Here is my report. I wrote half of it.
How does human population growth affect resources?
As the human population expands, resource consumption climbs. The result of population increases in developing countries is a demand for more stuff. It is perfectly possible for the earth to provide people's essential needs. But people don't just want their daily Bread and Water, they want an elaborate dessert to go with their excessive amount of "Daily Bread". People always want that better job, more money - more vacations. This is the essence of capitalism and materialism.
And so, as more people come into this world, more land will be developed and less land will be allowed to exist in its natural state. Wetlands, forests, and prairies are all being gobbled up by developments. Humans can consume resources faster than nature can create them: fossil fuels, soils, water and even various species. More humans also create more waste and the need for waste disposal. The land available for agricultural use is decreasing with the increased population.
In developing nations high population growth results in more urbanization and more unemployment. A greater burden is placed on already thinly stretched resources. This creates a competition for the limited resources available. Hostilities can then erupt escalating to violence and war.
Estimates vary with one study reporting the population as decreasing in 44% of the counties but increasing in the other 56%. Education is a key factor in reducing population growth in underdeveloped nations. These nations have their limited resources stretched already.
We, in the industrialized countries, can better manage our resources by following the old adage…reduce, reuse, recycle. It sounds very simplistic and yet it truly states the heart of the matter. We must reduce our consumption by buying less and also buying sustainably produced products. We must buy quality items instead of products that end up in landfills within the year. We should buy items in bulk when possible to reduce packaging. Items packaged in plastic should be avoided if at all possible.
Reuse is a term we can embrace easily. Shopping at garage sales, flea markets, and at local thrift stores is an easy and fun way to obtain needed items and conserve resources.
Recycling…is more than it sounds. Education is a key issue here. Just because an item has a recycling symbol on it does not mean it is recyclable. It is in some instances merely a marketing strategy. A huge percentage of plastic waste is exported to Pacific Rim countries. The amount of post-consumer plastics exported is at least 20% to 30%. In 1995 the PRCC sold nearly all of California's recovered PET overseas. These materials are sometimes badly contaminated. Conditions at these overseas factories have been documented as hazardous and extremely exploitive. Furthermore, 50% of the materials were found to be contaminated and had to go to landfills that were improperly managed. I do not believe plastics have been found to be a viable material for recycling and consumption of it should be avoided.
I believe the sustainably managed family farm can be a tremendous asset to the U.S. in terms of lessening our footprint and reducing waste. Buying local is a benefit to the economy and helps save our resources. Less fuel needed for transport of goods, less toxic waste from pesticides, and healthier food produced. By returning to the small scale farm we are able to utilize the tried and true methods of agriculture. Multispecies grazing cuts down on chemical wormers needed for livestock. Using chickens to spread manure and eat bug larvae helps reduce insect infestations and the need for chemical pesticides. Using goats for brush clearing reduces the need for fuel to run tractors and their bushhogs. Growing a multitude of grasses and plants increases the health of your pastures and your livestock and lowers the need for conglomerate grown grains for feed. Growing your own livestock feed is also a wonderful way to reduce reliance on Cargil and ADM. Turnips and Mangel beets are excellent fodder for goats, sheep, and cattle. Grass finishing livestock creates health benefits for those who consume it and for those who raise it and are no longer relying on genetically engineered grains for feed.
In order for anything to succeed, I believe we must be the change we want to see.
Works Cited
http://www.mindfully.org/Berkeley/Berkeley-Plastics-Task-Force.htm Environmental Science Systems and Solutions
