LeCain’s argument concerning the types of technological fix seems to be that every type of fix eventually damages the environment in some form. He attributes the inevitable damage to three easons. The first reason is that the engineers hired to perform a technological fix are often biased towards the company they are working for (LeCain, 139.) The shortsightedness of companies and individuals is the second reason. During the industrial boom, few considered what the effect on the environment would be, thinking only of other humans. (LeCain, 142.) The final problem is inherent to any technological fix, unforeseen and unintended consequences generally follow. The farmers over fertilizing their fields in the previous example did not understand their fertilizer would pollute nearby water sources. LeCain acknowledges the benefits of this time, namely greatly increased food production and quality of life improvements, but it came at the price of environmental devastation.
LeCain makes good points about the dangers and potential environmental damages of mining. The simplest solution to stop damaging the environment is to cease mining, and begin helping the environment to recover. This is impossible, as much of our modern technology relies on the resources we extract from the Earth. The computers, phones, cars, lights, et cetera we rely on contain an incredible amount of copper and other metals, some of which damage the environment. It is regrettable that there is no way to completely stop mining, and continue the world as we have it today. In the future, we may be able to find other methods of fulfilling our mineral needs, but until then, we must make do with what we have.