While man has learned to master the laws of nature, it is now clear that he is also in process of destroying it...

Early in the next century, more than half of the world's population will be living in urban areas. By the year 2025, that proportion will have risen 60%, comprising some 5 billion people. Most of this growth will occur in developing countries. Urban areas in less developed countries are currently growing at 3.5% per year as migration immigration opportunities occur in the city. Rapid population growth & industrialization are putting severe strains on the essential elements of the Earth. From water pollution, to such a rise in population that we are actually using more oxygen than is being produced, the strain that we are putting on the Earth and it's resources (for the sake of convenience & profit) are leading us towards a path of inevitable self destruction. Environmental hazards due to economic development: Environmental problems created by economic development can damage human welfare either directly or indirectly. Direct damage includes damage to health (from lead poisoning, for example, or lung disease aggravated by air pollution), social disruption (such as, displacement of people by mining operations or hydroelectric projects), and damage to the "quality of life" through congestion, noise, litter, etc. Indirect damage to human welfare occurs through interference with natural biological systems. For example, the filling of estuaries and the pollution of coastal waters diminishes ocean productivity; and logging or overgrazing can accelerate erosion. The long - term consequences for human being of chronic exposure to low concentrations of environmental contaminants may be more serious than those of acute pollution. A deteriorating relationship between human populations and the natural systems that sustain them is a major contributor to deepening poverty in many regions. The most serious threat of all, however, may well prove to be indirect and generated by mankind's disruption of the functioning of the natural environment. · Air Pollution. Air pollution is a major problem associated with most urban areas. It is believed that more than 1.1 billion people reside in cities with extremely poor air quality. Sources of air pollution include industrial & vehicle emissions and energy production. Often, energy use per capita is less in an urbanized area than in a rural area due to energy efficient apartments, attached housing and mass transit. The sheer number of people involved, however, still makes urban areas major contributors to air pollution. Human activities release a wide range of emissions into the environment, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, lead, and other pollutants. Some problems include photochemical smog, acid rain, and the enhanced greenhouse effect. One study revealed that 40% of the total North American carbon dioxide emissions came from 50 urban areas. The circulation patterns associated with urban heat islands create a dome over the city, trapping pollutants. Concentrations of pollutants, such as suspended particulate matter, can be thousands of times greater than that of rural areas. Some of these pollutants are toxic and have claimed many lives when concentrations reached dangerous levels, as in the "killer smogs" of London in the 1950's and 60's. · Environmental Oxygen. All activity requires energy, which normally involves the combustion of oxygen, the indispensable element of life and nature. The present amount of human activity is such that it involves a greater combustion of oxygen than the chlorophyllian function is capable of producing; while water pollution and destruction of green spaces is causing the destruction of oxygen - creating agents, phytoplankton in water (which at present produces 70% of the oxygen in air) and vegetation on land (which produces 30% of air oxygen). The risk now exists of more oxygen being used than actually produced. In fact, the acceleration process of the destruction of oxygen is such that some scientists predict the combustion of all oxygen in the atmosphere in less than 2,000 years. · Water Resources. Urbanization can alter several aspects of the hydrosphere, which causes changes in hydrology, depletion of supplies, and aquatic pollution. 1. Hydrology. Urbanization completely alters the landscape of an area, impacting local hydrology. Roads, parking lots, and buildings do not absorb precipitation as vegetation does which increases runoff. Often, wetlands (which efficiently act to absorb excess water) are filled in. The development of floodplains for homes & industry removes land where excess runoff could go. With all the excess runoff and lack of adequate disposal places, there is an increase in both the number & the magnitude of floods. 2. Water Pollution. There are many ways that urbanization contributes to the pollution of both surface and ground water. The dumping of wastes into waterways is common as they dilute and disperse pollutants. The current volume of wastes added is far beyond the capacity of these waters for effective dilution and dispersal. Over 220 million urban residents do not have access to clean drinking water. Some sources of aquatic pollution include industry, sewage, runoff, & sediment. 3. Sewage. In an urban area, sewage can be a major source of water pollution. Sewage is a source of nutrients that can lead to eutrophication of lakes. Sewage also contains many pathogens such as cholera bacterium, hepatitis virus, and salmonellae, all of which are hazardous to human health. In the developing world, 90% of sewage are discharged, untreated, into surface waters. Treatment usually removes only the pathogens so, even if the water is treated, the nutrients remain to pollute the water. 4. Runoff. Urban runoff pollutes waterways as it contains pollutants from hundreds of sources. As water travels over the surface it picks up pollutants from cars, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Most of the time, runoff enters waterways without treatment. · Soils and Landscapes. Approximately 1% of the Earth's surface is totally urbanized. This small amount of land, however, has drastically changed from its original state. Further urban expansion will destroy many more valuable habitats. Urban expansion today is often done as an urban sprawl, or low density developments that consume vast quantities of land. The conversion of a natural landscape to an urban area is essentially an irreversible process. Some habitats that are at risk due to urbanization include: 1. Agricultural Lands. Cities often develop in the same types of areas as agricultural lands need to develop in to flourish - flat, well drained soils close to water. Unfortunately, expanding urban areas are consuming agricultural land which forces agriculture to develop in new areas. A majority of the new areas that agriculture is being forced to develop in is not nearly as productive as the land that has been taken from them for urbanization. 