Many scientists claim that human beings have been on this earth for millions of years. Yet recent studies show that in the past 10,000 years the climate had not changes as much as it has in the last 60.
Many reports claim that since the early 1950s chemical fertilizers are being used eight times more now, urban population have grown about 700%, and the nitrogen levels in the oceans have multiplies at least by 400%. The same studies claim that these issues are not getting better and are actually increasing at alarming rates.
Humans activities have been looked at as the main cause in the environmental changes of late. The burning of fossil fuels and tropical forests have been big topics for several decades now. Over fishing of our lakes, rivers and especially our oceans is getting more and more attention in the last few years. Even over population is a issue in many areas.
Right now the biggest factor detrimentally changing our environment appears to be the degradation of land. This lowering of land productivity and capacity to support life is caused by many different factors, but the human influence is probably the biggest cause. As populations grow so do the need to support it. Urbanization, deforestation, agriculture, and livestock production all play a part in destroying the land.
Many scientists, naturalists, and agriculturalists support these studies and there are some people that do not. Fox News reported that the environmental predictions of the past have been extremely over estimated and may not be happening at all as previously claimed. Maxim Lott (2015) wrote a report stating that the U.N. over estimated how much global warming there would be by now. He also wrote that the Pennsylvania State Government predicted that the world would be out of oil by 2015. One of the last items he wrote about was that the National Snow and Ice Artic Data Center had claimed that the Artic would be clear of all ice by the year 2020.
So many people claim that the environment is stable and self healing. Others claiming that humans are killing it. What are we supposed to believe? When do we as an advanced civilization make taking care of our planet a priority? Where do our responsibilities as individuals lie?
Chapter three in or class text talks about ethical, moral, and cultural differences that all play apart in making decisions to improve our communities, nations and the world.
I believe that we cannot fix our global environmental problems individually, but our daily actions came help. If all Americans cut their gas / oil use by even one tenth of their current use can make an impact. If all Americans cut their disposable waste products by that same one tenth it would cut down our dumping our toxins into the landfills, lakes, rivers and oceans.
The real problem is that this is not just an American issue it is a global one, but no one seems to know where to draw the line. Do we quit producing plastics, because they seriously damage the environment? If we do what would the effects be? No more water bottles, no more disposable diapers of course, but what about having no more medical supplies such as I.V. bags, syringes, air line tubing, and prosthetics.
Do we stop fishing the oceans? If we stop then how will the public react to having no seafood?
Do we quit cutting down trees and burning forests? If we do what would we have to give up?
This is a truly tough subject to try to fix, but I think we are not really trying very hard to do so. There is no yes or no answer, and not everyone will be happy with whatever is done, or not done.
References:
No comments:
Post a Comment