Sustainability should be a central focus of all activists, economists, politicians and people in general. It is the cost of doing nothing and a litmus test for any decision in any arena. If sustainability and the environmental problems of today and tomorrow are ignored, they will increase exponentially.
The environment is on the verge of devastation as deforestation accelerates, plant and animal populations are over-stocked and the population is increasing at an alarming rate. The world is consuming more meat and dairy products than it can eat. Meat and dairy farming is only a part of what is driving deforestation. Take other forms of food, land clearing and soil erosion into consideration and you begin to see why the planet is in danger. It is a circular process where we continue to destroy the land by farming and polluting the air and water.
It is really unfortunate that people are scared of organic agriculture and sustainable agriculture which mean food grown without chemical inputs or pesticides, etc. It seems there is some nagging fear of sustainability. But this is all a ploy by the large corporations who control the food supply.
A recent study indicates that the loss of forest cover may contribute to the rise in malnourishment. They show that underdeveloped countries are on course to double their population by the end of the century. One of the main causes of malnourishment is lack of nutrition and disease. Because of this, many countries are now starting to work towards sustainable development. The percentage of people living below the poverty line is continuing to rise and may be out of control. These growing numbers of under-developed countries will mean the need for sustainable agriculture.
A carbon footprint has to be avoided at all costs. The Earth cannot sustain an expansion of the human population. There is also an argument against the continued growth of the human population since rising levels of pollution would eventually lead to global warming. Faced with the possible loss of biodiversity, this new awareness is emerging. The animal protection movement is growing rapidly but there is no one national body to cater for all the concerns.
In the US, the issue of global warming is still unresolved, but the public support for action is growing. People need to hear about the problem so that they can begin to consider taking steps to improve the environment.
When speaking about sustainability, the word food comes up many times. Some people fail to grasp the reality of the food chain which also applies to the chemical and industrial waste products that enter our bodies. Some of this food gets into our bodies through our food. The rich countries are responsible for much of the waste that gets into our waterways. The only way to solve this problem is through biotechnology.
The environmental problems are not limited to the Third World or to developing countries. At least 20% of the food that we buy is thrown away, but no one is aware of this. Millions of tons of food are wasted each year. In the US alone, the amount of waste created is equal to five garbage dumps!
Perhaps we will see a renewed commitment to environmental problems after the next global economic crisis. One solution is to place a limit on food production. This will greatly reduce the world population. This is not too far-fetched because people are starting to realize the pollution and overpopulation issues.
The world’s human rights groups are becoming more active in the fight against poverty and environmental destruction. Several groups are working towards organic food and healthy diets. For those who are interested in learning more about this, one may do well to visit the Web site of the United Nations Foundation.
If you are worried about the effects of global issues, you may want to find out more about the World Health Organization’s Sustainable Development Strategy to improve health around the world. You will find out how to become a more healthy individual and help save the planet.
