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May 14, 1999
Hawaii to Tarawa Voyage, Update #12
Day 11. Friday, May 14, 1999, 0311 GMT
Wind ENE Force 2-3. Heading 195M.
Latitude: 16deg 43.707N
Longitude: 162deg 11.735W
Hottest day so far. Not a cloud in the sky which is good for generating power from the solar panels (which are so hot you could fry eggs on them) but not so good for the engine room, i.e. yours truly. My only saving grace as the sweat runs down my flanks in torrents is a wonderful light breeze, cooled from traveling over the relatively cold ocean, that is now being directed onto my crown by a new "bodgit and split" device rigged up this morning (thanks to all the suggestions by the way - they've all been incorporated into the design somehow!). The device is one of the PVC collision mats cut up and curved into a scoop that funnels air down the hatch.
A journalist from the newspaper 'USA Today' was supposed to call me on the satellite phone last night for my thoughts on the new millenium. After preparing some suitably esoteric lines, he/she never called. So I'm afraid you're going to get them instead seeing as I'm having a hard time thinking of material for today's update. (Actually they're relevant to today's Classroom Expedition focus on 'technology').
With the rapid advancements made in modern communications technologies (MCT's) and the potential for these technologies to connect people across borders of nationality and culture, the new millenium looks certain to be one of the most exciting times to be alive in the history of the world.
But there are two roads here, bearing in mind western man's failure to evolve morally and spiritually to compliment the advancements made with machines since the industrial revolution. And it will be up to each individual, rather that governments or corporations, that will have to decide which road we take as a species. On the one hand we have the dark road, where MCT's are used as tools to exploit, oppress and degrade the human condition for example in the form of inane video-games (as is currently by and large the case). Alternatively we have the light road, where the same technology is used to connect people, helping us to learn from each other and develop a wider form of consciousness leading us to consider ourselves and others as equal members of the same planet as well as of our own country/culture/religion etc.
In short, humanity has for the first time in it's history the unique opportunity to hold a mirror up to its face, recognizing similarities as well as differences and to work correspondingly on the same team to help one another and to protect this planet upon which future generations so depend for their own survival.
CLASSROOM EXPEDITION: Class discussion on 'Technology and Ethics'
Initiate a class discussion on technology; are some technologies e.g. guns inherently (naturally) bad? What makes the same technology negative or positive? Can you define positive or negative technology/use of? Think of some of the technologies that everyone in your class uses on a regular basis and debate whether they are used positively or negatively.
CLASSROOM EXPEDITION: Creative Writing Exercise
Write a paragraph on your hopes and fears for the new millenium. Please send to us to have posted on the web if you'd like!
Responses can be sent via THE REGISTRY
Jason Lewis,
The Moksha motor
Posted on May 14, 1999 1:04 AM