Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Pablo Borbon Main I, Batangas City, Philippines 4200
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION
Tel. No. (043) 980-0385 local 1128

Science, Technology and the Society

GEd 109

Prepared by:

Panopio, Reydel A.
18-52161
BSED ENG 2201

Submitted to:
Dr. Erma D. Maalihan
CTE Instructor
ASSESSMENT TASK 1:

Reflection Paper

1. Why is technology considered a double-edged sword?

Technology does the ever-changing society. It plays specific role whether for

political, economic, cultural, social, and even personal aspect. We know that technology

is a powerful coat of innovations that can never be taken apart from the global air. Today,

it becomes a tool for community awareness and development, and a manual of universal

success. But the problem lies on us, how are we going to better addressed technological

forces in the mobility of life.

They said, technology has always been a double-edged sword, empowering both

our creative and our destructive natures. Technology is neither good nor bad depending

on how we perceive it. The book shows us a very clear example regarding the notion,

technology can ease our labor, that is the good thing but, it also detaches us from a

meaningful sense of work. See, we become creative through technology but we also

become destructive. Yes, creativity is brought by technology, whether we are preparing a

business or an educational presentation and in producing an innovative output. On the

other hand, it destroys the natural way of life.

Let's take for example, I usually used a washing machine for my laundry work, it is

fast and I can do another thing while the machine is working. In that situation, I become

productive and time-creative. But I realized that I became dependent, I will just load it up

and leave. I lost my efficiency, in fact, my other clothes were ruined and not fully-

cleaned when I, myself can really do it efficiently. This might be strange for others, but

as we continuously embrace technology without self-formation and limitations, we will

look like to a remote that is being controlled.

Technology is technology, productive but destructive we must realize it before it’s

too late. It gives us relief and we must remember that we are above efficient than any

other things. Aristotle once said, we should take pride in being excellent in what we do.

Technology must be used but in moderation.

2. What technological development do you think has the potential to do the greatest

harm to our species and to our way of life?

People demand many things whether for personal or economical use. From the

very start we should know that technology gives profitable impacts and harmful effects to

our society today. Technological development has been flourishing in countless way.

They say, technology is a means to achieve ends. But what is this end that we are talking

about? Is this for good or for potential destructions? Either of the two things may happen.

Unfortunately, technological advancement really brought forth upon this world but

we should be using it in moderation. After reading the lessons from the book, I realized

that if technology provides us an ease in many aspects of what we do, a big possibility of

that could greatly harm and affect the way people live. For example, we see social media

platforms such as Facebook, email, twitter, Instagram and more as a tool of

communication, information-dissemination, personal information storage and a stress-

relieving instrument. Seeing the situation that we are facing today, not forth but harmful

effects were brought. Fake news, cyber bullying, leak of personal information, privacy

destruction and even virtual crimes have been increasingly reported cases in many news

report and studies around the globe. It can kill people and can produce a rising number of

problems among people. We have to remember not to be a tech-dependent because we

are not object which are "standing in reserve". We have to preserve our own nature

processes.

Another, mining technology as mentioned from the book can be categorized as a

development with great harmful effects to human and other species as well as the

environment, we lived in. It destroys the natural way of life. If we see that as a solution to

the need of the nation, we will be a null earth. We must know how to use these

technological developments in the right way. We must not forget that once we are the

"guardians of creation".
3. As you look at your daily life and your life in the past years, what aspects of your

life have been the most rewarding and enriching?

Looking back at my past years and now, I think each aspect of my life has a

specific role and effect to the way I live. But from those things, the most rewarding and

enriching is my social being. When I am able to perform my duty and responsibility to

the community not just by following the existing laws and protocols but, by being able to

share my life with other people is worth doing. I usually stays outside my home because I

see that place as my comfort zone, it is when I am able to do social and community works

make me feel worth living. When I am able to help other people in carrying their burdens

in life and make them feel worthy, it is rewarding. It enriches not my political ambitions

but my personal well-being because I fell that their burden could be shared and be my

burden in time being.

Often times we thought that happiest things are moments when we feel better and

stable, but, for me dark days can be my happiest. Sometimes when we are in tough times

and deem place, we think of many things but we possibly thought of our worth and

believe that we are stronger. We become dedicated and we persevere to make people feel

our importance on their lives. It's not literally the darkest days of our life but it is the time

when we have to restart. We become senseful and beneficial. It is not always I am happy

because of the greatest things happening in my life such as academic achievements and

more but I become the happiest when I see the sweet and sounding smile from the people

around me, from the people whom I loved.

We should live according to human flourishing. We must do good things not for an

honor but in accordance with excellence in the virtues of our characters and take pride on

the values of good life.

ASSESSMENT TASK 2:

Essay

1. In the Philippines, what mitigation and adaptation measures are taken by the

government to address climate change?

"Together We Stand, Divided We Fall"

The world has been busy today as we fight against the pandemic COVID-19. The

state has set aside other problems in the living society by this means. The government of

each nation has implemented lockdown and enhanced community quarantine (ECQ)

which will be sought to decrease the risk of the virus disease spread in the community.

