Appropriate Technology

For the last few decades there have been many people who, concerned with the arrogant destruction created by 'modern' lifestyles, have studied, invented and/or experimented with a vast range of alternative and more appropriate ways of going about things, and, as these have slowly entered the mainstream, they have also brought about significant advances in social and spiritual awareness.

Perhaps not quite so obvious is the steady evolution in the more practical aspects of human life that have accompanied this. There is a vast range of knowledge and experience that generally doesn't get the exposure it really should, partly for political reasons, e.g. if people do things for themselves you can't profit from them etc., and also, given the option, most of us will take the easiest option and let someone else do our 'hard work' for us!

There are a number of excellent publications that cover spiritual and healing matters, even more that deal with things like ancient knowledge, conspiracies and cover-ups etc., and no end of 'alternative' and 'new age' lifestyle magazines. There is also a whole range of DIY and hobbyist media, some of which feature the occasional article that relates to alternative methods but none that specialise in the practical areas of 'alternative' lifestyles. There seems to be little of real practical material in the internet either and that which is there, takes a lot of hunting for!

For those of us working to advance the alternatives, increasing interest in what we are doing and numerous requests for working information it seems about time to start spreading some of the valuable knowledge that ourselves and others have acquired and also to create a forum to encourage readers contributions and the advancement of our understanding and abilities.

We aim to cover, in depth, a wide range of interesting and important subjects from shelter to energy, keeping warm, producing food, dealing with our 'waste' products and so on.

Approriate technology doesn't necassarily mean new technology. Many aspects of basic technology can be appropriate, hence the sections on disciplines such as metalwork, woodwork and electronics.

Where possible the more technical articles will be presented in two ways, one with a hands on approach keeping the technical side easy, and the other, giving the concise technical details for those inclined.

Taking our basic model from the principles of Permaculture, which, as well as being a means with which we can feed ourselves, is also a concept that has far wider implications, as a set of basic principles that can be applied across the board as a guide in our other activities.

Here's a good description of appropriate technology:

"Appropriate technology is being mindful of what we're doing and aware of the consequences. Appropriate technology works from the bottom up; it is not an overlay to the situation; it is a genuine grassroots solution to economic needs.

"In the Industrial World small businesses account for more technological advances in their areas of expertise than government supported researchers or research departments in massive corporations. Third World craftspeople, farmers and other villagers invent, create, and contribute to the technological process of their area much more than outside 'experts' do.

"The definition of 'Appropriate Technology' changes with each situation... One quality that remains the same, however, is taking care of things. In each situation, the essence of AT remains appreciating, helping, caring. Planned obsolescence, throw-away products, poor quality all go against intelligent decision-making and the true spirit of appropriate technology." -- From "What is Appropriate Technology?" by Steve Troy of The Sustainable Village.

It "changes with each situation" -- as it must in a natural world where people matter. Mother Nature never heard of "standardization" -- that's a concept from an economic world where people don't matter, except as "consumers". Real life is infinite variety, which appropriate technology has to fit, rather than forcing life to fit the technology.

Appropriate technology is technology that fits.

It's a very broad-ranging subject -- a philosophy as much as a technology, a way of seeing things. But some aspects of it are definite and clear-cut: for instance, waste is not appropriate. We "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle", but we're still very bad at it -- about the only thing modern industrial society is good at recycling is gold.

We're going to have to learn to recycle everything as well as we recycle gold.

We're also going to have to clean up the mess we've made -- and any technology that helps us do that will definitely be appropriate.