Google alerts

            One of my Google alert searches was Rainforest Destruction. I believe this is an extremely important environmental problem. I recently developed an interested in the causes and effects of cutting down the rainforest, after reading another classmate’s blog on Friday. I was not aware of the harmful aftermath of something so beautiful.

            A website called “Rainforest Facts” came across my Google alerts today with some very shocking information. If people would become more educated on how detrimental cutting down these rare rainforests are, the problem could possibly cease. The website demonstrates how 14% percent of the earth used to be covered by rainforest, with now just a slim 6% percent remaining. Experts claim, “The last remaining rainforest’s can be consumed in less than forty years.”

            The website refers to rainforests as the “lungs of our planet”, by constantly recycling the carbon dioxide in the air, rainforest are the main producers of oxygen.  One of the problems that really interest me is that many medicines come from the rainforest. Since my plan is to go to Physician Assistant School, I am curious as to what Doctors or PA’s would prescribe their patients with out all these necessary medicines. The health care advances would decrease tremendously and knowledge on new cures and medicines would be a thing of the past. It is thought that if there was ever a cure for AIDS or cancer, it would be found within the rainforest. Cancer and AIDS are too main causes of death today.  Do we honestly think it is more important to have extra land for houses and business’s than to have a cure for a disease that is killing our loved ones or ourselves? I do not think so.

            To conclude, there are excessive problems that are coming from such this irresponsible action, such as different species becoming extinct, the amount of Indians living in the rainforests to decrease and ignoring that cures for diseases are out there. The rainforest is more economically important than any reason people believe is justifying cutting rainforests down. Hopefully one day, people will realize what a huge impact Rainforest deforestation has on our planet, and find ways to convince people that it’s not worth the risk.

"End of the river?" / video link

            In the near future, the world we live in is going to be deprived of clean water. Species will no longer be able to drink water as an aftermath of pollution. What we, as citizens, really need is to be environment friendly. We should think of how the world would be like without such necessities. Just imagine. Could we really like in a place like that? In my opinion, I do not think we could undergo such changes. Jonathan Waterman tells his experience with unclean water in the essay “End of the river?” He demonstrates that the Colorado River, just like any other, is a “ticking bomb” if we do not change our ways.

            Jonathan Waterman and his friend, Pete McBride, paddled down a narrow stream in the El Rio Colorado River, on what they thought was a 1,450 mile trip. As the trip progressed, Waterman describes how he could not “breathe.” Waterman and McBride discovered a green pond; a pond consumed of fertilizers. They believed the water was polluted enough to allow illness to occur. Waterman demonstrates that Colorado River has been “engineered to death.” The canals and dams solace all their waters to every farm, industry and city, while other species in the desert are hungry and thirsty. At the end of the trip, they find “wet paradise.” The water turned clear, and was ongoing as far as they could see. Waterman states that as “As the stream narrowed, we could feel it gathering momentum, as if it would once more meet the sea” and after that great feeling, he could finally “breathe” again.

            Not only are disturbing pollutions happening to places like the Colorado River, the pollutions are happening everywhere. The video I chose to relate to “End of the River?” is about the Mississippi River which runs through “the heart of America.” The beautiful scenery is also one of the most productive farmlands. The fertilizers, that farmers are using, turn the waters green and destroy the ecosystem. A woman states, “It’s not natural to be swimming in the water and not see living organisms.” The video describes that in a world of such a constantly growing population, the food chain is going to double. Not only are we overusing fertilizer and energy, our water is going to be depleted in the next couple of generations; therefore, farmers are doing everything they can to change their ways and traditions to better the earth. I believe these two different stories give an eye-opening wake up call to humans that something must be done if we are to survive. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba97nG2Bvyg

           The environmental issues are becoming a major concern in the world today. We are slowly destroying earth by energy consumption, overpopulation, air, water and soil pollution, deforestation, biodiversity, overuse of transportation, global warming, etc.  This is exactly the reason humans’ need sustainability. Sustainability has many different meanings such as to maintain, support and endure. However, for us, sustainability is “everything we need for survival and the well being of the environment.”

            The Environmental Protection Agency, better known as the EPA, discusses what they are doing to maintain sustainability. The EPA has “began developing tools and practices that help prevent rather than control” environmental problems.

Take energy consumption as an example, an average human’s health is at risk from the burning of fuels, such as carcinogen benzene, a chemical, that are being released into the air. The pieces of ash are so small; they remain floating in the air and are often inhaled into the respiratory system. A short article in The Sustainability Report discusses a study in 1995 to 1996 where over 28,000 people were interviewed that ranged from the ages of 5 to 19 years old. The Student Health Lung Study was held in 9 different countries, all of which were asked to determine factors which provoked asthma attacks. There are many different contributions to the attacks, but a few were the indoor and outdoor air quality, national and local energy, and exposure to dust particles. The World Health Organization revealed that many of the components studied “link to the use of natural resources like fossil fuels to human health using the example of severe respiratory infections.”  Humans are not aware of how detrimental these chemicals are to our bodies. The EPA presents a manual called “Green Living” to show us day-to-day living techniques to protect earth. Therefore, we can decrease the abundance of unhealthy Americans by reducing the amount of fuel we have been using.

