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Suggested Citation: Satya, B. and Satya J. (2003). A Diseased Planet. Retreived from http://www.truefeeling.com/environment.htm

A Diseased Planet
The planet earth suffers from many diseases caused by one pathogen, the Human. We all have, in our life time heard about and/or witnessed, global warming, ozone layer depletion, glaciers melting, weather changes, deforestation etc. The list is endless. Aren't we special? We get to do whatever we want to the very planet we live on, reduce the chances of survival of many biodiverse species and our own...and then blindly move on with our materialistic lives. Think about this: 3 million die each year because they drink polluted water while we can just run to our faucets and gulp down infinitely in America! My intention is not to induce feelings of guilt- at least not right now because there's more ahead.

To put it in the true perspective, Buckminster Fuller called earth - "Our Spaceship Earth - One island in one ocean...from space." Is that why we take water for granted? Why despite being aware of the consequences of our actions, we don't care? Is it because you and I don't have to stand in long lines to get a bucket full of clean water twice a day? But about one-fifth of world's population does. They not only lack access to safe drinking water, but also adequate sanitation. Needless to say, the sufferers are the poor - those living in developing countries. We cannot separate global environment from world economics, population and poverty. They are all intertwined in a complex vicious cycle leading to premature death and illness. Polluted water is estimated to affect the health of about 1.2 billion people every year. The WHO reports that about 3.5 million people die from these diseases each year—2.2 million from diarrheal diseases alone. Overall, environmental health risks account for 20 percent of the burden of disease in the developing countries.

About 40 percent of the world’s population lives in countries with moderate to high water stress. GEF estimated that by 2025, this figure could rise to 50 percent. Nearly 2 billion people cope daily with the problem of finding enough water, and as many as 3.5 billion—almost half the world’s projected population—could face water shortages by 2025. Sadly enough, approximately 75% of global pollution of marine waters is from land-based sources. Among the largest water quality problems occur due to sewage pollution. In addition, overuse of pesticides and industrial wastes (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and persistent organic compounds) lead to water pollution. Yet another factor is the over-abstraction of groundwater which has led to seawater intrusion along shorelines, causing salinization of coastal agricultural lands. Pollution in the Baltic Sea is an example of this situation. For over 50 years high population of 77 million people in the basin with inadequate wastewater treatment facilities, and large emissions from industrial enterprises has lead to a serious environmental threat in that region.

According to FAO, more than one-quarter of all fish stocks are already depleted, and almost half of all fish stocks are being fished at their biological limit and are vulnerable to depletion. Recent assessments have also found that up to 60% of reefs worldwide are threatened by human activities!

60% of the world's people directly depend on the coastal and ocean environment as a source of income from such activities as fishing, shipping and tourism: livelihoods will be promoted if these are managed properly. Rationally allocating water - which is so important in agriculture and many other trades - will help provide opportunities for productive employment. Jobs can also be created in constructing, operating and maintaining the water distribution infrastructure (Wijkman, 1996).

Steps are being taken by state, national and international governments to improve the current conditions by developing new and innovative irrigation practices, reducing the number of urban dwellers, conserving ecosystems , and promoting country-driven partnerships for conservation of water. Whether enough is being done to save our future generations from ailments caused due to careless human errors, is yet to be determined.

In addition to water stress, the planet earth is also undergoing dramatic changes in its land quality - long-term gains in food production, especially in developing countries is threatened by land degradation and by growing competition for water from industrial and municipal sources. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) currently estimates that demand for cereals in developing countries will increase by nearly 50% from1997 to 2020, rising to nearly 1.7 billion metric tons. China and India are expected to account for about 40% of this increased demand. The annual loss of agricultural land due to degradation is thought to range from 5 million to 12 million hectares.

Deforesation is yet another plague that consumes the earth. It affects the local climate of an area by reducing the evaporative cooling that takes place from both soil and plant life. Less evaporation means that more of the sun's energy is able to warm the surface and, consequently, the air above, leading to a rise in temperatures. It also leads to fewer trees and an insecure future for forest workers. In addition, heavy rainfall and sunlight quickly damage the topsoil of the cleared lands. In such circumstances, the forest takes much longer to regenerate and the land becomes unsuitable for agricultural use for some time. Potential medical treatments, cures and vaccines may lie undiscovered within these environments. 5 to 80 million species of plants and animals comprise the "biodiversity" of planet earth. Tropical rain forests covering only 7% of the total dry surface of the earth hold over half of all these species. Every year about 15.2 million hectares of forested land in tropical countries are cut down, and the remaining are becoming too small to support viable animal or bird populations.

Why does it still happen? The causes are very complex - a competitive global economy drives the need for money in economically challenged countries. At the national level, governments sell logging concessions to raise money for projects, to pay international debt, or to develop industry. For example, Brazil had an international debt of $159 billion in 1995, on which it must make payments each year. The logging companies seek to harvest the forest and make profit from the sales of pulp and valuable hardwoods such as mahogany. Do we forget that our debt also lies to mother earth and our future generations who might have to face the music of our callous actions?

