As time passed we have heard of the collapse of great societies and we have seen pictures of their monumental ruins.most of us have wished to see these places while many of us plan vacations in order for us to experience them at firsthand as tourists. These societies collapsed for so many reasons including population growth, the replacement or overthrow of one governing elite by another, hostile neighbours and even environmental problems. A society`s collapse cannot be attributed to only one of these reasons but a combination of all or most of the reasons mentioned. the Maya cities in Central America, Great Zimbabwe in Africa, Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, Moche and Tiwanaku societies in South America are examples of famous societies that have collapsed.
Ecological problems have been suspected to partly trigger the collapse of these societies: deforestation, habitat destruction, soil problems, water management problems, effects of introduced species on native species, population growth, over hunting, over fishing, and increased per capita impact of people, (Easton, P 185). Although we know that our societies are not doomed to collapse because of environmental problems but if we do not deal with these problems now, it will be the major reason for the collapse of our society.
Today, our powerful technology offers us both the beneficial effects which puts us at a lower risk than our past societies and the destructive effects which puts us on a greater risk than our past societies, meaning our study of these collapsed societies won`t give us solutions to solve our societies problems but it tells us that if we don`t do anything about it, then very soon we will fall like those past collapsed societies.
According to Jared Diamond, society`s collapse means "a drastic decrease in human population size and or political/ economic/ social complexity over a considerable area of an extended time" (Easton, P. 184).
"We consider Easter Island to be a microcosm which provides a model for the whole planet"(Easton, P. 170). Easter Island is an isolated Island probably isolated until it was found by Dutch Sailors in 1722. it is dominated by trees used for ropes and these trees were used until it was exhausted and the land became empty, deforestation coincided with soil erosion, Polynesian rats consumed the seeds of the forest trees preventing it from regenerating and fresh water supplies diminished, nothing was left to support the inhabitants of these Island. A country`s human carrying capacity does not only depend on its soils, natural resources, population, culture and economy but it also depend on the price of its products both locally and internationally.
We desire different things in different qualities and sizes, ranging from material well being to domestic and international demographic arrangements among others. According to Joel E.Cohen, if we specify our choices and adopt a model that will reconcile every choice made and find a balance among contradictory choices then it would be an ideal tool for estimating how many people the earth can support.
Carrying capacity therefore refers to the number of people the earth can support. it is not like the standard demographic indicators like life expectancy, it is more difficult to estimate.
Garrett Hardin in one of his writings "Tragedy of the Commons" excerpted in Sources Environmental Studies fourth edition, likened the game of tick-tack-toe to population problem. he said population problem in his thesis, is a member of "No technical solution problems" giving an example of herdsmen sharing a common and each thinking of how to increase his numbers of animals without thinking of the impact of their decision to the society at large. they all reach their individual conclusions that it a sensible course to add another animal to his herd. "the individual benefits from the ability to deny the truth even though the society as a whole of which he is a part suffers"(Easton P. 25).
Population growth is not the only problem but these goes a long way in creating other problems like pollution problem. we see these problems like what only the government should solve or something not of our business. As time go by restrictions restricting pastures, hunting and fishing, disposal of domestic sewage are being accepted worldwide to help the commons.
Examples of resources held in common by all the citizens of a society that have suffered by overuse include water (over fishing), land (over grazing, farming, waste disposal).
Activity
TED talk Fragile Earth with Yann Arthus-Bertrand, talks about the big impacts on the planet. Issues like over exploitations of our resources, global warming (40% decrease in the thickness of the arctic, 80% decrease in the eye of mount Kilimanjaro), overfishing and deforestation are issues we have become over familiar with that "we don`t want to believe what we know".
He used pictures creating lasting memories in the viewers mind to show the effects of our actions on earth. The teaser of his movie "HOME" showed us not only the Problems we are facing but solutions to draw us out of these problems. Just as the movie says "it is too late to be pessimistic".
Reflections
The major world problems includes over population, climate/weather change, Fukushima, water and waste problems,we here of these problems everyday and environmentalists have been criticized worldwide for speaking of them. we say "you only talk about the problems, where are the solutions?" today the solutions are being spoken of, what we can do as individuals, groups and as a nation but we have refused to believe the truth just like Yann Arthus-Bertrand said "we live in denial".
By regulating municipal wastewater and specific industries such as pulp, paper mills and metal mines, the Government of Canada is working hard to reduce pollution of freshwater at the source. Over $140 million have been spent on water related programs, clean-up of important water bodies such as Lake Winnipeg, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence in 2010
"The Government of Canada is working with many partners, including grassroots organizations, universities, other levels of government and internationally to find ways to protect and conserve our water. In Atlantic Canada, Environment Canada has signed an agreement on environmental cooperation with the four provincial governments including a water annex and work plan outlining how they will work together to protect and conserve our water resources. Additionally, Environment Canada’s Atlantic Ecosystem Initiatives provides funding to community groups to carry out projects that are designed to have a positive impact on the entire ecosystem"(Environment Canada).
Pollutants in our different cities travel very far away affecting people in places we don`t even expect, affecting the lives of both humans, animals and even plants. From THE TIMES OF INDIA, we hear that pollution from china travels in a large quantites across the Pacific Ocean to US, making environmental and health problems unexpected side effects of US demand for cheap China-manufactured goods. it also said "Cities like Los Angeles received at least an extra day of smog a year from nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide from China's export-dependent factories". This is an example of trans-boundary pollution and it is due to the over consumption not only on the developed world, we should all work together to figure out ways to solve these problems and stop looking for whom to pass the blame on.
References
Easton, Thomas A. Sources Environmental Studies. Fourth ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. 25-186. Print.
"Everyone's talking about water: It's time for action!." Environment Canada. N.p., 21 June 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. http://ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=D295883B-1
"Yann Arthus-Bertrand: A wide-angle view of fragile Earth." TED Talk. N.p., June 2009. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/yann_arthus_bertrand_captures_fragile_earth_in_wide_angle.html.
THE TIMES OF CHINA. N.p., 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Made-in-China-pollution-wafts-across-Pacific-to-US/articleshow/29227207.cms
