School of Social Sciences & Psychology
Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development
“OVER-POPULATION IS OUR NUMBER ONE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM”
Environmental Destruction and Air Pollution in the Ruhr Valley (1985),
viewed 23 April 2010, <http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=91>.
AAP1010
FOUNDATIONS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Student’s Name : Zulfarhan Ibrahim
Student’s ID
: 3844660
Student’s E-mail : zulfarhan.ibrahim@live.vu.edu.au
Tutor’s Name
: Mark Desira
Course Subject : Foundations of Political Science
Date Submitted : 7 May 2010
SUMMARY
Environmental damage caused by the human over-population has been a main
issue in the past decades. The constructing of industrial era in order to fulfil the needs
is one of the major factors that took parts in the destruction. Among forest burned and
illegal logging which resulted in the forest bare. Advances in technology such as cars,
factories, and motorcycles made the air polluted and the ozone layer become thinner
because of the gas that the vehicle threw. A hole in the ozone layer can makes direct
sunlight to the earth causing the earth's temperature rises. Because the temperature of
the earth rising, the Arctic ice cap began to melt. It is making the sea levels raised up.
Therefore, humans must overcome these problems as fast as possible before the
damage become more widespread. In addition to solve them, human beings must
realize and introspect themselves in order not to repeat the same mistakes as damaging
the environment.
Government should pay more attention to the environmental conservation.
Because at this time the government still regulating all the policies without
implementing each one of them. Government must be firm in determining the
measures to cope with any further damage such as damage to forests, fire, factory’s
waste that would create a chance to enlarge the holes in the ozone layer and many
other damages caused by humans by doing the reforestation and educated the public’s
knowledge about the importance of the environment for human life.
“OVER-POPULATION IS OUR NUMBER ONE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM”
Environment and its Surrounding
Queensland Environmental Protection Act 1994, Chapter 1, Part 3, mention the
following environmental terms :
"Environment includes ecosystem and their constituent parts,
including people and communities; all natural resources and physical
resources; the qualities and characteristics of locations, places and
areas, however large or small, that contribute to their biological
diversity and integrity, intrinsic or attributed scientific value or
interest, amenity, harmony and sense of community." (Environmental
Protection Act, 1994, p.42)
The environment as defined under the law is a system that includes natural
environment, synthetic environment, and social environment. All components of the
environment such as objects, power, circumstances, and living things come together in
one container that became a gathering spot called the space component.
In this space the ecosystem occur, which is an arrangement whereby living
organisms and the abiotic environment among these organisms create a harmonious
and stable interaction, mutual giving and receiving life.
Interactions between the various components can sometimes be positive and
also negative. Circumstances that are positive occur if there are some situations which
encourage help to reach a smooth process of the neighbourhood life.
For example, the way how to recover the result of deforestation is to maintain
its sustainability by selective logging system which only cut the big and old trees, so
the little trees that previously shielded by the big trees, are fast becoming major replace
for those that have been cut (Hutchison and Hicks, 1985).
Negative interaction occurs when the harmonic process of environmental
interaction is being disturbed, so that the interaction harms each other. The existence of
the disruption of one component in the environment will bring negative impact to other
components because the balance of these components will not be harmony again.
Changes in the Pattern of Human Life
Rapid population growth and the development of more advanced technology
have changed the pattern of human life. If previously the human needs are just limited
to primary and secondary needs, now they increased to an unlimited tertiary needs.
Human needs are not only the primary needs which be able to maintain a general life
such as food and drink, clothing, houses, and secondary needs like the need for
education and health, but also has increased to the needs of tertiary that allows one to
choose needs to be available. Tertiary needs have resulted in major changes to patterns
of human life become consumptive.
For those who can afford it, all needs can be fulfilled at once, and for those who
have limited access they have to choose their needs according to their ability.
However, all those who already influenced by today’s era will be trying to get it. These
needs are not just met, but always change in accordance with the future development
(Snarr and Colo, 2005).
