter 16Chapter 16

Section 1Section 1

Energy SourcesEnergy Sources

The new forms The new forms of energy were of energy were being used being used during this time during this time period nuclear, period nuclear, solar, and wind solar, and wind power.power.

The industrial age had relied for The industrial age had relied for its energy on the burning of two its energy on the burning of two fuels, coal and oil.fuels, coal and oil.

However, the supply oil is limited.However, the supply oil is limited.Scientists predict that the earth Scientists predict that the earth

might use up its last gallon of oil might use up its last gallon of oil sometime in the 21sometime in the 21stst century. century.

Nuclear PowerNuclear PowerMany companies hope that nuclear power Many companies hope that nuclear power

will be the source of energy for the future.will be the source of energy for the future.They do not pollute the air with smoke.They do not pollute the air with smoke.They produce electric power cheaply and They produce electric power cheaply and

efficiently.efficiently.Nuclear power plants have not yet been Nuclear power plants have not yet been

able to solve the problem of what to do able to solve the problem of what to do with the radioactive byproducts of power with the radioactive byproducts of power generation.generation.

Sun and Wind EnergySun and Wind Energy

Scientists recognize that an ideal Scientists recognize that an ideal substitute for oil would need to be substitute for oil would need to be both safe to the environment and both safe to the environment and practical to use.practical to use.

The light and heat from the sun The light and heat from the sun offered one possibility.offered one possibility.

Nothing could be safer than trapping Nothing could be safer than trapping the sun’s rays to heat a home or to the sun’s rays to heat a home or to provide power for a small automobile.provide power for a small automobile.

Unfortunately, the devices created Unfortunately, the devices created so far to harness solar energy so far to harness solar energy have only limited uses. have only limited uses.

The same is true of modern The same is true of modern windmills and other energy windmills and other energy technologies for tapping the technologies for tapping the forces of nature (winds, tides, and forces of nature (winds, tides, and underground heat.)underground heat.)

PlasticPlastic

The postindustrial world is The postindustrial world is largely made up of plastic.largely made up of plastic.

Consider the things you may Consider the things you may own that are made out of own that are made out of plastic?plastic?

In fact, except for cellophane In fact, except for cellophane (invented in 1908), most (invented in 1908), most plastics came into common plastics came into common use only in the 1940s and use only in the 1940s and 1950s.1950s.

AluminumAluminum

Another symbol of the new Another symbol of the new age is the throwaway age is the throwaway aluminum can. aluminum can.

Aluminum is the metal of Aluminum is the metal of the late 1900s (just as steel the late 1900s (just as steel had been the chief metal of had been the chief metal of the late 1800s.) the late 1800s.)

AutomationAutomation

A new method of A new method of manufacturing products. manufacturing products.

Automation is a process in Automation is a process in which one set of machines which one set of machines regulates other machines.regulates other machines.

New Technology: ComputersNew Technology: Computers

The automation of American The automation of American industries depended in part upon industries depended in part upon the invention of an electronic device the invention of an electronic device known as the computer.known as the computer.

The origins of this device go back to The origins of this device go back to 1890.1890.

Inventor of the computer was Inventor of the computer was Herman Hollerith.Herman Hollerith.

Multinational CorporationMultinational Corporation

A multinational corporation has offices and retail A multinational corporation has offices and retail outlets both in the United States and abroad. outlets both in the United States and abroad.

It is cheaper for many U.S. firms to manufacture It is cheaper for many U.S. firms to manufacture products in foreign countries because wages are products in foreign countries because wages are much lower than in the U.S. much lower than in the U.S.

Multinational corporations depend on modern Multinational corporations depend on modern technology like the World Wide Web to technology like the World Wide Web to communicate both internally and externally. communicate both internally and externally.

They also rely on modern transportation, such as They also rely on modern transportation, such as jet aircraft and container ships, to bring their jet aircraft and container ships, to bring their products to market. products to market.

Leading examples of such firms were General Leading examples of such firms were General Motors (GM) automobiles and International Motors (GM) automobiles and International Business Machines (IBM) computers.Business Machines (IBM) computers.

Problems with the EnvironmentProblems with the Environment

Although nuclear power appeared to be Although nuclear power appeared to be cheap and efficient means to generate cheap and efficient means to generate energy, a major question was whether energy, a major question was whether nuclear power plants could also supply nuclear power plants could also supply energy safely.energy safely.

Because they were radioactive, the Because they were radioactive, the waste materials from nuclear plants waste materials from nuclear plants presented a risk to the environment.presented a risk to the environment.

MeltdownMeltdown

The greatest risk of all was the possibility The greatest risk of all was the possibility of an accident causing the nuclear core of of an accident causing the nuclear core of a power plant to burn through the plant’s a power plant to burn through the plant’s protective walls.protective walls.