Without knowing, the Earth has been healing itself, as the ECQ continue to exist a huge

number of human consumptions has also decreases which resulted to a pollution-free

environment, there were minimal vehicular transportation, factories and other energy-

emitting industries which uses fossil fuel gasses had temporarily closed down. See, it's

like hitting two birds with one stone. It really makes sense in the mitigation process

against the danger in climate change.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), climate change

refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period

of time. It includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterning that

occur over a several decades or longer. This is not new major problem and each country

has its own way to address it.

The Philippine Commission on Climate Change (CCC) is the main forefront on

climate action which has been working hard for the past years to efficiently implement

every possible mitigation and adaptation measures to cope up with the problems on

climate change. The CCC has developed the National Strategic Framework on Climate

Change which serves as the blueprint in creating a low-carbon development path through

the synergy of climate change adaptation and mitigation. This national agency together
with the other concerned government agencies and local government unit have were

really working hard to meet its primary goal for long-term solutions.

In the 2018 Philippine Climate Change Assessment conducted by Oscar M. Lopez

Center through its partnerships with the CCC, they come up with the country's mitigation

pathways and measures which focused on three main sectors namely energy and Industry

Processes (IP), agriculture, forestry and other land-use sector (AFOLUS), and the last one

is the waste sector. Under the energy and IP sector are the development of Renewable

Energy (RE) technology from indigenous sources which aims to generate power in

communities, make and sustained the energy consumption practice in industries. The

conservation of energy efficiency is being promoted, the reduction of greenhouse gasses

from vehicular emissions by developing mass transits system and the low-carbon fuels

vehicle. Also, the promotion of the green business practices in the manufacture industry

under compliance to the international standards.

AFOLUS, on the other hand, includes improvement in fertilizer management,

crops diversification, and promotion of organic agriculture. While forestry will focus on

protecting existing carbon stocks in natural forests. Lastly, the waste sector will reduce

the emissions from proper solid waste management while promoting the 3R's practice

and inventing in waste-to-energy technologies. Moreover, reduction of deforestation and

slowing of population growth are part of the government's mitigation measures.

The adaptation approach which is our adjustment to a natural system will greatly

help control the danger from climate change. We are advised to efficiently use scarce

water resources, planting of more trees and empowering the community-based disaster

risk reduction through the creation of barangay disaster risk reduction management

council. It also includes seasonal climate forecasting and capacity-building for short line-

defense system. Thus, we can moderate and more so mitigate the rising climate change

problems.

As a member of the Philippine society, we must be a responsible Filipino citizen

who greatly value the government's implemented programs. We must be a state partner in
making our nation the best place to live in. Because today is the perfect time to stand,

speak up, share, and act as one. For together we stand, divided we fall.

2. As a student, what concrete steps can you do to address climate change?

“Simple Steps for a Long-term Effects”

"If you can't do great things, do small things in a great way." Indeed, a great

quotation of Napoleon Hill which I read nine years ago when I was in grade 5. In fact, I

just saw it once written in a small-rectangular calendar notepad that was brought by my

grandmother from Canada. This quote became my most motivating words since then

because it makes sense in everything that I do. When you cannot just make a big

difference, you can begin from the small thing that can be done in wonderful and

effective way.

Climate change is such a no single thing. We are well aware that it really affects

our life in a huge way. As discussed in Science, Technology and Society book authored

by a group of professors from different institutions, the Intergovernmental Panel on

Climate Change (IPCC) defined climate change as the change in the state of climate over

a long period of time which can be identified through statistical test. It encompasses

global warming in the atmosphere which makes it more harmful to the living earth.

According to the Global Climate Change Task Force (GCCTF), the cause of this

alarming issue is the human acts. The things that we do out of limitations and

moderation. The human consumption, land use energy and pollution are the four most

named drivers of climate change. These things must be taken into account if we still want

to live a long life. There should be concrete and effective ways of addressing the climate

change for its long-term solutions.

However, there is no one click or a great thing to solve it. Critically thinking, there

must be simple steps to better address it. The single step must start within ourselves, from

our family as the basic unit of the society, from our homes. Simple things managed in the

best ways could result to a bigger impact. Just like how I used to believe before and until
now. Education must begin in ourselves, keep on learning about how to moderate the four

key drivers of climate change. In a small sense, by doing small things properly like being

able to preserve our nature, conserving energy by turning off the unused lights,

conserving water by making sure that the faucet are closed after using it, and by reducing

our waste and not burning plastic residues rather recycling it. All of these things must

start at home so that children could bring it in school, share it with their classmates and

apparently apply it to their daily routines.

The world, specifically us, the people are the ones who have than mistakes and we

are also the ones who can really make difference from what the climate change scholars

foresee in the coming years. Through maintaining and practicing the above listed steps,

our so-called small things that can be done effectively could have a best long-lasting

effects and great impact in saving the Mother Earth.