Sustainability
Doomsday
This article challenges concerns about overpopulation and resource scarcity by proposing the concept of "super abundance." There are currently 8 billion people living on the planet. Questions about whether there is enough room for everyone and concerns about running out of natural resources are not new; they have been raised by doomsayers for at least 200 years. In 1798, English economist Thomas Malthus wrote his famous essay on the principle of population. He argued that while population grew exponentially, resources needed to feed that population grew at a linear rate, leading to potential starvation. However, Malthus' predictions proved to be far from accurate. As the population grew, so did food production and overall prosperity. A comparison of a typical American blue-collar worker's life over a century, using time prices, reveals significant improvements. Between 1900 and 2018, the time required for a blue-collar worker to earn enough money to buy a pound of pork fell by 98 percent, while pounds of rice and coffee saw respective decreases of 97 percent and 94 percent in the time needed to afford them. Though commodities like rubber, aluminum, and cotton are not edible, they are valuable inputs in production processes that influence the prices of goods and services, thus contributing to an overall improved standard of living. Over the same period, prices for these commodities fell by 99 percent, 98 percent, and 96 percent. Despite a significant increase in the United States' population from 76 million to 328 million, famines have largely disappeared outside of war zones. Instead, obesity has become a problem in much of the world today. This counter-intuitive relationship between population growth and abundance indicates that as the population increases, so does overall abundance relative to previous generations. We currently inhabit a world of "super abundance," a term coined by Gail Pully, my colleague and co-author of our book. The key to this super abundance lies in knowledge. As brilliant economist Thomas Sowell explains, the difference in the standard of living between the caveman and us is not due to natural resources but rather the accumulation of knowledge. We possess a vast amount of knowledge, which allows us to utilize the same natural resources available during the time of the caveman in ways that were previously unimaginable. Consider the transformative potential of a grain of sand. While it has existed for billions of years, over four and a half thousand years ago, someone discovered that heating sand to a high temperature could turn it into glass beads, which later evolved into glass jars and window panes. Each step of discovery increased the value derived from a grain of sand. Today, we use glass in fiber optic cables and computer microchips, significantly boosting our productivity and prosperity compared to our ancestors. Counting the quantity of known raw materials, as Malthus and others have done, may appear logical, but it overlooks a critical element: knowledge. New knowledge arises from the human mind, which is capable of intelligent and potentially world-changing thought. Therefore, the real determinant of economic growth is not the finite number of atoms on the planet, but rather the human ability to combine and recombine these atoms in increasingly valuable ways. This concept empowers us to declare that economic growth depends less on limited resources and more on limitless knowledge, as aptly put by Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Romer: "New ideas do not add up; they multiply." We can aptly liken our world to a closed system, much like a piano with its limited number of keys. Yet, just as pianists can play an infinite number of melodies on these keys, our planet's fixed atoms offer an infinite number of possible combinations. What truly matters, therefore, is not the physical limits of our planet, but the ingenuity of human beings and their freedom to experiment and reimagine resource utilization. As long as we embrace two key components - people and freedom - we can continue to thrive in a world of super abundance. The more people our planet supports, and the greater the freedom they enjoy, the higher the likelihood of generating new and useful ideas to address our challenges, regardless of their nature. So, do you still believe there are too many people, or perhaps not enough?
By Olusola Bodunrin3 years ago in Earth
The Resilience of Life: Surviving Ancient Super Volcanoes. Content Warning.
Introduction: Millions of years ago, the American landscape bore witness to an extraordinary geological phenomenon - the "ignimbrite flare-up," a series of super volcanic eruptions that shaped the course of history. These catastrophic events unleashed unimaginable power, dwarfing even the colossal eruption of Yellowstone. Surprisingly, these massive eruptions occurred relatively frequently, approximately every 10,000 years, engulfing North America in a thick layer of ash. However, life endured and thrived, leaving behind a remarkable fossil record. In this blog, we will delve into the astonishing resilience of ancient creatures and plants, exploring how they not only survived but also bounced back to shape the present-day world.
By Rohit Singh3 years ago in Earth
Miami Unveiled: Your Ultimate Guidance to the City’s hidden beauty gems and Must-See Attractions
Miami Unveiled: Your Ultimate Guidance to the City’s hidden beauty gems and Must-See Attractions Welcome to the enchanting city of Miami, a captivating destination that offers a unique blend of stunning natural beauty, vibrant cultural experiences, and vibrant nightlife. where sun-kissed beaches, art-deco architecture, and sizzling nightlife await. While Miami's glitzy reputation is well-known, it is the local knowledge that unlocks the city's true essence. Miami has something special in store for you. In this ultimate guide, we will unveil the hidden gems and must-see attractions that make Miami a truly unforgettable place to visit. So pack your bags and get ready to embark on a journey through the heart and soul of Miami.
By Aqeel Saddiquue3 years ago in Earth
The Climate Dictionary: An everyday guide to climate change
Weather vs. Climate Weather refers to atmospheric conditions at a particular time in a particular location, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, wind, and visibility. Weather conditions do not happen in isolation, they have a ripple effect. The weather in one region will eventually affect the weather hundreds or thousands of kilometers away.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Earth
What does transparency mean when it comes to climate change?
What does transparency mean when it comes to climate change? In the context of climate change, transparency refers to the reliable measurement, accessible reporting, and expert review of the progress made by countries towards achieving their national climate goals and pledges.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Earth
Physical, Natural Environmental Issues Affecting the Food Industries
There is no doubt that the food industry is one of the world’s biggest industries. There are some interesting factors at play in this space, such as rising labour costs, which make it uncertain how profitable food companies will continue to be. This report will go into further analysis on PESTEL, specifically the elements such as environmental, political and sociological. (Refer to Appendix one as an example of a PESTEL framework of all elements). It will also provide key findings on how food distributors might be affected by current trends as this is an arising issue linked with the sociocultural element, and the changing of people’s ethical values.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Earth
Explore the concept of the greenhouse effect and how human activities contribute to global warming, leading to the heating of the
We humans are engaged in a variety of behaviors that are antagonistic, destructive, and catastrophic to our own kind and to our nature. Those performances have very devastating impact in human nature and to our one of a kind environment. We are dependent of inhumane behaviors that involve deforestation, mining, destruction of animal habitat, intensive pollutionary works, urbanization, and perilous invention of technologies. Those endeavors can root to degradational problems and depletion of resources, loss of wildlife habitats, forest fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, pollution, and climate change. Nowadays, we humans are deteriorating and being more cruel towards our nature just to provide our needs and wants. But we didn’t notice that it can affect us and we are slowly making our future life miserable. Yes, we undergone evolution, we learn more things but those advantageous traits punishes us and our nature through worse evolution of the future.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Earth
Love's Green Promise: A Tale of Saving the Earth
Amidst the bustling city of Eldenbrook, where towering skyscrapers reached for the sky and the streets buzzed with life, a quiet oasis of green flourished. In the heart of this urban jungle, two souls destined to intertwine, Mia and Ethan, embarked on a journey that would not only ignite their love but also lead them to save the Earth they cherished.
By kathy rich3 years ago in Earth
