This post has been contributed.
You’ve undoubtedly heard it by now. We are living an unsustainable lifestyle as a species. The fact that some still go on to deny it is astounding. We are burning through our resources and stripping life, minerals and land from the earth at a shocking rate. Yet still there are many who are seeing ways to start turning the car around. Perhaps optimistic, but there are those pushing for ways of a more sustainable future. These people are finding ways to try and scale the civilization we have built, or at least be able to support it. The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.
Our food
But part of that alternative involves mass starvation. The kind that first world country inhabitants would have trouble imagining. Not just is it going to be difficult to support the infrastructure of wide-scale food delivery. We’re going to actually be running out of food itself. Particularly, finding the amount of protein foods we produce and eat to be entirely unsustainable. That’s why, already, people are looking to alternative foods. From the salmon farming industry to those who swear by insects as a protein source.
Our water
It’s not just food that we’re running out of, either. Fresh, drinkable water is dwindling now, as well. Particularly when you consider the rise of droughts in areas like California, that’s a real concern to be addressed. Without taking the steps to live in ways that use less water, we are directly contributing to the shrinkage of the world’s water supplies. There are even some who say that water might replace oil as one of the most viciously fought-over resources on the planet.
Renewable energies
Speaking of oil, it’s become clear that we can no longer rely on it and fossil fuels. Yet, despite the rising chorus of scientific evidence and rallies for us to slow down, we show very few signs of doing that. We need to start taking seriously the fact that the energy consumption our society needs will no longer be possible at the rate we’re going. That we need to start seriously looking at the means of providing alternate, renewable energies. Already, solar and geothermic power are being developed and exploited, but we need to go faster.
Dwindling reserves
Speaking of energy, it’s important we take a good look at the dwindling reserves we have in terms of oil. There are no more reserves on the planet that are at peak levels. They are all dwindling and we’re not likely to find any more. Unless, by some miracle, huge reserves are discovered, we’re looking at running out of fossil fuels before the next century.
Making a difference
It’s not too late to start fighting for the conservation of our food, our water and our earth’s resources. The Empowerment Institute is just an example of one of the groups fighting for a sustainable living campaign. The other groups mentioned above, the alternate energy providers and salmon farmers, are all for the same thing. If you want to start making a difference, vote with your money towards sustainable products.