2. Coastal ecosystems (such as wetlands, swamps, marshes & tidal flats). These areas are all very vulnerable to human development. Coastal areas are very popular for urban development. Currently over 1 billion people inhabit these areas. Often, these ecosystems are drained and filled in prior to development. Wetlands act as natural flood control, support many different species, and are effective in filtering out pollutants. Development of these areas not only eliminates their productivity but can lead to enhanced coastal erosion. 3. Hillsides. As a city develops, it may run out of room and begin to develop on hillsides. This is common in developing countries. Hills are unstable and subject to considerable erosion and landslides without native vegetation. In addition to destroying habitats, urbanization impacts the soil. Development of an agricultural area for agricultural purposes causes the loss of fertile topsoil. The disposal of wastes is often in land disposal sites. Some of this garbage can contaminate soils, rendering it useless in the future. Vehicular traffic contaminates soils with cadmium, lead, nickel, oil, and grease. Road salt, applied in winter, can also contaminate nearby soils. Paving over the surface prevents air and moisture from getting into the soil that is vital for micro - organisms and plant roots. · Plants and Animals. The main impact urbanization has on plants and animals is loss of habitat. Loss of suitable habitat can result from pollution, physical destruction, altering of local climate, or modification with grasses and shrubs. Habitat loss can cause native species to become endangered or, in severe cases, extinct. Environmental Degradation: Increasing population density, urbanization, industrialization, and other developmental schemes, are exerting ever increasing pressure on the carrying capacity of land and resources. This leads, in particular, to a rapid rate of deforestation, expanding desertification in some countries, and the near extinction of some wildlife species. Physical factors, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, monsoon rains and the immense problem of poverty in some countries, accelerate the decline in environmental resources. In some areas, environmental degradation is due to large scale commercial farming, ranching or forestry, in pursuit of short term profit without regard to conservation. For example, destructive logging in Southeast Asia; conversion of Latin American rainforest to pasture for beef cattle intended for North American hamburger market. Any economy, which has grown to the point where it cannot be sustained on ecological ground for a long future, is overdeveloped and endangers all other economies. Communist governments have shown themselves to be singularly slow in making efforts to balance the ecological consequences of rapid industrialization. In fact, they have been slow to admit that the problem even exists. In western Poland, under communist rule, entire areas were rendered unsafe for breathing. Czechoslovakia has created moonscapes where ancient forests once stood. The Hungarian authorities have been building hydroelectric power systems that divert the river Danube so drastically that drinking water for the Budapest area is endangered. Romania's Ceausescu built a canal between the Danube and the Black Sea & the Danube delta was being bulldozed for further construction. In former Soviet Union, the Aral Sea has shrunk by two - fifths since 1960, leaving behind a salty, man - made desert. It can be said then, of the communist societies that have knowingly contributed to great amounts of destruction to the environment, that any government which violates the natural order to suit some target figures in their long term plan is a menace. However, we must also look at the role that capitalism has had in contributing to the violation of the natural order. In the United States, we have used up so much area and overdeveloped at such a large rate, that we are now undergoing a large urban sprawl, extending our cities into surrounding areas as inefficient low density develops. We have overlooked simple & rational thought for the sake of turning over a quick dollar in the business world in the capitalist society. As people go hungry on the streets, without adequate housing, we continue to build more trailer parks and housing communities fit only for those with the money to afford them. As our topsoil rapidly decreases, leaving irreversible effects on our environment, we continue to allow the meat and dairy industries to flourish while knowing fully that these industries are the largest, and most damaging, contributors to topsoil depletion. We bury our heads in the sand, in a number of cases, turning the other cheek and not worrying about what the future will hold as a result of our actions today. All of this is for one purpose, to make the profit for today, not thinking about the effects it will have on tomorrow. So, it may also be said then, of the capitalist societies that have knowingly contributed to the destruction of the environment, that any government which violates natural order to suit some target in their short term plan is, likewise, a menace. What you can do to make a difference: · Get educated. There are a million ways to do this. Traditional education at school, reading, research, join environmental groups that are willing to send you information on issues, if you have access to a computer then the internet is a great place to look for information (and there is all sorts of it available there). Make yourself informed on what the President, Congress, and other parts of Government are doing about environmental issues and let them know what you think about it. As much as people will try and tell you otherwise, letters and phone calls do make a difference. Call or write your Federal & State Representatives, the Governor, the President, and other "leaders" and make your voice heard. A great way to learn about the natural environment is to experience it. Get out of the city, leave where ever you are and get out and experience what little is left of our natural world. But probably the best way to show the dominant power structure how you feel is with your dollars. Purchase from companies that reflect your values and refuse to support companies that contribute to the destruction. Make sure that the companies that you refuse to buy from know that you are boycotting them and let them know why. It may seem like, as individuals, we don't amount to anything in the grand scheme of things. But if we are unified and have solidarity, and make sure we let the opposing forces know that we are not supporting them, then we can make a difference. Please take the time to make yourself informed about environmental issues, animal rights issues, human rights issues, and other topics that will benefit all of us. We need to stop looking at the world from a 'me' perspective and start working together for a positive future that we can all share in. If you feel the urge to write, then please do. Communication is a good thing. Thanks. Eric/P.O.Box 533/Waddell, AZ. 85355/USA

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