JOMUN XII Article "ECOSOC: A Technological Divide"

ECOSOC: A Technological Divide

            ECOSOC began today’s conference by addressing the question of the technological divide between African Countries and the economically complete. First, the African continent was recognized as to having much potential. This potential could prove economically prosperous with the improvement of technology. It should be stated that the lack of technology is due to the poverty and disparities within these African countries as well as their low economic growth as a developing country. In addition, it should be noted that this divide has been acknowledged by MEDC’s rather than the developing countries themselves. The ‘root problem’ of this gap between MEDC’s and LEDC’s use of technology is uncertain.

            Despite MEDC’s urging the African continent to take up the use of technology, this may be physically impossible owing to the lack of economic wealth to fund this initiative. Thus, MEDC’s must be familiar with the fact that “Africa does not have the current power output needed in order to support a large-scale technology-based industry.” Moreover, the source, being Africa’s power output, must first be enhanced in order to make technology wide spread throughout Africa. And so, appropriate infrastructural systems must be renewed or built in order to have adequate technological and economic growth within all of these African Countries.

Besides, the cultural impact must also be kept in mind. Many of Africa’s developing countries have rural poverty with large disparities from the urban upper-class. Due to the large populations living rurally, many traditional customs and languages are solely used, with no knowledge to technology in the modern world. Thus, this initiative would need to be carefully planned and intricately integrated into this rural society as to not offend or lose any cultural traditions.

Regardless, technology has its benefits when there is high power availability. It can vastly improve the publicity of businesses; thus, advancing them to a global scale. Individual should have the opportunity to access power in rural Africa to become economically sustainable. For instance, the use of solar panels, pay-as-you-go financial approaches, or mobile-enabled technology that are cost-effective should be encouraged. On top of this, local Africans must be trained and educated to use the technology being implement into the society to effectively aid their people when needed. Both governmental action and private companies should take part in making this initiative as useful as possible by joining the African Energy Forum. By joining this organization, the African country, aims to allow cost-effective and accessible power to all individuals by lowering tax rates, and promoting equality by passing legislation on the commercially viable sector and international practices.