The environment sustains our existence. It’s a simple fact and one of the foundations of the environmental movement. Our environment provides resources, albeit limited, that allow life to continue. Without it, we will perish. This fact often gets lost among other environmental topics, like how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
Science produces a great number of advances that allow humanity to prolong life. One such example: genetically modified organisms, which—love them or hate them—can withstand the toughest of climate conditions. But the fact also remains that science cannot save the environment from destruction.
It’s a conversation that should make front page news because it is so vitally important to how you and I will be able to live today, tomorrow, and twenty years from now. Instead, it finds a place on A-5 in today’s Washington Post.
You may say it’s been done—it’s not new news—hence why it’s not front and center. But we are talking about our ability to meet one of our basic needs. Herman Cain’s rise to success is secondary. In fact, your ability to put food on the table is secondary—because without a food source, there won’t be anything to put on the table.
Given this, we should continually discuss the strain placed on our environmental resources. Our population is now approaching 7 billion. How will we adequately feed all 7 billion of those mouths? How will we hydrate those bodies?
A World Resources Institute map of the world’s population density above. You don’t need a key to understand that there are some pretty serious implications to a visual like this.
Consider this a thought provoking start to a conversation that will be continued.
Aaron_on_Luray
Dan
kayraha
El Chupacabra
El Niño
TheGreenLight
Spinach In Our Teeth 