The Cause of Environmental Destruction
As a result of rapid technology developments, the increase of human population
and more demand for tertiary needs has made a heavy pressure on natural resources
and the environment. The total of world population which today has reached more than
six billion, not only requires the primary and secondary needs, but also requires large
amounts of tertiary needs. The high rate on population growth in large quantities has a
lot of impact, changing the forest land into residential land, agriculture, industry, and
so forth. This will cause a steep decrease in forest size from year to year, especially in
poor countries and developing countries. Also, the tertiary needs that continue to
increase, both in quantity and quality, causing industries to be thrived (Johnson and
Lewis, 1995). Rapid industrial development requires natural resources like raw
materials and energy sources in a very big amount. As the result, sources of raw
materials and energy continue drained in large numbers. The alternatives of natural
resources around begin to decline, as the forests were being cut down, the more
damaged because of many trees that were taken for the needs of industrial raw
materials, especially when it is not balanced by reforestation, will lead to some
disasters against air pollution, water and soil, which ultimately disrupt the human life.
United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm 1972
(Sweden), has raised environmental issues not only about the problems of a country
but a world problem. Conference held on December 5th to 16th of June 1972 in
Stockholm, attended by 113 countries and tens of observers, is a large and very
important meeting for the future of the human environment. From one of the results of
the Stockholm conference, they establish a United Nations agency dealing with
environmental issues, called "United Nations Environment Programme" or UNEF. The
Conference also set June 5th as the "World Environment Day."(Lindenmayer, 2007)
“Environmental contamination that occurred in one country would
likely to impact on other countries and even the world.”(Isria, 2009).
For that reason always needed a good cooperation between the countries in the
world to address the environmental problems. Deforestation in some tropical countries
such as Brazil and Indonesia does not only affect the climate in those countries, but
also lead to global climate change (the world as a whole), (Goudie, 2009).
Industrial development is so rapid, having disturbed the balance of gases such
as carbon dioxide in the air. Combustion of kerosene, petrol, diesel, coal, to move the
factories. Similarly, vehicles that use gasoline or diesel as fuel, burning off land and
forest fires have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
Greenhouse gases are actually very necessary to regulate the temperature at the
earth's surface, which is absorbing and reflecting back sunlight. If there is no gas in the
air along with other gases that act as greenhouse gases, the Earth receives sunlight will
reflect everything into space so that at night the temperature at the earth's surface is
very cold and very hot during the day, sometimes during several months so it will not
be a very comfortable place to live. Problems arise because of the greenhouse gases
that human activities generate more greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide.
According to the research of experts, the more carbon dioxide gas released into the air
from human activities, will further accelerate the increase in temperature at the surface
of the earth. Temperature rise in the earth's surface will affect the climate on earth, and
will have a negative impact on life on earth (Hamilton and Turton, 2002).
The problem of global warming as described above, of course, makes the
world’s concern as their first place. To discuss this, there was a "Climate Change
Convention" (United Nations Frame Work Convention on Climate Change) in Kyoto
City (Japan) in 1997 which was attended by 170 countries to discuss the limitations of
gases causing the greenhouse effect. At the hearing, United Nations scientists reported
that global warming will increase disease, resulting in crop failure, and heightened sea
level. At the time of the widespread forest fires in California, Australia and Indonesia
long time ago has been the largest emission of carbon dioxide produced from these
fires (JAH Publications, 2010).
Kyoto meeting is the first step to reduce carbon dioxide in air pollution by
reducing use of fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, coal, which is called fossil fuels
and replacing them with renewable fuels, such as sources of energy coming from solar
power and wind. Moreover, the factories that use of fossil energy needed to be
replaced with new plants of high tech, a cleaner one for the environment (Casper,
2010). The problem now is the cost for greenhouse gas reduction is so immense,
reaching hundreds or even thousands of billions of dollars. An amazing value.
Casper (2010) also clearly state that to reduce greenhouse gases, it needs huge
funds. Motor vehicles during the use of fuel oil or gas, when replaced by other energy
prices caused the vehicle to be very expensive, so consumers would object. This is the
main obstacle to get to the blue sky program, a program that makes clean air from
pollution, is still far from expectations.
The threat of flooding every rainy season in many parts of the world including
in Southeast Asia, South America, and some parts of Europe is the result of man's own
deeds that cutting down forests for instant profits (Fletcher & Spencer, 2005). Various
areas of tropical countries hit by floods every rainy season and landslides, both the city
and outside the city.
