The last century has been a period of unprecedented improvement in the
human condition - especially in the United States. Life expectancy went
from 50 to 77 years and infant mortality dropped from 17 per hundred to
less than 1 per hundred. Our daily caloric intake went from 2,250 to
2,750 Calories, with a significant increase in the amount of animal
protein. The amount of space in our homes went from 25 to 70 square
meters per person, nearly tripling the area for flush toilets, separate
bedrooms and high definition television sets . Energy use increased
9-fold, freeing millions of people - including housewives - from
tedious and backbreaking labor by shifting the work to machines. But
the prosperity of the 20th Century was built under conditions we will
never see again, cheap oil, predictable weather, intact ecosystems and a
smaller population. We're not in the 20th Century anymore, and our
options in the 21st Century will not be the same.
Oil. The peak in oil discovery in the U.S. was in the
1930's, followed about 40 years later by the peak in U.S. oil production
in the 1970's. World oil discoveries peaked in the 1960's, and we are
currently pumping four barrels of oil for every new barrel that is
discovered. Obviously this cannot continue indefinitely, and a number of
experts are predicting a peak in world oil production within the next
decade. As a result, the total amount of oil pumped, refined and
distributed is going to go down - not because of some oil company plot
or middle eastern cabal - but simply because it has been used up. This
doesn't just mean higher prices at the pump, there will be ripple
effects throughout the economy - increased commuting costs will affect
suburban development, transportation costs will eat into profits on
consumer goods, food costs will go up to cover increased fuel and
fertilizer costs, and air fares may climb out of reach of the middle
class.
Climate. No matter where you measure it, ground level or
troposphere, deep ocean or sea surface, the global climate is warming as
predicted with the rise in greenhouse gases. While an increase of a
degree or two Fahrenheit may seem trivial compared to seasonal climate
change, it actually has profound effects on how much moisture evaporates
from the surface, when and where rain falls, how strong a storm is, and
how high the ocean rises. There are many unanswered questions about the
impact of this change in global temperature, but our predictions are as
likely to underestimate the impacts as they are to overestimate them. A
recent MIT study showed that -unexpectedly - hurricanes are doubling
their destructive power (duration and wind speed) even with small
increases in sea surface temperature. The same uncertainty clouds the
future of agriculture, hydroelectric power, and forest distribution,
since all are heavily dependent on relatively constant amounts of rain
or snowfall at particular times of the year.
Ecosystems. Soil erosion, desertification, contamination
of lakes and rivers, overpumping of aquifers, overfishing, overlogging
and decline in biodiversity mean the systems critical to supporting
human life are on life support themselves. As one sage put it - the
human economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of nature. For example, all
our food, including the meat, depends on plants, which depend on soil,
the right amount of water at the right time, nutrients recycled by a
vast army of microscopic animals, fungi and microorganisms, and in many
cases, the pollinating activities of trillions of bees, wasps and flies.
Soil in the U.S., thanks to federal programs established in the 1930s,
is just barely holding steady, though suburbanization is burying some of
our best farmland under concrete. One of our major aquifers, the
Ogallala, has already lost 100 ft in Texas due to overpumping. Soil
organisms are sensitive to the same changes in weather that affect
plants, and pollinators are under pressure from the widespread use of
pesticides.
Population. In 1900 the world population was 1.7 billion
people. Now it is over 6.2 billion. The good news is that population
growth has slowed from its peak of 2.2% in the 1960's to a rate of 1.4%.
Demographers believe that it will continue to drop until we reach a
replacement rate of zero. But we won't reach that rate until after we
have added another 2 or 3 billion people, sometime in the next century.
We are currently unable to provide the basic necessities of life - clean
water, sufficient food, safe shelter and useful employment - for the 2
billion people already living in extreme poverty. This scarcity of
resources and the perceived injustice of the disparity in wealth between
the developed and developing worlds is bound to fuel resentment. And
while scarcity and resentment may not by themselves cause war or give
rise to acts of terror, they certainly make it more likely.
None of these facts - the end of cheap oil, the change in climate, the
loss of ecosystem integrity or the growth in population - is a secret.
They are well known to scientists, to a majority of environmentalists,
and even to many politicians and members of the business community.
However, you could not tell from our current industrial, health, social
and environmental policies at all levels of government that anyone
involved in making policy decisions is aware that our situation has
changed. In some cases there are even attempts to undo the few sensible
steps that have been taken to conserve the resources we have left, as if
somehow entrepreneurship and financial capital can overturn laws of
nature.
A traditional Chinese curse hopes the recipient "lives in interesting
times". We are going to be living in interesting times no matter what.
If we continue to behave as if we were at the start of the 20th century
in stead of making plans for the 21st, they are going to be very
interesting indeed.
