Is humanity prepared for what the future holds?

No

1 of 2

by Carolyn Tytler

• 

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

How can humanity be prepared when no one knows what the future will hold? There are unique challenges confronting us today, which seem likely to increase and intensify as the years progress. Earth's population, as a whole, must begin immediately to focus on solutions to present problems ,if we are to have any hope of successfully overcoming those of the future. A few of the more pressing problems are and probably will continue to be:

* Global warming / climate change. The majority of reputable scientists believe that the temperature of the earth is rising. As a result, storms will become more frequent and severe. Polar ice caps will melt, causing the flooding of coastal cities. Mass migration of people and animals will result in loss of agricultural land, and green areas. Rain forests and other wooded regions, whose trees supply the oxygen we breathe, will be severely depleted.

* Unknown diseases. We are currently in the midst of a pandemic of swine flu. The last century has witnessed the emergence of HIV Aids, Ebola, the bird flu, SARS, the flesh-eating disease (necrotizing faciitis) and other life-threatening viruses and bacteria. A vaccine for bird flu has been developed, but additional efforts are needed to conquer the others. In addition, who knows what new virulent infections will appear next?

* Overpopulation. As of November 15, 2009, the world's population is estimated to be over 6.7 billion people. It is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2050. At present, about 16,000 children die each day from hunger-related causes. One person in five, in the world's population, has no access to fresh water. As the earth heats up, agricultural land will shrink, and fresh water resources will dry up. It will only be a matter of time before wars start as hungry and thirsty people struggle to obtain or to maintain control over a share of these necessities.

* Dwindling resources. Besides water and food, other non-renewable resources are disappearing. Conflicts over oil are already a reality. The price of gold is at a record high, over $1,100. The whole world is experiencing a recession wherein jobs are scarce and more and more families are falling below the poverty level. The U.S. dollar is weakening.

*Weapons of mass destruction. When war breaks out, the current nuclear and biological weapons possessed by the most powerful countries make the potential for death, destruction and suffering unimaginable. And make no mistake, the major powers will not hesitate to use these weapons when their citizens start to experience serious problems of hunger, thirst and deprivation.

Is humanity prepared for what the future holds? No. How could we be? Our best recourse, in fact, our only viable recourse, is to start now to solve the underlying problems which threaten our very survival.

Forget space travel, forget wars, forget sports extravaganzas. There are more vital issues that require the undivided attention and resources of every nation and every leader on earth. At stake is the very survival of the human species.

Learn more about this author, Carolyn Tytler.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.