A Warning to Humanity Flow Chart 1. A warning to Humanity 2. MacLean’s Article

A Warning to Humanity In 1993, the Union of Concerned Scientists published a Warning to Humanity. This group of senior members of the world's scientific community briefly outlined the problems affecting the global environment. They commented on the atmosphere, water resources, oceans, soil, forests and living species, and they paid special attention to the issue of overpopulation. A warning was issued:

The Atmosphere Ozone depletion threatens life with enhanced ultraviolet radiation Ozone depletion threatens life with enhanced ultraviolet radiation Air Pollution and acid rain, cause widespead injury to animal, forests and crops. Air Pollution and acid rain, cause widespead injury to animal, forests and crops.

Water Resources Exploitation of ground water endangers humans. Exploitation of ground water endangers humans. Serious shortages are occuring. Serious shortages are occuring. Pollution further limits the supply Pollution further limits the supply

Oceans The total marine catch is now at or above the maximum sustainable yield. The total marine catch is now at or above the maximum sustainable yield. Rivers are also carrying waste to the oceans – some of which is toxice Rivers are also carrying waste to the oceans – some of which is toxice

Soil Loss of productivity due to land abandonment. Loss of productivity due to land abandonment. 11% of vegetated surface has been degraded, causing a decrease in per capita food. 11% of vegetated surface has been degraded, causing a decrease in per capita food.

Forests Some critical forest types will be gone in a few years, and most of the rain forest will be gone by the end of the century. Some critical forest types will be gone in a few years, and most of the rain forest will be gone by the end of the century.

Living Species By /3 of all living species now living will be gone. By /3 of all living species now living will be gone. This decrease biodiversity, which puts some ecosystems in danger. This decrease biodiversity, which puts some ecosystems in danger. With the alteration of the climate, some species will not survive. With the alteration of the climate, some species will not survive.

Population The earth’s ability to absorb wastes is finite. The earth’s ability to absorb wastes is finite. Its ability to provide food and energy is finite. Its ability to provide food and energy is finite. We are fast approaching many of the earth’s limits. We are fast approaching many of the earth’s limits. Due to this 1/5 pople live in absolute poverty while 1/10 live I serious malnutrition. Due to this 1/5 pople live in absolute poverty while 1/10 live I serious malnutrition.

THE WARNING We, the undersigned, senior members of the world's scientific community, hereby warn all humanity of what lies ahead. A great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated.

5 Areas to be addressed We must bring environmentally damaging activities under control to restore and protect the integrity of the Earth's systems that we depend on. We must bring environmentally damaging activities under control to restore and protect the integrity of the Earth's systems that we depend on. We must manage resources, crucial to human welfare, more effectively. We must manage resources, crucial to human welfare, more effectively. We must stabilize population. This will be possible only if all nations recognize that it requires improved social and economic conditions and the adoption of effective, voluntary family planning. We must stabilize population. This will be possible only if all nations recognize that it requires improved social and economic conditions and the adoption of effective, voluntary family planning. We must reduce and eventually eliminate poverty. We must reduce and eventually eliminate poverty. We must ensure sexual equality and guarantee women control over their own reproductive decisions. We must ensure sexual equality and guarantee women control over their own reproductive decisions.

A warning con’t The more developed nations have the obligation to provide aid and support to developing nations because only the developed nations have the financial resources and the technical skills for these tasks. The more developed nations have the obligation to provide aid and support to developing nations because only the developed nations have the financial resources and the technical skills for these tasks. All citizens of the world must concern themselves with maintaining environmental resources so that they continue to provide benefits to living things (not only humans) and the larger environment of which they are a part All citizens of the world must concern themselves with maintaining environmental resources so that they continue to provide benefits to living things (not only humans) and the larger environment of which they are a part

A warning con’t It is time to ensure that everyone on our planet has clean drinking water, plenty of food and adequate shelter for a healthy and happy life It is time to ensure that everyone on our planet has clean drinking water, plenty of food and adequate shelter for a healthy and happy life All citizens of the world must concern themselves with maintaining environmental resources so that they continue to provide benefits to living things (not only humans) and the larger environment of which they are a part. All citizens of the world must concern themselves with maintaining environmental resources so that they continue to provide benefits to living things (not only humans) and the larger environment of which they are a part.

MacLean’s Article Read the article on Biodiversity from MacLeans magazine. Read the article on Biodiversity from MacLeans magazine. When you have finished reading the article, you are to write a minimum ¾ page summary of the article. When you have finished reading the article, you are to write a minimum ¾ page summary of the article. Also, you are to choose one of the four main threats to the global environment and write a minimum ¾ page on which you feel is the most important and why. Also, you are to choose one of the four main threats to the global environment and write a minimum ¾ page on which you feel is the most important and why.