The Unsustainability of Human Behavior Is Obvious

by Robert Wilkinson

The UN Environmental Program just released a major report that states "The earth's environmental systems are being pushed towards their biophysical limits," and "abrupt and possibly irreversible changes to the life-support functions of the planet are likely to occur.”

Thanks to a concerned friend of the site, I was sent this article from the Sydney Morning Herald. It’s titled “Global environmental outlook grim, UN says,” and makes it abundantly clear that human behavior is tipping the Earth’s supports systems into chaos and failure. That does not bode well for the future of humanity.

The 500+ page report done by 300 scientists over 3 years on the health of the planet “paints a grim picture,” and states "Several critical global, regional and local thresholds are close or have been exceeded,” and “says changes include rising oceans, increased frequency and severity of floods and droughts, and the collapse of fisheries.” One of the saddest things noted (in my opinion) is that “90 per cent of water and fish samples are contaminated by pesticides.” Since the sea is truly the foundation of the food chain, it’s fairly alarming that we’ve succeeding in poisoning the source of most of the food eaten on Earth.

The report says “little or no progress has been made over the past five years on nearly a third of the main environmental goals, including global warming. Significant progress has been made on just four of the 90 most important goals....”

In a related article, Ravenous consumption threat to third of vulnerable species we read that “The insatiable Western appetite for coffee, chocolate, timber and other goods threatens a third of the world's most vulnerable animal species, according to Sydney researchers who mapped the world economy.”

From the article:

The five-year study by University of Sydney academics tracked 5 billion supply chains involving 15,000 commodities produced in 187 countries, using years of data collection and thousands of hours on a supercomputer.

The data, linked to a global inventory of 25,000 endangered and vulnerable animal species, found that, excluding invasive species, 30 per cent of recorded threats were due to international trade.

In particular, developing countries were degrading habitat and threatening biodiversity to meet the demand for goods from richer nations.

In countries such as Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Honduras, 50 to 60 per cent of biodiversity threats were linked to exports.... It showed the United States, Japan and Germany are the world's biggest consumers of "biodiversity-implicated" products.

… According to the study, 158 Australian animal species such as the northern hairy-nosed wombat and the yellow-footed rock wallaby are threatened by exports to countries such as Japan, the US and China....

Barney Foran, a co-author of the study… said the findings showed efforts to ease domestic threats to animal species should be designed from a global standpoint.

"To deal with trade issue where price conquers all, we have to reward good management and penalise bad management," he said.

Mr Foran said present labelling systems, such as those advertising dolphin-safe tuna and organic food, should be extended to cover all internationally traded products.... “We shouldn't let retailers make sustainability labels a premium product. We should ask that they always stock products that are made responsibly, from the bottom shelf to the top shelf."

Well, at least some scientists have figured out that we’re killing what’s left of the life systems on our planet through poisoning and voracious consumption habits. I suspect people are not going to wake up and change their habits until they’re forced to do so. That makes sense, given the irrationality of most human behavior and what in law is called “the tragedy of the commons.”

So enjoy what you can while you can, but remember that the party’s about over. The good news is that a great transition is already occurring across the world, and many are moving into more sustainable conditions and community. But still, since getting from this unsustainable global consumer model to a more sustainable model for humanity will mean that hundreds of millions (if not billions!) will suffer, please take a moment to reflect on your blessings of having found some element of your Wisdom, your Way, and your Community.

We’re all in this together, and much more interdependent that we suspect – the Earth, the plants, the animals, the humans, and all the invisible world associated with this beautiful planet. This will be a universal given in the new Era dawning.

© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Debbie Eastick]

As one of my favourite comedians in his younger days, George Carlin, so accurately put it, humans are going on about saving the planet, the planet doesnt need saving, nature knows how to recover and re balance all by itself, however if humans dont start respecting that, nature will shake us off like fleas on a dog...the planet has indeed been shaking more and more...

[Elah]

The sad truth is that we humans are not conscious as a whole at his time. Our beautiful Gaia will indeed make it through this great extinction as she has made it through so many others. And though we have been here many times over the ages, we humans are all too self-involved to see our interconnectedness with Earth and all the beings of light who dwell here with us. The indigenous peoples of the world have had this understanding for eons. They understood the web of life and their stewardship of nature. But this level of awareness was condemned and systematically eradicated by the insane greed of "elite" men. Unfortunately, it sure looks like we are stampeding mindlessly en mass toward our end. And, yet, still I pray for the awakening of the heart of mankind. May the Divine Mother bless us all!

[Debbie Eastick]

Well said Elah, Namaste

[caliban]

In my locale "good management" seems to be degrading at the moment. The tv says the important thing is something called "econo me". Oh that's a thing that makes me crazy, an outdoor wear supplier has been permitted to fill in wetland to build a store. Oh here's another one, "hunters for walker". All the guns in the world are not going to provide more habitat for wildlife to hunt.

[caliban]

Oh my, caliban on a rant. I try not to go there. Anyway, the good news is that there are many volunteer citizen scientist oppportunities available, in the u.s. anyway. Wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, education. No matter how small the space, build it and they will come. It's about people who support sharing space with wildlife. Food, water, shelter. That is usable food water shelter. It is so much more fun than fighting against the deaf who support policies and politicians that deplete habitat as they race to their vacation homes in the woods.