Futurist Magazine article: "Emerging Technologies and the Global Crisis of Maturity"

The current March-April 2009 issue of The Futurist Magazine contains a number of excellent articles. I especially recommend "Emerging Technologies and the Global Crisis of Maturity" by William Halal which posits three broad alternative paths for humanity from now until 2030 based on technological innovation as a primary driver of change. The very detailed technology forecasts were generated by TechCast - a virtual Think Tank utilizing the technology forecasting system developed by Professor William E. Halal and his associates at George Washington University.

This is a quote from Prof. Halal's conclusion in the article: "Technological, economic and political projections make it clear that the world must mature if it is survive. The crisis of maturity may not prove catastrophic if acted on in time, but a major turning point seems inevitable as the multiple threats of worldwide industrialization, energy shortages, climate change, environment collapse, nuclear holocaust, spreading terrorism, global conflict, and other unknown crises reach critical levels about 2020. The transition could happen anytime, but it is hard to conceive of a future in which today's systems could survive much beyond 2020, let alone 2030.... The imperative is: Grow up or perish."

The Futurist magazine is a regular publication of the World Future Society.