Resource Use and Global Challenges.

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We must respect cultures different from ours.We must acknowledge that we can learn from one another.

We must know and appreciate that tolerance is fundamental to astable and prosperous world.

To solve global challenges, we must genuinely engage with each

other. This form of constructive engagement is fundamental inaddressing the modern day global challenges of global warming,climate change, hunger and sustainable exploitation of earth s

resources.When we, as mankind of different backgrounds dialogue together,

we display multiculturalism in action. The diversity in us plays a keyrole in strengthening the network of co-operation and partnership

that will essentially help us to tackle these global problems.

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When addressing these global challenges, we need a globalforum for sharing ideas, exchanging knowledge and establishinga cultural dialogue among ourselves. This will be greatly boosted

by the diversity of the humankind which is something we allhave.

To resolve these challenges, we need the efforts of thousands of

individuals who, through their knowledge and expertise, willassist in coming up with solutions to these problems.

In an increasingly interdependent world, collective decisionmaking for the collective good is the only way forward. Themore we are connected to others, the less we can afford to

ignore their needs and interests. This is only possible if we joinhands and tackle these problems that threaten our very

existence.

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The following story illustrates how we, mankind, through ourcarelessness and ignorance or without us knowing it, have

activated these same global problems that we are fighting sohard to eliminate.They include global warming, scarcity of resources, climate

change and hunger.

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ORIGIN

Life began over four billion years ago.Homosapiens have been there only forthe last two hundred years ago. In thistime , man has been able to conquermost habitats unlike any other species.

In the course of doing this, he hasupset the balance that is so essential

to life and now he is feeling theconsequences of his actions. Theengine of life is linked. Nothing isinseparable. For man to survive, he hasto depend on the very nature that hehas upset. For him to survivetherefore, he must reverse hisactivities fast and fast enough sincethere is no time. The time to act isnow.

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ADAPTAT ION

A griculture was the first greatrevolution. Man abandoned huntingand gathering and adopted farming.A griculture provided enough food andeven surplus. In the course of farmingman discovered fertilizer andpesticides which allowed him to

increase agricultural output whileeliminating the threats of pests anddiseases. However, this came with aprice. Toxic pesticides seeped into thesoil, rivers , plants ,animals and waterbodies. The results are catastrophic.A quatic organisms that complete thefood chain of different organisms have

died or are dying. They are now facedwith extinction. Their dependants willhave no alternative other than tofollow suit if they can t adapt andadapt fast enough.

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DEVEL O PME N T

The world s population has increasedthree fold over the last fifty years.Today, most people live in the urbanareas and more and more are headedthere. The result is poorly plannedurban development which leads tomushrooming of slums. In these slums

access to clean water and basicamenities is a daily struggle. Slums arenow evident in developing countriessuch as Kenya and India. The rich-poorgap ha s been on the rise in the lasttwo decades. The developed countrieshave chosen to reduce their funding todeveloping countries and are engaged

in expanding military expenditureand nuclear arms.

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E N E RGY

The more the world develops, thegreater is its thirst for energy. Sincethe colonial times in A frica, thevolume of international trade hasincreased immensely. Shipyards areproducing bigger ships everyday toaccommodate this gigantic volume of trade.A s the resources of the planet are notbeing replenished at the same ratethat man is using them, man has beenforced to look for other sources of energy to satisfy his thirst for thesame. Man has invaded the seas andoceans looking for food and energy.These days ,large ships spend monthsemptying the oceans fish and otheraquatic organisms , processing themand finally taking them tosupermarkets for sale. Fishing ispresently at its hundreds of metrictonnes per year.

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U PSETT ING THE B ALA NC E

Without us knowing it, we aredepleting what nature provides. Dueto mass irrigation caused byunpredictable weather, man hascaused rivers to dry up. Some of theserivers now do not reach the oceans likethey used to. This water has been

used to produce tonnes and tonnes of agricultural products now lying insupermarkets all over the world.

Our actions as mankind has madewater levels to recede. Every year,borehole drills have to be sunk deeperso as to reach the water table. This ishappening everywhere and this is notthe first time we are hearing this.Mother nature cannot keep up anylonger. It is treating us the way wehave treated it all those years. We arethe one on the loosing end. We haveto take note of our activities.

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EXPL OI TAT ION

The forests that covered the earth arebeing cleared at an alarming rate.Forest diversity is replaced by a singlespecies. When this happens, a numberof species is lost or faced withextinction. Since there is only onespecies left, rainwater now easily

washes away the humus and topsoil.What is left is unsuitable foragriculture. The consequences arethere to be felt. Hunger now becomesall too common. Man s survival isgreatly threatened.

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D ISPA RI T IES

Today, about half of the world s poorlive in resource rich countries. In mostoil exporting countries like Nigeria andIraq, the population has no access tothat wealth. This is due to war orcorruption that is hindering equitabledistribution of wealth. The poor-rich

gap thus continues to increasebecause as the rich get richer, the poorget poorer. Conflict thus arises due todesperation and this has far reachingeffects on the economy as well as theeducation system of the societiesaffected.

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P O LLU T ION

This increase in water temperature isdetrimental to the coral triangle andits numerous species of organisms. Inthese coral reefs, there are moremarine species than any other placeon the planet. The balance of carbon(iv) oxide in the atmosphere is critical

to these corals since they use it withsunlight to make calcium carbonate. If the seawater gets warmer, oceanacidification will occur and these coralswill dissolve as they are made of calcium carbonate. Too much carbon(iv) oxide further inhibits formation of calcium carbonate the stuff coral reefs

are made of. Undersea gardens will dieand so will the marine life thatdepends on it .

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G LOB AL W A R M ING

A s the ice cap melts, the fresh water of the continent flows into the saltywater of the oceans. What willhappen to those populations that donot have the capacity to desalinatesalty water and have some fordrinking? Sea levels will rise thus

threatening low attitude lying areas.What will happen to major cities likeTokyo? Water expands as it getswarmer. Coral reefs which are sensitiveto water temperature will disappear.

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C LIMATE C HA NG E

The major winds are changingdirection. Rain cycles have becomeunpredictable. Perhaps Bangladesh isthe country that has suffered the mostdue to climatic changes. Dramaticfloods and hurricanes are now toocommon. Droughts are now affecting

developed countries such as A ustralia.More and more wild fires are beingreported every year. This is notforgetting heat waves that cost livesevery summer. A s wild fires burn, morecarbon (iv) oxide is released into theatmosphere. The system that controlsthe climatic conditions has beenseverely disrupted.

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We the homosapiens have created a phenomena we cannotcontrol. There is little time to act but all is not lost.

It is time to come together and join hands with the humansolidarity. We must accept the responsibility of changing the

atmosphere and the planet. We have the skills and if we applythem, we are bound to succeed thus eliminate these challengesthat threaten our very existence. Everyone from the rich to thepoor can make a contribution. Culture, education, research andinnovation are tools we can use to tackle these challenges head

on. Solidarity amongst us is our greatest asset.WE CA N DO THIS BY:

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SELECTIVELOGGING OF TREES

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HA RNESSING RENEWA BLE ENERGYSOURCES

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Geothermal and wind energy.

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SUSTA INA BLE FOREST MA NA GEMENT

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IT IS UPON US TO DETERMINEWHAT HA PPENS NEXT

WE HAVE THE CA PA CITY TO TURNOUR DESTINYA ROUND

EVERYONE S EFFORT IS VAL UA BLE

LET S JOIN HA NDS A ND DO THIS

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Resource Use and Global Challenges.

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