new
internationalist 113
July
1982
| CHANGEThe
shape of things to come... |
|
|
The
shape of things to come. |
Just
1,000 years ago beings were an insignificant species on this planet:
only a quarter of a billion people, barely into the Iron Age, spread
thinly across the earth and subject to nature's whims. Today that
species has increased more than fifteen-fold and its power has increased
to immense proportions. The human race has made the world produce
more, has covered it with cities, is felling its forests and consuming
its oil. From being at Nature's mercy we now have the power to determine
our own futures. But this new power brings with it tremendous and
unprecedented responsibilities. It is now up to us to shape our own
future. |
|
FEEDING
THE TEN BILLION
If
current trends continue food production will keep pace with population
growth. But feeding the world's hungry depends on better distribution
of production, not just higher yields.
|
POPULATION
COUNTDOWN
Population
growth is already slowing down. By the year 2110 global population
is predicted to stabilise at around ten and a half billion. |
 LIMITS
TO GROWTH
.OIL
If exponential increases in oil consumption continue the wells
will be dry by 2025.
.URANIUM The costs of extracting the earth's
diminishing uranium deposits will become almost prohibitive by
2050.
.TREES 5.6 million hectares of forest are being
felled annually - an area the size of Sri Lanka.
.DESERTS 19 per cent of the earth's surface is
threatened with desertification. .POLLUTION Between
1978 and 2000 the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will
have increased by 15 per cent.
Conserving
the earth's resources means an 'energy transition' from non-renewable
to renewable sources. Whether or not we continue to devour the
earth's resources depends on who controls them and the price tag
we put on them.
|
FOR
RICHER, FOR POORER
The
rich will get richer and the poor will get slightly richer too.
But if the division of the world's wealth remains the same
as today, when the world population stabilises the Third World
will
have 90% of the world's people and only 20% of the world's
wealth.
|
FIELDS
OF CONCRETE
By
the year 2000 three-quarters of people in the North and half of
people in the South will be living in cities. Urban growth in
the North is fuelled by investment in industry. In the South people
flock to cities to escape poverty in the countryside. By the year
2000 eight of the ten biggest cities will be in the Third World.
|
THE
TIME BOMB
Inequality
fuels unrest within countries. Untrammelled growth leads to
competition
and conflict between nations. Both men increased military expenditure.
Today the world has approximately:
• 50,000
nuclear weapons
• 25 million
regular armed forces.
There
are twice as many people in military occupations as there are
doctors, nurses and teachers in the
world.
Source: World
Military and Social expenditures 1981, by Ruth Sivard. |
|