Let us take a look at area of forest in Java Island, Indonesia. It has been far
below the ideal forest area which approximately around 40% of the area. Forest area in
West Java (including Banten) only 21%, 20% of Central Java, East Java, 28%, the
average area of forest in Java Island that still remain today is 23%. Similarly, forests in
other islands such as Sumatra, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi (Celebes), and others, a
growing area of forest damage caused by human activity. Existing animals in the forest
and miserable life increasingly threatened because their habitat is a place where lives
have been destroyed by humans to make a profit (Brown, 2009).
Indonesia has the world's largest mangrove forest which is around 3.5 million
hectares and that is a world wide total of 15 million hectares. But the breadth continues
to suffer a setback because it has changed the function. Mangrove forest which serves
as a wall against abrasion, as well as a place to live and spawn various types of fish,
many of which have changed the function into fish ponds to be commercialized, and
other interests. The wood in the mangrove forests are cut down to be sold and used as
wood charcoal. As a result, damage to the mangrove forests continue to rise is not
inevitable. On the north coast of Java would be 90% has been damaged, as well as on
other beaches, although not as heavy damage to mangrove forests on the North Coast
of Java (Alongi, 2007).
Natural disaster like intrust (intrusion) of sea water onto land, erosion and
flooding are difficult to avoid. Similarly, coastal community activities that capture the
shrimp, fish, crabs, etc., will be more difficult to be done by the destruction of
mangrove forest environment. Human actions above have a very bad impact on the
environment, and will ultimately adversely also against man himself.
Environmental damage caused by various factors as described earlier, would
lead to a variety of material adverse effect and disrupt human life. Flora and fauna will
be much extinction, increased disease in humans, declining the amount of crops, and a
long-lasting drought. Or in the other hand, very high rainfall causing floods, droughts
during the dry season, damage to coral reefs, and so forth.
“Man must realize how important the sense of the environment for
life. Greed that cause environmental damage should be paid to the very
expensive.” (Nasir, 1995).
Environmental damage caused by human activities is much greater than the
environmental damage caused by natural processes. They occurs in various forms such
as pollution, dredging, deforestation for various purposes, and so forth.
Wastes can be disposed of liquid and solid wastes, if the limit has been exceeded, then
it will cause damage to the environment, including the adverse effects on humans. One
example of water pollution case is “The Case of Minamata Bay in Japan”. Hundreds of
people died from eating seafood caught from the Minamata Bay, most of the people
believed that some chemical compounds like mercury which has polluted elements is
the cause of the deaths. Mercury comes from industrial wastes dumped into Minamata
Bay waters, so that levels of mercury in the bay have been far above the limit (Hernan,
2010).
Water pollution cases have often occurred due to disposal of industrial waste into
the soil, rivers, lakes and sea. The leaks on tankers and oil pipelines that caused oil
spill into the waters, causing disrupted life in the place, lots of dead fish, plants
exposed to a pool of oil would be destroyed as well. Dredging is carried out by mining
companies such as mining coal, tin, iron ores, and others have caused the holes and a
large basin in the soil surface so that the land is unusable before they be able to
recovery.
Solutions to Conserve the Environment
Some of the efforts that could be done as they were mentioned in Queensland
Environmental Protection Act (1994) and Environment & Sustainable Development
Policy by ACTU Congress (1989), for the preservation of the environment, are as
follows :
1. Forestry Sector
a.
Cutting down the trees and replanting them has to be done in a properly
manner, so that the forests remain sustainable.
b.
Tightening controls on logging, illegal logging, and give severe
punishments to those who engage in these activities.
c.
Cutting down the trees should be done wisely. Harvested trees should be
big and old compare to the small trees that still grow.
d.
Conduct reforestation in some areas of forests that have been deforested,
and rehabilitate the damaged forests.
e.
Extending the zone of protected forests, national parks and city gardens,
so that the function as a regulator of the water, preventing erosion,
preserving the land, flora and fauna shelter can remain preserved and
conserved.
2. Agricultural Sector
a.
Changing agricultural farming systems (sedentary) to settle such as
agricultural fields, plantations, moor, and so forth.
b.
