The Common Denominator
By Emily Spence
03/26/07 "ICH
" --- - Jared Diamond, E. O. Wilson, Richard
Dawkins and many other reputable scientists from diverse fields
cite human overpopulation as a root cause of many seemingly
disparate, catastrophic problems that our planet, currently,
faces. Whether the issue is extinction of an inordinate number
of species over a small period of time, warfare over resources,
ruin of all oceans through acidification, inevitable loss of
major energy sources (i.e., oil and coal), massive migration by
large segments of various social groups, ozone layer depletion,
global warming, worldwide loss of potable water, large-scale
increase in various kinds of poisonous pollution, an
overwhelming proliferation of waste materials or any number of
other severe myriad indicators, every one of these dilemmas
point to one common denominator -- too many people using up too
much before it can be replenished or before alternative sources
are put in place (i.e., for oil, minerals, coal, etc.).
However, governmental and other world leaders are surprisingly
silent when it comes to citing overpopulation as an ultimate
cause of sweeping planetary destruction. In the same vein, they
don't strive to find a workable solution. Indeed, many, instead
of expending lavish amounts of money on developing feasible
substitutes for oil and coal or encouraging universal access to
birth control, choose to spend funds in enormously expensive war
efforts.
Deep down and whether it is publicly announced or not, we all
know the covert reason for these actions. It is simply a bid to
garner the last remaining vestiges of oil or other resources for
their own country's citizens at the expense of others. How
shortsighted and brutal is that?
Meanwhile, is there an absolute limit to human growth -- a
finite carrying capacity for earth? Yes. How long can earth's
natural support systems sustain exponential expansion? This is
not known and, to a certain extent, the answer is dependent on
the way that we want to live and the types of surrounding
environments that we want to have. Dystopian films, like "Soylent
Green," point out this fact all too clearly -- presenting a
warning that is terrifyingly clear.
In any case, information about and realistic solutions for the
ravages of overpopulation desperately need to be examined on a
global scale. Attempting to address the symptoms -- the assorted
environmental dilemmas and social conflicts that are signs of
this larger crisis -- is simply not enough!
Emily Spence resides in Massachusetts and deeply cares about
the future of our world.Click here
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