~ Walt Kelly ~ Pogo
I know someone who is suggesting that global warming, while real is not caused by human actions. I don’t agree. I am making my assessment from readily available information, and posting it hear in an effort to make my case.
First, I want to acknowledge that there have been many climate catastrophes that have decimated life in the past. So, I suppose it is not unreasonable to suggest that whatever is going on now is another one of those events. None of those events were caused by any life forms at the time. It is my contention that the decimation currently underway is completely attributable to human actions.
While the following argument has some information about contemporary human actions that are damaging to our environment, it has much more information about our numbers. Population statistics are more readily available to me. Our actions are likely more damaging than the impact of our numbers.
- When Columbus landed in the western hemisphere in 1492, the world population was 498 million (1/2 billion).
- When Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific Ocean in 1805, the world population was 1 billion.
Adding 1.6 million per year (on average) in the 313 years between Columbus and Lewis and Clark.
- Before 1866 there were no motorized vehicles.
- Before 1903 there were no airplanes.
- When my father was born in 1911, the world population was 1.78 billion.
- When my mother was born in 1913, the world population was 1.8 billion.
Adding 10 million per year (on average) in the 2 years between my father’s birth and my mother’s birth.
- When my oldest sister was born in 1939, the world population was 2.27 billion.
- When the younger of my two sisters was born in 1942, the world population was 2.33 billion.
Adding 26 million per year (on average) in the 2.5 years between my oldest sister’s birth and my younger sister’s birth.
- When I was born at the end of 1950, the world population was 2.53 billion.
Adding 27 million per year (on average) in the 7.5 years between my younger sister’s birth and my birth.
- When my first nephew was born in 1970, the world population was 3.7 billion.
Adding 59 million per year (on average) in the 20 years between my birth and my first nephew’s birth.
- When my second nephew was born in 1974, the world population was 4.0 billion.
Adding 75 million per year (on average) in the 4 years between my first nephew’s birth and my second nephew’s birth.
- When my first nephew’s son was born (approximately 2005), the world population was 6.6 billion.
Adding 80 million per year (on average) in the 35 years between my first nephew’s birth and his son.
- Today, the world population is more than 8 billion.
- Now, we are adding 80 million humans to the planet every year… year after year.
- Today there are about 1.5 billion cars/trucks, and 278 million commercial vehicles.
- Today there are between 8,000 and 13,000 commercial airplanes in the air, every day, 24/7, 365 days of the year.
All of that illustrates the rapid growth of both human population and human activity on our planet. Our activity is probably at least as problematic as our number. We are consuming our planet's resources much faster than natural processes can regenerate them. We are creating garbage and toxic waste much faster than natural processes can render them harmless and turn them into resources our progeny can use.
Before 1860 there were no internal combustion engines of any kind, we relied on beasts of burden to do the heavy work, and there were many fewer of us. Today, we drive our cars to the grocery store where we buy goods that are trucked and flown to us from all over the world. Today, we are operating well beyond the capacity of our planet to sustain us over the long term. We are decimating other creatures, both plants and animals, on land and in the oceans. Tens of millions of species are now extinct because of humans.
People who suggest all of this is no problem, are assuaging their anxiety with delusional happy-talk. I have said this many times, I will likely say it again in the future, “There are too many of us, and we are doing too much stuff.”
I often say, “We crossed the Rubicon long ago.” Meaning, we have passed the point of no return. So, you may ask, “If you believe that, why are you making such a fuss?” My answer… While I believe there is no avoiding the pain we have brought on ourselves, but if we make a concerted effort, we can mitigate the forthcoming disaster we are leaving to our progeny.
Notice that population growth is much greater in Asia than it is in North America. In closing, I want to reemphasize that this problem is not limited to the number of people in an area. The biggest problem is human activity, which is greatest in North America and Europe.