BioRegional Quiz: How many species live in the Flat Branch
Watershed (in addition to humans)?
JOB OF THE MONTH: Conservation Database Specialist;
NatureServe; Arlington, Virginia, Job #ND50808.
RESPONSIBILITIES: This is an entry-level position primarily
responsible for managing the reconciliation, quality control and
exchange of conservation biodiversity information between NatureServe's
central databases, and databases managed by NatureServe's natural
heritage member programs located throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin
America and the Caribbean. In addition, specialist will assist in
responding to conservation data requests, and assist in the production
and delivery of centralized data products to support various federally
funded projects. QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's required (Master's
preferred), in ecology (preferred), botany, zoology, forestry or related
conservation science field. Experience in database management and with
relational databases and GIS. Preferably experience with ArcView,
Oracle, Microsoft Access, and Crystal Reports. Experience in technical
writing required. Experience in computer programming, especially SQL,
desirable. For complete position descriptions, please visit:
www.natureserve.org/aboutUs/jobs.jsp APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Submit resume and cover letter to NatureServe_Jobs @NatureServe.org.
Include the job # and title of the position in the subject line.
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
BIOBLITZ: September 9-10, Martin Luther King Park/MKT Trail at
Stadium. A 24 race to identify all the species in the Flat Branch
watershed. Visit bioblitz.missouri.edu for information and to register
- Free and open to the public.
LANDSCAPE CHALLENGE CONTEST: Saturday, September 10. Visit
http://wildones.missouri.org/calendar.html
GEO CACHING CLINIC: Saturday, September 17, 1-3 pm, Rock Bridge
Memorial State Park. Find out how to use GPS units to discover hidden
caches. Visit http://rockbridge.missouri.org/fevents.html for more
information.
BOONE COUNTY HERITAGE FESTIVAL: September 17-18, Nifong Park.
Free and open to the public. Visit
www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Activities_and_Programs/heritage-festival.html
for more information
MISSOURI RIVER CLEAN UP: Saturday, September 24, Rocheport. Help
clean up the Missouri River. Visit
http://www.riverrelief.org/cleanup050924.html for information and to
register -Free and open to public.
MISSOURI PARKS ASSOCIATION MEETING: September 23-25, Columbia. At
parks.missouri.org/mpa_parkfest.pdf
FALL FOLIAGE HIKE: Sunday, October 16, Painted Rock Forest,
Westphalia. Visit digmo.com/npsboco/activities.html
ORIENTEERING MEET: Sunday, October 16, Rock Bridge Memorial State
Park. Use a map and compass to find your way to hidden markers ($10
registration) or take a hike and visit nature stations (Free and open to
the public). Visit web.missouri.edu/~esiwww/march/March2005.html or call
573/874-0171 for information and to register.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE: November 4-6, Columbia
Missouri. EE methods for pre-school, K-12 and adults, key concepts on
nature and society, how to run a non-profit, how to set up an event,
exhibits, share fair, PROJECTS and organizational meetings. Visit
meea.org for information and to register.
MU Organization Meetings and Contact Information
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS:
RECYCLING COMMITTEE:
SUSTAIN MIZZOU:
STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONS ASSOCIATION:
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
Answer to Bio Regional Quiz: I don't know, but after the Flat
Branch BioBlitz, I'll have a pretty good idea. Come out for the
BioBlitz or check the website after the event September 9-10.
biblitz.missouri.edu ]
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider
publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@ missouri.edu), snail mail
(Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan
Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is
published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions
expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this
newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.
Interested in an Environmental Career? For information on courses,
majors, and careers in the environmental field, contact Jan Weaver at
envstudy@missouri.edu, or visit:
http://web.missouri.edu/~esiwww/index.html
We're Not in the 20th Century Anymore
by Jan Weaver
http://www.missouri.edu/~jesse105/committees/pages/environmental.htm
882-3091
http://www.students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou
882-7116. 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of every month; 7pm in Arts & Science
Bldg. Room 200
882-7116
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed
7:30 pm, USGS, 4200 New Haven
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/,
1st Wednesdays 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or
http://peaceworks.missouri.org/
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The
Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for
information.
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
COMMUNITY STORMWATER PROJECT: 884-8333 or
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/StormWater/cswp.html
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES:
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or
http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREENBELT COALITION: 442-4789 or http://greenbelt.missouri.org Meet 1st
Tuesdays, 7 pm, Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY: npshawth@hotmail.com 2nd Mondays in Jan,
Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov at 7:00 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church,
2615 Shepard Blvd, Columbia, MO.
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 443-0292 or
http://mrcn.missouri.org/
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or
http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or
www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 443-4401 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd
Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation,1107 University Ave
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com,
http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.