Population growth, resource scarcity, and human-nature conflict

Human Population Growth

Despite the modern separation from the means of production most people are at least marginally aware of the fact that everything we need to sustain us is provided by the earth. The earth gives us all the objects we need and many we desire and in turn she is changed. Though these relationships are mediated socially, economically, ecologically and culturally, the full force of the impact of population on the planet cannot be completely reduced or balanced and this is even truer when population growth outstrips available resources. In a bid to reproduce itself and make itself stronger the human race is impeding on the earth and in turn its ability to sustain. Despite social, economic, ecological and cultural mediation of natural as well as human made forces population growth is having a negative impact upon the earth. At the heart of this negative impact, is not only population overgrowth but intensified separation of the individual from the means of production, and the drive of profit over conservation.

In the opening quote of Sparing Nature taken from the seminal, Malthus' an Essay on the Principle of Population one can see that the arguable truth is that the world has been very generous with the biological matter needed to reproduce most of its many species, but very selfish in its dissemination of elements needed for them to sustain and thrive.

Malthus 14-15) Mckee's argument then becomes one that wholeheartedly contends that the human race, as the dominant race in trying to reproduce and basically provide for itself as it grows is in a constant and sometimes unseen struggle with nature to overtake the room it has left for other biological and natural elements to exist. "People need space and resources, as do all living beings. But nature "has been comparatively sparing in the room and the nourishment necessary to rear them" indeed. That humans and other organisms often compete for these commodities."

Mckee 2)

The historical emphasis on human individual independence, a desire to be separated from the mediations of sustainability, mainly economic mediations, such as inability to grow or earn enough to create health in one's children, has driven the human population create additional artificial habitat. In Malthus' 1798 essay one can see the seeds of human discontent of mediation. The economic mediation of poverty, has historically kept much population growth in check, and though it is arguably negative, at least from the human perspective it can also be seen as the first of a long list of symptoms of the creation of populations who cannot sustain themselves with the fruits of the earth. Be it human caused or naturally derived, a whole segment of the population desired a manner in which they would be removed from the confines of the economic mediation of poverty, and many of them and those who came after them advanced to urban life to seek less unpredictable employment and nourishment.

It cannot fail to be remarked by those who live much in the country, that the sons of labourers are very apt to be stunted in their growth, and are a long while arriving at maturity. Boys that you would guess to be fourteen or fifteen, are upon inquiry, frequently found to be eighteen or nineteen. And the lads who drive plough, which must certainly be a healthy exercise, are very rarely seen with any appearance of calves to their legs; a circumstance, which can only be attributed to a want either of proper, or of sufficient nourishment.

Mckee 33)

Wetlands conservation is in fact one of the most hotly debated issues, with regard to the further development of the human race, as she struggles to sustain herself, artificially in the natural world, almost completely removed from the means of production. We as humans argue that wetlands, serve no logical purpose for production, despite countless evidence that the purpose of wetlands is to cleans the earth of the toxins, human and naturally borne that attempt to re-circulate every time it rains and runs off down a stream or canal. Humans argue that because the land is not being used to grow food for humans and domesticated animals it serves little purpose for human growth and development. The irony of this is that taking away just a small portion of the habitat, of diverse species and the natural systematic filtration system of the earth can seriously impact the balance that is weakening every day.

The modern separation from the means of production does not negate the fact that nearly everything we need to sustain us is provided by the earth, either by natural or artificial means. The earth gives us all the materials we need and many we desire and in turn she is changed. She becomes less able with each passing day and each lost natural acre to continue to provide. Though the relationship with the earth, including her flora and fauna are mediated socially, economically, ecologically and culturally, the full force of the impact of the growing human population on the planet cannot be completely reduced or balanced and this is even truer when population growth outstrips available resources. In a bid to reproduce itself and make itself stronger the human race is impeding on the earth and in turn its ability to sustain, the human and natural populations as well as its self. Despite social, economic, ecological and cultural mediation of natural as well as human made forces, population growth is having a negative impact upon the earth. At the heart of this negative impact, is not only population overgrowth but intensified separation of the individual from the means of production. When we do not know where eggs come from, in any practical way, or how the earth balances itself in a broad way, we are left to others, who we hope do understand to determine the nature of our use, if profit is the most logical drive then the ulterior motive destroys the very thing that sustains.