Collins, Graham; (2024) ESJP 2024: A sustainable future? Presented at: Engineering, Social Justice and Peace, Gothenburg, Sweden.

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Abstract

The artist Graham Collins created two oil paintings that are provided as digital images. The first artwork, "A Sustainable Future?" illustrates the seemingly brilliant colours of the lithium extraction salt pans in the "Lithium Triangle" ("Triángulo del Litio") that extends across Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. The vibrant hues of lithium salts hide the exploitative nature of resource extraction for a clean and sustainable future. It mirrors the beguiling image of AI: a hype that promises a more productive, equal world but often exacerbates unfairness, bias, and exploitative practices. The second artwork, 'Pure Life,' is a poignant commentary on the repercussions of lithium extraction in the Lithium Triangle. The process, which depletes water tables and reduces water available for Indigenous Peoples, has forced these communities to depend on costly supplies of drinking water provided by multinationals. This stark reality highlights the social injustice and underscores the problematic relationship between humans and Nature. These images catalyse reflection and discussion, underscoring the crucial point that the advancement of technologies for a greener future should not come at the expense of Indigenous Peoples. However, they also point to a potential for positive change if Indigenous Peoples' views and knowledge of their environment are respected. Alternative ways must be adopted to obtain lithium, avoiding destructive evaporation methods, such as direct lithium extraction via ion exchange, thereby reducing water depletion. By considering the perspectives of the communities they impact, future technologies can foster inclusion, peace, and social justice, offering hope for a more equitable and sustainable future. Eco-art does not promise solutions but provides an opportunity to add to the discussions regarding social justice and how humans engage with Nature. These images, videos, websites from Indigenous Peoples and NGOs, and research papers with diverse global perspectives provide resources for discussions within a UCL postgraduate software engineering seminar series. By fostering a deeper understanding of technology's social and environmental implications, this series aims to influence the development of future technologies, particularly in the context of AI and sustainability, climate change, and the many crises in the Anthropocene.

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