Deforestation

Deforestation is the clearing of forest on a large scale to make way for agriculture, industry or factory. As human population continues to grow, sufficient food and biofuel is required to sustain the population. Although mother nature has been providing us with all these, it is still insufficient for the ever-growing population. Hence, we need to expand what nature is currently providing with all the modern technologies we have to maximize the energy and food supply. However, the detriments that lead are tragic. Do watch the embedded video below before proceeding.

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTIhcO4jjUI

It tragic to see how deforestation is destroying the beautiful forests that provide us with fresh breathable air and habitat for animals. Habitat destruction from deforestation not only lead to extinction of animal directly but also mess up the ecosystem in terms of food chain and migration. As we can see from the table below, species introduction is the most important factor that leads to animal extinctions. Species introduction is also an effect of deforestation where animal seek refuge in another ecosystem when they lost their habitat.

Retrieved from http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

Hence, deforestation not only directly causes extinction of animal, it also mess up the biodiversity by introducing and taking away animal from the original habitat. Eventually, the biodiversity become inadaptable for some species and more extinction resulted.

Deforestation not only forces animals to the brim of extinction, it is also affecting our atmosphere and which is slowly getting back at us. For instance, one of the many purpose for deforestation is for agriculture expansion. It has a negative impact on the freshwater and ecosystem due to the rate of nitrogen and phosphorus being released from the agriculture fields (Tilman, 1999). This resulted in an accumulation of green house gases in the atmosphere that eventually led to global warming. Not only does the animals suffered from climate change, I believe we human also experienced the effect just that we have technology to curb the problem. However, if we continue to act the same way as we do, technology can no longer be the answer.

Overfishing

Other than deforestation, another respond to nature that directly affect the nature is overfishing.

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6nwZUkBeas

Overfishing occurs when there is an ambiguity of property rights for common pool resource. When human does not have responsibility over a resource, they tend to abuse it. I mean why not? I can simply dispose my pack of milo after consumption on the floor since it is not my house and I will not have to clean up after that. Another analogy is keeping the tap on as you soap your hand in public area simply because “hey, I do not have to pay for the utility bill right?” mentality. This is the tragedy of the common. Since no guidelines were given to how much each fisherman can fish, in order to maximize their profit, they will fish as much as they can.

An example would be the Alaskan king crab back in the 1980 where 86,000 tons were caught. However, after 4 years, the amount caught reduces drastically to only 7,000. This is when people realized the problem that the depletion rate cause by them is much faster than the renewal rate of the Alaskan king crab.

From deforestation to overfishing, we can observe the same behavior of human. Human respond to nature by altering the natural state to suit their demand.

Are human shortsighted or is the overcrowding earth forcing us to do so as a survival instinct?

Manufactured Product

Over-packaging is a very common sight today as it can be visually appealing, hygienic as well as convenient for consumer. Companies are constantly improvising their product so that it will be appealing to consumer. What we consumers want often are

Enticing visual,

Retrieved from https://fabricantdedouceurs.laduree.com/en_int/#!brand/history

To attract customer attention, packaging is very important as it makes your product stands out from others. However, the amount of resources wasted is the process is something that is not environmental friendly.

Convenient packaging,

Retrieved from http://travel.cnn.com/shop/20-products-could-use-eco-friendly-facelift-644066

Retrieved from http://www.gimmees.com/detail~pnum~7613.asp

Individual packaging is ideal for maintaining freshness and convenience. This is something very common in our everyday life whereby we open a bag of chip finish almost immediately so that the freshness of the product will stay and not go stale when we tie it with a rubber band and leave it in the open air. Not only that, it is also convenient for people to bring out a few pieces instead of one whole box. However, imagine the amount of wrappers that have been disposed off with every piece of cookie you ate.

and Hygiene

Retrieved from http://imgur.com/96LqsBN

This is definitely a common sight in starbucks, mos burger and most of the bubble tea shop you see in Singapore. The purpose is obviously for hygiene but do we see Mac Donald or KFC doing it? They uses dispenser for a straw which can also ensure hygiene. I can totally imagine the amount of paper and plastic wasted from millions of customers a day. To be honest, i do not see how dirty a straw can get even if it is not wrapped up.

Protection

retrieved from http://travel.cnn.com/shop/20-products-could-use-eco-friendly-facelift-644066

retrieved from http://travel.cnn.com/shop/20-products-could-use-eco-friendly-facelift-644066

If you are an online shopper, this should occur to you. When you buy any fragile gadget online, the exaggerating wrappers to protect your item is horrendous. Perhaps they should go on easy on the wrapping and choose boxes or envelop of an appropriate size.

Retrieved from http://travel.cnn.com/shop/20-products-could-use-eco-friendly-facelift-644066
To make the matter worst, some seller uses polystyrene peanuts which is made of petroleum based plastic that is non-biodegradable.
However, is it really necessary for us consumer to have all these packaging? In my opinion, i feel that all these packagings are redundant. We are the reason behind all the fanciful packaging hence on our part, we can stop purchasing these product and reduce the demand and supply. In this way, we can move on to a greener environment.

All in all, we can see the problems that human caused for nature. Are human short-sighted or is the overcrowding earth forcing us to do so as a survival instinct? Look up on the future direction to understand the cause of our behaviours and what can be done.