If such a “meltdown” occurred, the area If such a “meltdown” occurred, the area near the plant could become radioactive near the plant could become radioactive for miles around.for miles around.

1979 Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania.1979 Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania.1986 Chernobyl. 1986 Chernobyl.

On April 26, On April 26, 1986, an 1986, an accident accident occurred at Unit occurred at Unit 4 of the nuclear 4 of the nuclear power station at power station at Chernobyl, Chernobyl, Ukraine, in the Ukraine, in the former USSR. former USSR.

The accident, The accident, caused by a caused by a sudden surge of sudden surge of power, power, destroyed the destroyed the reactor and reactor and released released massive massive amounts of amounts of radioactive radioactive material into the material into the environment.environment.

The Vehicle Graveyard near Chernobyl The Vehicle Graveyard near Chernobyl contains many vehicles used in the contains many vehicles used in the cleanup of Chernobyl. cleanup of Chernobyl.

All of these vehicles are irradiated, and All of these vehicles are irradiated, and visiting this "graveyard" is dangerous. visiting this "graveyard" is dangerous.

The helicopters appear bleached from The helicopters appear bleached from long time UV exposure, and you can tell long time UV exposure, and you can tell the rest of the vehicles have been there the rest of the vehicles have been there for quite a while as well. for quite a while as well.

Sewage and Industrial WasteSewage and Industrial Waste

Sewage and industrial waste in America’s Sewage and industrial waste in America’s rivers has long been a problem.rivers has long been a problem.

Sewage and industrial waste had polluted Sewage and industrial waste had polluted bodies of water such as the Hudson River bodies of water such as the Hudson River in New York and the Great Lakes.in New York and the Great Lakes.

Oil Tanker Exxon Valdez spilled more than Oil Tanker Exxon Valdez spilled more than 10 million gallons of oil in the waters off 10 million gallons of oil in the waters off coast of Alaska.coast of Alaska.

Many wildlife died in the area.Many wildlife died in the area.

Growing Energy UseGrowing Energy Use

By the mid-1990s, energy use in By the mid-1990s, energy use in the United States had increased by the United States had increased by more than 100 percent since 1960.more than 100 percent since 1960.

As a result, the nation was forced As a result, the nation was forced to rely on imported sources of to rely on imported sources of petroleum to reduce the gap petroleum to reduce the gap between production and between production and consumption.consumption.

Resource DepletionResource Depletion

Increasing consumption of oil Increasing consumption of oil has led to increased domestic has led to increased domestic production of crude oil and production of crude oil and increased imports of oil. increased imports of oil.

This accelerating demand for This accelerating demand for oil has led to depleted oil oil has led to depleted oil reserves and an even greater reserves and an even greater reliance on foreign petroleum.reliance on foreign petroleum.

Waste DisposalWaste Disposal

Making products out of plastics, aluminum, and Making products out of plastics, aluminum, and glass had negative side effects on the glass had negative side effects on the environment.environment.

Plastic wrappings and containers do not readily Plastic wrappings and containers do not readily decompose when thrown away.decompose when thrown away.

Nor does glass and metal products.Nor does glass and metal products.Millions of tons of discarded products piled up Millions of tons of discarded products piled up

for years.for years.Finding ways to dispose of this type of garbage Finding ways to dispose of this type of garbage

has become nearly insolvable problem. has become nearly insolvable problem.

Many communities have turned to recycling Many communities have turned to recycling to reduce waste that must be disposed of. to reduce waste that must be disposed of.

Through recycling, materials can be reused Through recycling, materials can be reused or turned into other products.or turned into other products.

Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Effect

Burning of fossil fuels and the Burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of the rainforests, destruction of the rainforests, permitting more carbon dioxide to permitting more carbon dioxide to enter to enter the atmosphere and enter to enter the atmosphere and trap the infrared rays of the sun. trap the infrared rays of the sun.

This condition has caused global This condition has caused global warming and could melt the polar ice warming and could melt the polar ice caps.caps.

Ozone LayerOzone Layer

Layer of gas, high in the earth’s Layer of gas, high in the earth’s atmosphere, which filters out harmful atmosphere, which filters out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. ultraviolet rays from the sun.

The presence of chlorofluorocarbons The presence of chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere has created a hole in in the atmosphere has created a hole in the Antarctic continent atmosphere’s the Antarctic continent atmosphere’s ozone layer, which may spread and ozone layer, which may spread and destroy Earth’s entire ozone unless destroy Earth’s entire ozone unless appropriate action is taken quickly.appropriate action is taken quickly.

Acid Rain Acid Rain

Pollution caused by automobile Pollution caused by automobile fumes and other gases that fumes and other gases that enter the atmosphere, mix with enter the atmosphere, mix with moisture, and return as acid moisture, and return as acid rain, which is deadly to fish and rain, which is deadly to fish and extremely toxic to forest, plants, extremely toxic to forest, plants, and crops. and crops.