Too Much of a Bad Thing

At the end of World War II, global population was roughly 2.4 billion people.  From then until today, that number has tripled to 7.3 billion and increase to almost 9 billion in 20 years.  Thanks to technology there are no longer enough jobs to go around other than low-level “service” jobs and now even those are being replaced by computers. What used to be an almost pristine filled with a host of species is now polluted with many of those species extinct or endangered.

When he first started diving, Jacque Cousteau found oceans that were almost pristine with vast areas filled with creatures.  By the time of his death, he testified that there was nowhere completely untouched by man.  The Cousteau Society fights against marine pollution and the devastation of species due to the demand by human beings for food.

Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.

Politically we have a return to barons and serfs.  That point of when humans were greater than the local levels of resources that could not support the number had been reached.  This condition was only alleviated by a global pandemic that led to development of a middle class.  Thanks to wide open areas where human beings could expand, a certain balance was maintained between haves and have-nots.  Following the Civil War, the westward expansion in US proceeded (at the expense of the indigenous populations).  There was always room and resources over the next hill.

Following WW II, the majority of the world had devastated populations while much of the Americas remained untouched.  This allowed for the creation of wealth at the expense of other nations and populations.  Now those countries are demanding clean air and water and a share of the profits.  Unfortunately global corporations need a Ponzi scheme of human beings to keep the sales climbing without consideration of what we are doing to future generations.

Now we have run out of room.  The planet is reaching its limit to house human beings with the resources they need for survival.  As wars, rumors of war, terrorism, and demands for a share of safety & wealth increase, the danger from over population becomes even greater.  The rate of growth in population may have slowed but so far the realization that we need to go backwards hasn’t sunk in.