Planet Enters "Ecological Debt" Period-this is scary folks!

[nam78_two]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6033407.stm



Planet enters 'ecological debt'
The Earth (Image: AP)
Growing demand eats into Earth's natural capital, say the authors
R
ising consumption of natural resources means that humans began "eating the planet" on 9 October, a study suggests.

The date symbolised the day of the year when people's demands exceeded the Earth's ability to supply resources and absorb the demands placed upon it.

The figures' authors said the world first "ecological debt day" fell on 19 December 1987, but economic growth had seen it fall earlier each year.

The data was produced by a US-based think-tank, Global Footprint Network.

The New Economics Foundation (Nef), a UK think-tank that helped compile the report, had published a study that said Britain's "ecological debt day" in 2006 fell on 16 April.

The authors said this year's global ecological debt day meant that it would take the Earth 15 months to regenerate what was consumed this year.


"By living so far beyond our environmental means and running up ecological debts means we make two mistakes," said Andrew Simms, Nef's policy director.

"First, we deny millions globally who already lack access to sufficient land, food and clean water the chance to meet their needs. Secondly, we put the planet's life support mechanisms in peril," he added

[Uncle Joe]

1. Did you see the graph with our eco footprints?

Thanks for posting nam78_two

Kicked and recommended

:kick:

[nam78_two]

2. yep scary-I xan recommend this awesome book on the topic too

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Ecological-Footprint-Reducing-Bioregional/dp/086571312X/sr=8-1/qid=1160514011/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-5112267-8756947?ie=UTF8

If you haven't read it before :hi:

[Uncle Joe]

6. Thanks for the link

:hi:

[BeFree]

3. So

How long can we continue before all we have is garbage?

[nam78_two]

4. Not too long at the rate we consume/nt

[Jcrowley]

5. K & R

Civilization is an expansive process, spreading across the Earth, leaving a trail of domination and destruction behind. Historically, this has been facilitated by conquest, however, over the past 500 years or so the mode of expansion has radically changed. Capitalism and globalization are now the forces of expansion, which have been responsible for most of the world's current "development". It fuels environmental destruction, industrialization, urbanization, and the loss of self-sufficency. It has turned hunters and farmers into workers; forests to asphalt; and animals to shrink-wrapped pieces of meat. It is an exploitative process which transforms everything into a commodity - even our own lives. 

Capitalism, globalization, and civilization are intimately linked. Globalization is the current and most efficient mode of the civilizing process - transforming nature and humanity on a global scale to be dependent on a way of living and a paradigm that is destructive and unsustainable. 

[nam78_two]

8. !

Great post :thumbsup:!

[LibraLiz1973]

7. WOW-

The foot print graph is scary.

[nashville_brook]

9. Mauritius depletes more resources than China and India!!!

what the hell is going on on that little island of only 1,245,000 people???

china has 1.3 billion.

india, 1.1 billion.

what gives?

[nam78_two]

10. heh -I was puzzled by that too....

No clue what the deal is....

[Quantess]

11. Now, if only we could get

everyone on the planet to be cognizant and conscious of their impact on the intricate web of earthly life. Even just a little bit aware. That would be a step in the right direction.