Deforestation continues to increase the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other trace gases in the atmosphere. From 1850 to 1990, deforestation worldwide released 122 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere, with the current rate being approximately 1.6 billion metric tons per year. CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels are contributing to the warming of climate, which causes shifting precipitation patterns, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. Developing countries are still unequipped to adapt to these changes.

What is being done? Various treaties are being signed locally and internationally to prevent the damage caused by deforestation e.g. Agenda 21 (UNCED, 1992, Rio Conference), Tropical Forestry Action Programme (TFAP) was launched as the Tropical Forestry Action Plan in June 1985 with the aim of slowing tropical deforestation and helping countries formulate blueprints for environmentally sustainable forest management at the national, regional, and global levels. Also , there is an increase in government subsidies; land tenure and knowledge of intellectual property rights for farmers are encouraged; substantial amount of ground-breaking research is being done in Genetics to generate higher yielding crops; special focus is being placed on improvements in soil management, fertilization, and pest and weed control; farmers are being advised and educated about benefits of switching to crops that consume less water or use water more efficiently; soil resources are being conserved rapidly; information technologies are being integrated in daily farm-practices; and community participation is encouraged.

The environmental chaos we are creating today will be evident tomorrow when we will be faced with greater challenges of daily needs being poorly met. The rich-poor divide is yet another sign of the hypocrital economy-driven, and not humanity-driven world that we live in. It is only fair to first acknowledge these environmental threats in our classrooms, so that we can prepare a more aware and devoted generation of transformational leaders.

Resources:
GEF. (September 2002). The Challenge of Sustainablity.
     Retreived from http://gefweb.org/Outreach/outreach-PUblications/MainBook.pdf
Fuller, B.
Hui, Stephen. (1997, November 12). Deforestation: Humankind and the global ecological crisis.      Retrieved from http://www.aquapulse.net/knowledge/deforestation
Urquhart, G., W. Chomentowski, D. Skole, and C.Barber. (2001). Tropical Deforestation.
     Retreived from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Deforestation/
Wijkman, A. (1996). The Stuff of Life. Our Planet.
      Retreived from: http://www.ourplanet.com/imgversn/83/wijkman.html

Organizations/Programs:
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
Tropical Forestry Action Programme (TFAP)
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP)
International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme (IHDP)
Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
Ocean Observation Panel for Climate (OOPC)
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF)
Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI)

Fuller's Dymaxion Map: The Most Accurate Map of the earth!
(Source: http://www.bfi.org/)

Dates:
June 5: World Environment Day
October 2: World Habitat Day


	(SatyaBhavna :: What we feel about a few truths!)

