Gerry McGovern, author of 'World Wide Waste' and an expert in digital sustainability, discusses the pressing issues of digital waste and the detrimental impact of big tech on society. He emphasizes that up to 90% of digital data is unused, shedding light on innovation's hidden environmental costs, particularly with AI. Gerry urges a reconnection with nature and advocates for sustainable practices over consumerism. His insights challenge listeners to rethink user experience design to balance convenience with ecological responsibility.
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Gerry's Return to Nature
Gerry McGovern shares his childhood experience on a small farm with manual labor he disliked.
He now enjoys reconnecting with nature by growing vegetables and learning about plant companionship in his garden.
insights INSIGHT
Tech Innovation’s Dark Side
Most innovation worsened environmental damage instead of solving it.
Tech giants deliberately design addicting technology, harming users for profit.
insights INSIGHT
Inevitable Environmental Collapse
Current environmental collapse seems inevitable with no positive macro indicators.
Growth-driven politics ignore worsening indicators, leading to accelerating destruction and societal collapse.
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Published in 1939, 'The Grapes of Wrath' is a powerful and poignant novel by John Steinbeck. It tells the story of the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers who are forced to leave their home after the devastating effects of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The novel follows their arduous journey along Route 66 to California, where they face numerous hardships, including poverty, exploitation, and the loss of family members. The book explores themes of family, survival, and the struggle for human dignity in the face of overwhelming adversity. It also delves into the broader social and economic issues of the time, highlighting the conflict between the powerful and the powerless. Steinbeck's work is known for its vivid portrayal of the human condition and its impact on American literature and society[2][4][5].
Crime and Punishment
Bibliophile Bibliophile Pro
Constance Black Garnett
FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY
Published in 1866, 'Crime and Punishment' is a psychological novel set in St. Petersburg, Russia. It revolves around Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished and intellectually gifted former student who formulates a theory that some individuals are morally justified in committing crimes for the greater good of society. Raskolnikov puts this theory to the test by murdering an old pawnbroker and her half-sister, leading to a profound exploration of his psychological and emotional struggles with guilt, paranoia, and the consequences of his actions. The novel delves into socio-economic disparities, moral dilemmas, and the psychology of criminals, making it a classic of Russian literature and existential thought[2][4][5].
The Plague
Albert Camus
The Plague, written by Albert Camus, is a philosophical novel that chronicles an outbreak of the bubonic plague in the coastal city of Oran, Algeria. The story is often interpreted as an allegory for the occupation of France during World War II and the rise of fascism. The novel follows Dr. Bernard Rieux and his colleagues as they battle the plague, highlighting themes of everyday heroism, the absurdity of human suffering, and the collective response to disaster. As the city is placed under quarantine, the citizens face isolation, despair, and eventually, a sense of social responsibility and solidarity. The novel explores existential and theological questions, particularly through the characters of Dr. Rieux and Father Paneloux, and concludes with a reflection on the enduring nature of human suffering and the importance of human solidarity in the face of adversity.
This time I had the honor to be joined by Gerry McGovern. Gerry is besides many things the author of the book World Wide Waste and well known for his work regarding digital sustainability and especially digital waste and e-waste. For me this was also really special because I relate to Gerry and his work pretty often in my talks. “Up to 90% of all digital data is not used” is one of the famous quotes from his book World Wide Waste and you probably have heard it somewhere already.
Gerry and me had a really deep conversation about the dark side of tech and we could fill a whole book with great quotable statements from him just in this podcast.
We spoke about the problem of innovation and why AI is a big problem not only from an environmental point of view but on many ends. And we discussed how big tech per se is a problem and how it is acting not for the good of us but only for the good of themselves.
But we also spoke about what we can do, how we need to reconnect to nature and the need to get back to local. And we discussed hope and resilience and which of both is maybe more important.
SUX - The Sustainable UX Podcast 
