THE COST OF LOST TECHNOLOGY

Figure 7, from "Russian Chaos Breeds Diphtheria Outbreak'' by J. Maurice, Science 267, pp 1416-1417 (1995), illustrates one of the effects of technological breakdown and diminished wealth in Russia. A diphtheria epidemic has affected 80,000 people and killed 2,000.

Maurice states that Russian officials are "anxious to get the diphtheria epidemic out of the way so they can get on with the other problems of daily life, such as cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis, AIDS, and even malaria.'' They lack, however, resources to vaccinate the Russian people. Perhaps, as an act of charity, we should send Russia some of the money that America is wasting on the enviro craze - but without the enviros. Sending the enviros would be an act of aggression.

The average loss of life from loss of wealth and of the technology that creates wealth is difficult to determine. A credible effort has been made by R. L. Keeney (see Access to Energy 21-5, pp 1-2), who estimated one fatality per $5 million. The Russians are now determining this value by experimental measurement.

•	Science, Technology, and Defense
•	A PERPETUAL FRONTIER
•	AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY
•	GROWING FUEL
•	ATMOSPHERIC OZONE AND TEMPERATURE
•	DEATH OF A HYPOTHESIS
•	*THE COST OF LOST TECHNOLOGY*
•	STARK RAVING MAD
•	GOOD READING

Vol. 22, No. 8

Newsletter: Access to Energy Newsletter Archive
Volume: Issues
Issue/No.: Vol. 22, No. 8

Date: April 01, 1995 04:04 PM
Title: Science, Technology, and Defense