		WORLD ISSUES
	I do not know of any environmental group in any country that does not view its government as an adversary. (Gro Harlem Brundtland)	WORLD ISSUES
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	Suggested Citation: Satya, B. and Satya J. (2003). A Diseased Planet. Retreived from http://www.truefeeling.com/environment.htm A Diseased Planet The planet earth suffers from many diseases caused by one pathogen, the Human. We all have, in our life time heard about and/or witnessed, global warming, ozone layer depletion, glaciers melting, weather changes, deforestation etc. The list is endless. Aren't we special? We get to do whatever we want to the very planet we live on, reduce the chances of survival of many biodiverse species and our own...and then blindly move on with our materialistic lives. Think about this: 3 million die each year because they drink polluted water while we can just run to our faucets and gulp down infinitely in America! My intention is not to induce feelings of guilt- at least not right now because there's more ahead. To put it in the true perspective, Buckminster Fuller called earth - "Our Spaceship Earth - One island in one ocean...from space." Is that why we take water for granted? Why despite being aware of the consequences of our actions, we don't care? Is it because you and I don't have to stand in long lines to get a bucket full of clean water twice a day? But about one-fifth of world's population does. They not only lack access to safe drinking water, but also adequate sanitation. Needless to say, the sufferers are the poor - those living in developing countries. We cannot separate global environment from world economics, population and poverty. They are all intertwined in a complex vicious cycle leading to premature death and illness. Polluted water is estimated to affect the health of about 1.2 billion people every year. The WHO reports that about 3.5 million people die from these diseases each year—2.2 million from diarrheal diseases alone. Overall, environmental health risks account for 20 percent of the burden of disease in the developing countries. About 40 percent of the world’s population lives in countries with moderate to high water stress. GEF estimated that by 2025, this figure could rise to 50 percent. Nearly 2 billion people cope daily with the problem of finding enough water, and as many as 3.5 billion—almost half the world’s projected population—could face water shortages by 2025. Sadly enough, approximately 75% of global pollution of marine waters is from land-based sources. Among the largest water quality problems occur due to sewage pollution. In addition, overuse of pesticides and industrial wastes (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and persistent organic compounds) lead to water pollution. Yet another factor is the over-abstraction of groundwater which has led to seawater intrusion along shorelines, causing salinization of coastal agricultural lands. Pollution in the Baltic Sea is an example of this situation. For over 50 years high population of 77 million people in the basin with inadequate wastewater treatment facilities, and large emissions from industrial enterprises has lead to a serious environmental threat in that region. According to FAO, more than one-quarter of all fish stocks are already depleted, and almost half of all fish stocks are being fished at their biological limit and are vulnerable to depletion. Recent assessments have also found that up to 60% of reefs worldwide are threatened by human activities! 60% of the world's people directly depend on the coastal and ocean environment as a source of income from such activities as fishing, shipping and tourism: livelihoods will be promoted if these are managed properly. Rationally allocating water - which is so important in agriculture and many other trades - will help provide opportunities for productive employment. Jobs can also be created in constructing, operating and maintaining the water distribution infrastructure (Wijkman, 1996). Steps are being taken by state, national and international governments to improve the current conditions by developing new and innovative irrigation practices, reducing the number of urban dwellers, conserving ecosystems , and promoting country-driven partnerships for conservation of water. Whether enough is being done to save our future generations from ailments caused due to careless human errors, is yet to be determined. In addition to water stress, the planet earth is also undergoing dramatic changes in its land quality - long-term gains in food production, especially in developing countries is threatened by land degradation and by growing competition for water from industrial and municipal sources. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) currently estimates that demand for cereals in developing countries will increase by nearly 50% from1997 to 2020, rising to nearly 1.7 billion metric tons. China and India are expected to account for about 40% of this increased demand. The annual loss of agricultural land due to degradation is thought to range from 5 million to 12 million hectares. Deforesation is yet another plague that consumes the earth. It affects the local climate of an area by reducing the evaporative cooling that takes place from both soil and plant life. Less evaporation means that more of the sun's energy is able to warm the surface and, consequently, the air above, leading to a rise in temperatures. It also leads to fewer trees and an insecure future for forest workers. In addition, heavy rainfall and sunlight quickly damage the topsoil of the cleared lands. In such circumstances, the forest takes much longer to regenerate and the land becomes unsuitable for agricultural use for some time. Potential medical treatments, cures and vaccines may lie undiscovered within these environments. 5 to 80 million species of plants and animals comprise the "biodiversity" of planet earth. Tropical rain forests covering only 7% of the total dry surface of the earth hold over half of all these species. Every year about 15.2 million hectares of forested land in tropical countries are cut down, and the remaining are becoming too small to support viable animal or bird populations. Why does it still happen? The causes are very complex - a competitive global economy drives the need for money in economically challenged countries. At the national level, governments sell logging concessions to raise money for projects, to pay international debt, or to develop industry. For example, Brazil had an international debt of $159 billion in 1995, on which it must make payments each year. The logging companies seek to harvest the forest and make profit from the sales of pulp and valuable hardwoods such as mahogany. Do we forget that our debt also lies to mother earth and our future generations who might have to face the music of our callous actions? Deforestation continues to increase the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other trace gases in the atmosphere. From 1850 to 1990, deforestation worldwide released 122 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere, with the current rate being approximately 1.6 billion metric tons per year. CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels are contributing to the warming of climate, which causes shifting precipitation patterns, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. Developing countries are still unequipped to adapt to these changes. What is being done? Various treaties are being signed locally and internationally to prevent the damage caused by deforestation e.g. Agenda 21 (UNCED, 1992, Rio Conference), Tropical Forestry Action Programme (TFAP) was launched as the Tropical Forestry Action Plan in June 1985 with the aim of slowing tropical deforestation and helping countries formulate blueprints for environmentally sustainable forest management at the national, regional, and global levels. Also , there is an increase in government subsidies; land tenure and knowledge of intellectual property rights for farmers are encouraged; substantial amount of ground-breaking research is being done in Genetics to generate higher yielding crops; special focus is being placed on improvements in soil management, fertilization, and pest and weed control; farmers are being advised and educated about benefits of switching to crops that consume less water or use water more efficiently; soil resources are being conserved rapidly; information technologies are being integrated in daily farm-practices; and community participation is encouraged. The environmental chaos we are creating today will be evident tomorrow when we will be faced with greater challenges of daily needs being poorly met. The rich-poor divide is yet another sign of the hypocrital economy-driven, and not humanity-driven world that we live in. It is only fair to first acknowledge these environmental threats in our classrooms, so that we can prepare a more aware and devoted generation of transformational leaders. Resources: GEF. (September 2002). The Challenge of Sustainablity. Retreived from http://gefweb.org/Outreach/outreach-PUblications/MainBook.pdf Fuller, B. Hui, Stephen. (1997, November 12). Deforestation: Humankind and the global ecological crisis. Retrieved from http://www.aquapulse.net/knowledge/deforestation Urquhart, G., W. Chomentowski, D. Skole, and C.Barber. (2001). Tropical Deforestation. Retreived from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Deforestation/ Wijkman, A. (1996). The Stuff of Life. Our Planet. Retreived from: http://www.ourplanet.com/imgversn/83/wijkman.html Organizations/Programs: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Tropical Forestry Action Programme (TFAP) United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme (IHDP) Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Ocean Observation Panel for Climate (OOPC) M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI) Fuller's Dymaxion Map: The Most Accurate Map of the earth! (Source: http://www.bfi.org/) Dates: June 5: World Environment Day October 2: World Habitat Day
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