Invasion of the Poverty Fighting Nano-Bots

[chlamor]

Invasion of the Poverty-Fighting Nano-Bots

Stephen Leahy

BROOKLIN, Canada, Apr 13 (IPS) - Futuristic nanotechnologies that purify drinking water, produce energy and grow food can benefit poor countries and help to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a new report.Most of the current research into nanotechnology is being done in the North, but there are important potential applications to fulfill the energy, health and food needs of the South, says Peter Singer, director of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB) and co-author of the report.

<snip>

However, much more research is needed, and the panel suggests an initiative called ”Addressing Global Challenges Using Nanotechnology”. Modeled on the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative launched last year by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a nanotech grand challenge would foster scientific investments in the South to develop these new technologies. There was no mention of the health and environmental risks of the new technology in the report published this week in PloS Medicine. There is already some evidence that certain nano materials could be hazardous, acknowledged Salamanca-Buentello.

<snip>

While nano may have some potential for alleviating problems in the South, Mooney said ethicists like Singer would be better off lobbying their governments in the North to fulfill long overdue promises of delivering 0.7 percent of their GDP in foreign aid.

”It may be a worthy goal to develop a new malaria vaccine, but does it make sense when there isn't enough money to buy all the needed bed nets that could prevent the disease?” he asked. Instead of dealing with thorny issues of social justice, trade imbalances and debt relief, Mooney argued, Canada and other countries in the North like to focus on hi-tech toys.

http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=28285

[Voltaire99]

1. Nanotech will never be put to these uses.

As promising as the technology is, our problems have been solvable for generations with the technology we have.

No, it's not the tech we're lacking. It's the vision, willpower, leadership, and love.

[chlamor]

3. Agree

[LongTomH]

2. Interesting piece on this on Howard Lovy's Blog:

Howard is a journalist covering nanotechnology development. He's the rare "science journalist" who respects the science he's covering and tries to get his facts right. He also respects the ethical and societal issues involved, which makes him one of the best sources for tracking the development of nanotech.

Here's the link to his blog:
http://nanobot.blogspot.com/2005/04/developing-world-and-myth-of-industry.html

Voltaire, I'm not certain whether our problems could be solved with our current technology. I do agree that the issue is not as much can we solve global problems - nanotech or not - but do we have the will to do it! That's why I think it's important for people to get involved in discussing these issues.

The problem, as I see it, is that we are in a period like the late nineteenth century - the first "Gilded Age" - with rapid development of new technology; but, with the benefits of that new technology passing mainly to the new "Robber Barons."

I don't despair of turning this about - that's what happened last time. A "Gilded Age" with a huge gap between rich and poor stimulated a rise in progressive politics to redress the gap. Given the potentials of the new technology, I think there's much more at stake: We have a potential to lessen or to increase the gap between rich and poor. There's also an impending ecological disaster, which nanotechnology can address.

Go to Howard's blog, or to: The Foresight Institute or: The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

I've been meaning to start discussion threads on this for some time. I've been following nanotechnology since the mid 80's, when I first heard Eric Drexler discuss the concept of engineering at a molecular (nano) scale.

[redqueen]

5. Thanks for those links!

:hi:

[On the Road]

4. Notice all the Applications Getting Funding for "Nano" These Days

are inert designer substances like buckeytubes.

Nothing wrong with that, but the original dream of nanotechnology was millions of independent self-directed microscopic machines. It's been almost completely forgotten about.

Hopefully, the idea was just ahead of its time in the 80s. Once molecular engineering is more widespread, some of these things might become a little easier to do.