Hi All,
I know I'm probably opening a huge can of worms and may get my arse kicked,
but here we go.
We often seem to get upset with governments (or other groups) who don't
protect the environment and rightly so, and I do agree that most of the time
much, much more can be done! I also see that all governments in Australia
and worldwide are under huge pressures from citizens and other countries to
provide resources and facilities (I in no way support hunting in parks or
other areas). The real issue, especially now, is our ever increasing human
population in Australia and again worldwide. A recent article I read, said
that now the world population is increasing by about 200 new humans born
each second (that's after human deaths per second are taken into account).
We have already passed needing 1.6 planets to survive, totally
unsustainable!
Resources (mineral, water, food) are dwindling and any areas, including
national parks, will have to be destroyed if it is necessary to get them.
Every one of those new 6000+ humans (by the time you read this email) will
need more new resources and facilities. Perth, I've heard last week is going
to increase by at least 500 000 in the next ten years, a city that is
already severely short of water, bad transport and the list goes on. We live
in a desert continent, so for us in Australia, water, food and resources,
not to mention providing all the facilities people want, is going to be a
nightmarish problem!
Sorry to sound so dark, but there does not seem to be any quick solution to
these problems, the wonderful natural areas we love will have to be
destroyed or at least modified and degraded. Our protected and loved natural
areas can only exist if we have a 'comfortable' modern life, think of it, if
Coles or Woolworths ran out of food, wouldn't you go hunt as much native
wildlife as you can find, even in national parks, to provide food for
yourself and family? I believe this is already happening on a subtle
worldwide scale, resources are running out and the world is hungry, time to
plunder what's left, unfortunately it's often in our 'protected' areas. It
will only get worse and faster.
Generally most people only care about the environment (if at all), when
there bellies are full and other needs met. We are only able to spend time
birding and enjoying the natural environment, because we don't have to spend
all our time growing food and trying just to use the environment (eg.
hunting birds) to survive.
Over population is the real problem (look at the extinct civilization of
Easter Island) for many of our environmental and other problems, but I'm not
sure if we will deal with it or are even able to. How do you tell members of
your own family to stop having more than 2 kids, or other families wanting
to? How do you stop immigration or genuine refugees? The answer is you
really can't (for moral, freedom of choice or other reasons), so the
environment and our lifestyles will have to change and probably degrade.
Sadly, I think the 'big crunch' for humanity will come (fairly soon and very
rapidly) and the last remaining natural environments will be the first to
go.
Regards (I won't say cheers),
Richard King
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