Diachronistic predictions [musings on A. Peccei\´s "How to Survive on Planet Earth"]

As Chairman and Past President of the G-SMC, I have observed that SMC members are indeed concerned about societal problems-more so than the general public or even the IEEE as a whole. An analysis of papers appearing in this TRANSACTIONS and those presented at our conferences shows that while 2/3 relate to our prime technical interests, 1/3 relate to interdisciplinary problems, most of which concern transportation, education, health care, urban, public safety, and environmental quality problems. On this point I will share with you the concerns of Aurelio Peccei of the Club of Rome, a small transnational organization concerned with the effect of technology on man. I have abstracted (with permission) a number of key points appearing in his dramatic article, "How to Survive on Planet Earth," which appeared in the February 1971 issue of Successo. His concerns are similar to those of many of our members.