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WATER IS NOT THE SOURCE OF OUR PROBLEM
Thursday May 2, 2019
No hoax.
I’m not a believer. Not a denier either.
Climate changes, I’ve observed, read and heard so much about demise of my planet’s environment, habitat for wildlife. Irreparable damage to air – to oceans, but aren’t we too strongly focused on the wrong problems.
Consider:
Our earth, every molecule of everything (including air in every room, water in every tap, lake and ocean) has been here the whole time – 4.653 billion years, give or take, depending on which expert is expounding …
Everything in life today on earth – is safer, cleaner, healthier and wealthier than ever.
While most debate around climate is focused on human-influenced climate change (though the geological record proves climate has been changing from warm to cold and cold to warm throughout our 4.653 billion year history) – what seems overlooked and deflected from too much is that one species seems to be causing current problems, not by our actions so much as be our just being here – it’s that overpopulated species called humans.
We squeal with anger about activities that might make some obscure critter go from endangered to extinct while ignoring the most obvious overpopulated one which is at risk of overpopulating (if we haven’t already crossed that tipping-point).
The other night I listened to a really great talk about water supply – and our shortage of adequate supplies of fresh water in many places), the impact shortages in many countries are having upon humans. It was compelling and powerful – but wrongheaded in my opinion. Yes, getting more safe fresh water to people is important everywhere, it is just as important for first nations indigenous populations here in Canada. The problem with water (and more importantly, sanitary toileting) around the world is not a shortage of water but an inequitable distribution of people, resources and talent. We have the same amount of water the world has always had, but we have more people than we’ve ever had to support. Moreover, if we solve the toileting problem, disease and death rates will fall and more population will need more water and more vegetables.
Any animal expert will tell you that a species that overpopulates will enter a cycle of decline because too many of a species competing for food supply and space will run into all manner of troubles – disease, starvation and conflict will contribute to a big die-off.
Here’s my question: can a world of peoples who can’t agree within their own countries reach a point of global cooperation and agreement about safe water supply and toileting AND at the same time reach agreement and cooperate around population control?
The conundrum for too many (politicians especially) is that they see the answer to this question as a monumental insoluble problem rather than as a magnificent set of opportunities.
Humans have been here 150,000-200,000 years, give or take – we’ve developed a fabulous enlightened society which does colossally stupid things. For example: dangerous nuclear weapons instead of safer (and cleaner) nuclear power, free health care and raise the retirement age instead of their opposites, elimination of diseases (congrats to Bill Gates et al) rather than sanitary places to pee and poop. There are many more, but you get my point.
No other species on a destructive path has the power to prevent its own demise – just humans. We’ve been around a while and should by now have the collective intelligence to fix problems before they destroy us or we’ll just add our names to the list of endangered and extinct species (after dinosaurs, passenger pigeons and spotted owls). Some people think we can save spotted owls and other obscure creatures. Good on you for caring. Yes, let’s save whales, save polar bears – but first, let’s save the people. I know this is a radical idea, but c’mon …
Yes, Roger (he gave that talk): water is a huge challenge one, but not our primary problem.
Reader feedback:
Sorry to hear, not surprised which in itself is very very sad. We all have burdens to bare social solidarity helps. Shoot me an email if you like an ear, AG, Cancun, Mex.
More and more I see people offering people help, and it never happens. I find people who don’t follow through are people trying to make themselves look good to others. In personal dealings when someone offers, I no longer accept simply because so many times that person has never followed through. I find people use it as a fashion statement with no true meaning. I on the other hand do follow through, and will continue to ask until I am told, no help is needed. If people today would follow through with half of what they say they would do for others, there would be less loneliness, less depression in our Society. My quote is this: Don’t offer the help if you truly never plan on giving it. Love your message today Mark. Can’t wait for your book sometime to come out. Cheers! – MJ, Calgary, AB
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