Agriculture is carried on uneven land (steep) or in terraces made, so that
the danger of erosion can be reduced.
c.
Reduce the use of pesticides that are widely used to eradicate pest plants
by using more predators (animal that eat pests) because the use of
pesticides can pollute water and soil.
d.
Discovering the types of crops that resist pests and thus the use of
pesticides can be avoided.
3. Industrial Sector
a.
Industrial wastes will be dumped into the ground and water must be
neutralized first so that the waste has been disposed of free of pollutant
materials. Therefore, every industry is required to make waste water
treatment.
b.
Reduce consumption of petroleum fuels with energy sources such as
more
environmentally friendly electrical
energy generated
by
hydropower, geothermal energy, sunlight, and so forth.
c.
Recycle (recycling) of second-hand goods, such as paper, plastic,
aluminium, iron, and so forth. Thus, in addition to utilizing waste scrap,
raw material needs are usually taken from nature can be reduced.
d.
Build the industrial areas far from residential areas.
4. Waters Field
a.
Prohibit disposal of household waste, garbage, and other objects into the
river or the sea because of the river and the sea is not a garbage dump.
b.
Strict rules are needed to be made for the excavation of sand in the sea
so it will not damage the surrounding sea water environment.
c.
Intake of coral in the sea as the place to breed the fish should be banned.
d.
The use of bombs and trawl to catch fish should be prohibited.
5. Flora and Fauna
To maintain the extinction of rare flora and fauna, some actions should be
taken, include:
a.
Severely punish according to law for those who take the flora and fauna
are protected hunting.
b.
Establish protected areas for rare flora and fauna such as National Parks,
Nature Reserves, Wildlife Marga Sanctuary, and others.
6. Legislation
Implementing the Law on Environmental Management, and provides a heavy
penalty for offenders in accordance with the demands of environmental legislation.
Conclusion
Increased population growth is often referred as the blame for causing the food
scarcity. This conclusion was believed to be the cause of poverty, environmental
destruction and social conflict. Economic development in the third world will not be
successful if the population growth rate is not controlled properly. That is why
international organizations and local governments develop and implement strategies to
control the growth rates in the third world. Explosion of the population numbers often
called ‘over’, has implications for massive use of natural resources in order to maintain
the growth rate of the population and lead to the global instability (Sustainable
Development Strategy, 2001).
When these assumptions were examined, it is obvious that the population is not
the blame for what have been believed, but rather a political agenda that caused
disasters in many parts of the world. This agenda was intended to distract ordinary
people from the real causes of lifestyle, consumerism, poverty, and oppression of the
third world by the western world.
The State-developed countries like Japan, Russia, Germany, Switzerland and
Eastern Europe are currently experiencing dilemma, such as lowered rates of
population growth due to low birth-rates. Western countries are also experiencing the
decline of population as their absence of immigration from other domestic residents.
Declining number of residents in the West compared with other countries such as the
Islamic world country, causing the population in Muslim countries have a higher
voting rights in the constellation of international institutions because its population is
rising.
The issue of the population is often used to drop the large populated country, so
that it can reduce the threat from the country's influence in the future. For example,
Turkey. If Turkey could enter the EU membership, Turkey's population of 70 million
inhabitants is the second largest amount in European parliament. Furthermore, the
demographics of Turkey will overtake Germany in the number of representatives in the
European parliament in 2020. Turkey's membership will affect the future direction of
the European Union such as the expansion plans, as a basis for rejection of Valery
Giscard d'Estaing of France against the entry of Turkey into the European Union.
D'Estaing said that Turkey's entry will continue to attract Morocco to join as well (The
Economist, 2007).
As a result, this world is not or has not experienced a population explosion
(over-populated). Only the Western World who are greedy. Western world has been
consuming 50% of the vital natural resources which should be available until the 21st
century, but according to the fact, they only produces less than 25% only. Western
greed is far beyond the needs of China and India on energy. In particular, the U.S.
produces only 8% of oil, but consumes 25% of existing oil. Western population which
approximately 20% of the world's population, spends 80% of food production. “Greed
is one of the characteristics of the implementation of the capitalistic economic system”
(Adam Smith, 1909-14).
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