Sustainable Planet

The combined affect of these two factors is, that after centuries of gradual increases, within the last 20 years human activities became large and numerous enough to strip the planet of all of its vital resources, while our wastes grew exponentially.  We now possess the ability to poison the entire biosphere in a geologic wink of an eye, and we're on our way to doing it.  If current consumption patterns continue, we will run out of resources and pollute the planet in less than 50 years.

Humans have done this to themselves before; look at Easter Island.  Will future travelers marvel at our buildings and highways in the same way?

These concerns may not affect most of the current crop of Earthlings, but will impact future generations profoundly. At the very least, they will have to seriously curtail their expectations; because so many resources will simply have been used up. At the very worst, they will live short, sickly and deprived lives, or none at all.

Since February, 1992, the world's top scientists have been issuing dire warnings about the state of the planet. Unfortunately, major media outlets have not delivered this message to the masses; it's not good for the consumption-driven money machine which buys advertising from big media.

Here is a brief listing of major ecological problems facing the world.

• Loss of thousands of species every year planet wide
• Human over-population
• Overfishing major marine fisheries leave oceans utterly depleted
• Coral reefs bleaching and dying
• Depletion of the Earth's protective ozone layer and ozone holes
• Global warming
• Heinous, drug-resistant diseases (information on the latest Ebola outbreak)
• Toxic wastes in air, water and soil
• Soil erosion and loss of valuable farmland
• Storms more severe and more frequent (Good tornado shots!)

Additions to the list from others in the Sustainable Enterprises community.

• increased food supply sustaining the increased population

Please add to the list of truly worldwide major ecological problems.

Solutions

• Stop consuming so much!  The new anti-consumerism!
• Stop driving so much!  New transit ideas and less SUVs
• Find simple, innovative ways to save energy.
• Stop eating so much!  Healthier eating begins at home!
• Be aware of the global environmental implications of all our actions.
• Support businesses working for positive social and environmental change.
• Boycott businesses which injure the Earth and any of its inhabitants.
• Have fewer or no kids.
• Eat less meat or none at all.
• Use less wood and take the pressure off of the world's forests.
• Compost!
• Get rid of your toxic lawn and grow an organic garden.
• Vote!