In a final thought, sustainability is about knowing “what meets the needs of the present without compromising the future.” One of the most important concerns in sustainability is earth’s carrying capacity. Thus, if the earth continues to be overcrowded, it will not last “indefinitely.” Overpopulation is a prime reason why the environmental issues have reached an all-time high, with so many resources being in demand. Therefore, if we follow the Environmental Protection Agency’s suggestions on Green Living, we will be on our way to living a more fulfilling, healthy life. 

Overpopulation

            There are many environmental issues that are going to be the cause of Island Civilization to exist in the future. In my opinion, I believe overpopulation is at the top of the list. Overpopulation not only affects the environment, but also the economy. Many studies reveal that overpopulation is the world’s greatest problem.

            Overpopulation, by definition, means the “excessive population of an area to the point of overcrowding, depletion of natural resources, or environmental deterioration.” Environmental issues that concern humans increase daily due to overpopulation. On earth, there are approximately 6.8 billion people with new births at 220,000 per day. Thus, as our population continues to increase, so does our demand for natural resources.

            Higher demand of resources, war and social conflict, limits on personal freedom, and health and survival of other species are all effects of overpopulation. Most importantly, the Ozone layer is being destroyed at a rate of “4% per decade.” The world, as we know it, will not exist if the ozone layer can no longer deter UV rays.

As for the survival of other species, they are all in danger! Humans have completely taken over every aspect of the world by destroying habitats and building more houses, roads, and developments. Not only are we harming other species, we are also harming ourselves. We are polluting air, water and soil. “At least half of the cause of the oil-spill disaster in the Gulf is due to the unprecedented rise in population.” Many humans go hungry and are not able to shower or brush their teeth because of the limited amount of food and water. I could continue to describe the harmful things we are doing to other species as well as to ourselves, yet, I just mentioned a few.

            To conclude, overpopulation is certainly a growing issue. If we do not start to take better care of the earth, then Island Civilization will be one of the only options left if mankind and other species are to survive.

http://howmany.org/environmental_and_social_ills.php

Island Civilization

Roderick F. Nash creates a vision of life on earth in the 4^th Millennium. The vision responds to concerns Jared Diamond raises in his book titled Collapse. Diamond suggests that humans are not exempt from environmental problems such as ecological disaster or social disintegration. Throughout history, the human species farmed land to cultivate crops, built fences to contain animals, and created technology which destroyed rather than preserved the “wilderness.” Additionally, railroads, freeways, and dams have left the wilderness in more danger. According to the article, “0nly about two percent of the contiguous forty eight states is legally wild, and the same amount is paved.” It was in 1890 when the Census Bureau declared the wilderness no more and Americans began to believe the wilderness should be treasured and protected.

            Looking toward the 4^th Millennium there are several theories on the future of the world that humans evolved. The wasteland scenario, the garden scenario, future primitive, and island civilizations are possibilities for the future world.

            Nash concentrates on island civilization. His belief is that island civilization is a strategy which allows the occupation of all species on the planet to live peacefully together.

            Nash’s island civilization involves compromises to human freedom. Both human population and human living space must be restrained. In Nash’s words, “bigger is not always better.” The island civilization scenario would create boundaries for humans. As a result, other species will be able to move out of their “corners” and war will be a thing of the past. Yet, humans will be more compacted without their boundaries of fences. Thus, hunting and gathering lifestyles will emerge in history again.

            In my opinion, it is time for humans to be good neighbors on our planet. I agree with Nash; an island civilization seems to be the best scenario from the four options if our world is to survive. I do believe the scenario may take hundreds of years to complete. However, we can begin by doing small things. We can cut fewer trees and reduce land, air, and water pollution. Technology could be used in ways which will better benefit our society. For example, transportation could be developed which reduces the amount of gas and oil needed. Another example may be to build high rise apartment units rather than single homes; better use of land could be acquired. The land preserved would be of benefit to other species in the ecosystem.

            Quite frankly, Americans have grown to be accustomed to the ownership of land and possessions. The giving up of land and possessions, as well as the conveniences of grocery stores and cell phones will be difficult for the American. A very wise man by the name of Wallace Stegner states that, “We are the most dangerous species of life on the planet, and every other species, even the earth itself, has cause to fear our power to exterminate. But we are also the only species which, when it chooses to do so, will go to great effort to save what it might destroy.” If Stegner’s thoughts are correct, then the human species, regardless of the loss of land and possessions, will live in island civilizations to preserve and save a planet of many species.