Throughout mankind, many theories have been developed to tackle and understand the growing environmental problems today. One is the idea of conservation, the idea that humans should put natural resources to use, but should manage them wisely. Another is the preservation theory, the concept that wilderness should not be altered by humans. Although these theories are ideal and favorable, it is based upon the idea of utilitarianism, which is not suited for the world we live in today. Bentham once described utilitarianism as “the greatest good for the greatest number”. However, with the aperture growing between the rich and poor, and poverty increasing among developing countries, I believe that utilitarianism is no longer the ideal and most effective form to combat global environmental issues today. Because there are more than two hundred different countries in existence around the world, and because environmental problems are a global issue, it is to the best interest of the world to form unity among these countries and find a coherent solution to tackle as a team. Because "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” global issues must be an international concern. Problems such as acid rain, strip mining, ozone layer depletion, over-fishing, global warming, and depletion of natural non-renewable resources is not just happening in the United States. In the continuation of this essay, I will present alternative global methods to take action against two major issues: depletion of non-renewable resources, and over fishing; while tying in where we stand as human beings and our responsibilities toward mother earth.
In Utah, Bingham Canyon Mine has been in existence since 1906. At a mile deep, and 3 miles wide, it is considered the largest open pit mine in the world. Because it is a half hour drive from Salt Lake, publicity is limited. But in this mine, every year, 1.8 billion dollars worth of metals and minerals including gold, silver, copper and coal, are mined. This mine, and like most others, must have a highly efficient method to be able to produce profit. Open pit mining methods are simple but brutal. First, the topsoil and surface of the ground is completely removed. Then, a surveyor samples the ground to reveal locations of metals. Finally, drills are emplaced to cut away chunks of land exposing the metals, which are turned into profits. Although this method sounds simple, the environmental effects of it are devastating. By removing huge chunks of land, and replacing them with craters, mining companies are destroying what used to be the habitat of many different organisms. By destroying them, the mine endangers the animals, forcing the creatures in the area to relocate. A link in the ecosystem chain is chopped out, and the entire biodiversity of the area suffers. Worst of all, when mines have been completely stripped of metal, they are often left as is because the area can no longer be used for anything else. The primary question is; why do the companies do it? The answer is simple: profit. We as human beings must change for the environment, not wait for it to change for us. The global community must strive to improve technology in renewable and clean energy resources such as solar, hydroelectric and wind powers. Reliability is one reason consumers are reluctant to purchase renewable energy. Neither wind nor sun is a constant source of energy. By diversifying the overall mix of energy sources powering the city, however, the system will become more reliable in the long run. The production of new storage technologies such as fuel cells could also solve the reliability problem. By encouraging the usage of renewable resources, we are reducing the amount of dependence on non-renewable resources; removing pressures on our planet.
The lab that we conducted on Wednesday clearly proves the effects of over fishing: consequences include reduced harvests of the targeted fish; excessive unintentional harvest of non-targeted, undersized or protected species, and ecosystems changes. Over fishing can have broader adverse effects on the ecosystem. In the 1990s total world catch reached the maximum. This was due to the changes in species composition and due to a method called “fishing down the food chain”. Top predatory species tend to be fished for first. Once they are nearly extinct, catch priorities are moved down the food chain. This simplifies the ecosystem, which changes the environment and habitat areas where these fish once called home. Over fishing can cause changes in food webs, as well, affecting many animals that associate with fish. For example, the decline of sea lions in Alaska has been caused by over fishing of the sea lion's main food sources: pollock, cod, and mackerel. To solve this problem, the global community must first receive education about the growing concern. The government must give subsidies to local fisherman and then encourage farmed fish to the public. Local government must take action and limit the amount of fish allowed captured.
In the documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore points out a picture that the Voyager took 4 billion miles away from earth. He tell us about all of human history has happened on that tiny pixel, which is our only home. Although I’ve only mentioned two of the millions of things negatively affecting the world we live in today, I still firmly believe that our world is changing for the better. We as humans are the only species with intelligence strong enough to understand the effects of global warming, over fishing, strip mining, and other myriads of environmental issues. We as humans are also the only species that have the ability to change and correct our course of action to reduce the affects of these problems on our planet. By educating ourselves on environmental problems and understanding ways to combat them, we will be removing stress on the planet and dependence on the valuable resources. We do not have to drastically change our lifestyle; for an example, changing all the light bulbs of mid-size home with fluorescent lights saves energy equivalent to removing 60,000 cars off the road for a day. Another is that food on an average dinner plate in the United States has traveled 1,300 miles. By buying locally produced food, it supports the local economy, saves energy, and reduces pollution. These simple things can make a difference. One by one, we can all cooperate to become more aware of our environment. Together, we can tackle these problems. “Where there is life, there is hope.”