By the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. We can eat fish, but not plastic, so that’s a problem. As we continue to use plastic for its convenience and low cost we create a tremendous amount of waste. About a third of that plastic ends up in nature and specifically the ocean where it will float and destroy the marine ecosystem, forever.
Category Archives: Humans and the Environment
Marble Mining in Northern Italy
I came across this video recently and was mesmerized by it. The absolute precision involved despite working with heavy duty machinery and huge slabs of rock is an incredible sight. This clip is part of a longer documentary but even this snippet can give you an appreciation for the scale of this task.
The relationship between humans and the environment is one the critical themes that come up in AP® Human Geography. This clip is a perfect example of the primary sector which is defined as the direct extraction of resources from the Earth’s surface, usually through farming, mining, or fishing.
Human Geography: Alarming Fact # 8
The northern Sweden town of Kiruna is sinking due to the expansion of an iron ore mine. As the mine grows wider and deeper the surrounding land becomes more unstable. Plans are in place to dismantle entire buildings and move them a few miles over to stable soil. The picture above shows the portion of the town that will be moved. All buildings within the red line will either be relocated or allowed to collapse as the ground gives way.
The town has always counted on the mine for its economic survival, but in an ironic twist the mine might bring about its demise. This interplay between the need for natural resources and the environment is one of the key themes of human geography. As the world population grows and standards of living increase more resources are in demand. We ask the Earth to constantly give us more, as a result environmentalists argue that we are “killing the planet.” I counter that the planet is going to be just fine, what we are actually killing is our ability to live on this planet.
Overfishing
In its most recent issue “The Economist” ran a story referencing the problems created by overfishing. The painfully obvious issue, if a species of fish is being caught faster than it can reproduce, the long term survival of that species comes into doubt. The article cites estimates that the population of some fish species may have dropped as much as 90% in the past 60 years. The article suggests that modern technology can be used to try to regulate fishermen. By using GPS to track their position and with stricter enforcement of laws that already exist fisheries might be able to survive.
The article also brings up some critical terms that are used in Human Geography, specifically referencing the application of ocean borders. 12 miles out from a coast is still considered the territory of that country. It also uses the term “Exclusive Economic Zones” that extend 200 miles out from a coast. Any natural resources or fisheries within this EEZ are subject to the laws and regulations of that country, although they can prove to be difficult to enforce.
Most importantly, one of the key themes in Human Geography is the relationship between people and the environment. I teach my students that there are three general attitudes that exist towards the environment:
- The planet has unlimited resources that can be used in any way humans want or need and there will be no negative consequences. I generally refer to this theory as the “unicorn theory” because we’d like it to be real, but it’s not.
- Humans have trashed the planet beyond repair and all hope is lost. I find this outlook to be overwhelmingly pessimistic and disagree with it simply because I don’t want to die as part of some ecological disaster.
- Humans have damaged the planet but with increasing awareness and action we can find a sustainable solution to maintain our existence. I hope this one is the correct outlook because if it’s not, the alternatives are remarkably bad.
Human Geography: Alarming Fact # 4
Alarming Fact: Air quality in Beijing is so poor that many marathon runners wear masks in order to breathe in fewer pollutants.
The Human Geo Guy’s Take: As a runner I couldn’t imagine doing any run with a mask on, much less 26.2 miles. China has managed to turn itself into a global economic power through industrial production. In the process it has done serious damage to its environment. They face air quality that is so poor many world class marathon runners dropped out of the race. The scariest part is realizing that 11.5 million inhabitants of Beijing breathe this air on a daily basis.