Health & Fitness
Seriously - Population Overload
Overpopulation looms as the greatest threat to sustainable living.
The headline was clear on the Care2 website : "Seven billion humans and growing..."
That number in itself is scary - but the fact that only 12 months ago there were 'only' six billion of us, turned my stomach, and zapped my personal radar. Seems that we're doing a great job of multiplying, gobbling up all available resources, plowing under crops to make room for suburbs and cities, polluting/desecrating our ONLY home planet, but tossing only tiny rocks at sustainability.
Laguna Beach has had a rather consistent population for the last 40 years, hovering around 25,000. The topography has a great deal to do with limits in growth. For decades, hillside lots were considered un-buildable - but engineering advancements have altered construction options. Still, there are only so many houses that can fit between the blue belt and the green belt, but if economics continue their downward trend, there will be more multi-generational families co-habitating.
The question of sustainability hits home with the burgeoning population pressed down on the earth's surface. Food and clean water will eventually outstrip the need for new cars and designer clothes. Not likley in my lifetime, but unless steps are taken to limit births - consumers of resources - the term 'tipping point' becomes increasingly relevant.
And just how does Laguna Beach sustain itself (just asking)? Tourism, retail sales, restaurants, and art festivals. There is light manufacturing: think Victoria Skimboards and Lanlois Foods (both at the same location in Laguna Canyon). And of course the creation of art.
None of these commodities are edible. We long ago plowed under any green grocery products except for the small community garden in South Laguna, and our water comes from local wells combined with the greater basin water system.
Makes me think more keenly about a need to plant some crops, look into complex reclycing, pay attention to each and every item that I purchase, and compost those used materials to make my own soil.
Got ideas on how to sustain our own population? Share them with all Patch readers ....
