You can blow up a balloon so far, and then it burst; you can stretch a rubber abnd so far, and then it snaps, you can bend a stick so far, and theh it breaks. HOw much longer can the human population go on damaging the world's natural systems before they break down altogether?

It may well be that we have already set in motion a process of decline that, sooner or later, will make human life impossible on this earth. There is no doubt that nature is very resilent-provided it is given a chance and enough time. But we do not know how much of the damage we are doing is ireversible and it is getting very late for nature to save humanity from its mistakes. hat may be painting rather a gloomy picture, but would it not be prudent to be on the safe and not risk the chance that this depressing picture may be the true ones?

HUmanity is making intorerable demands on the world's natural resources. If babies born in 1991 live for 80 years, that takes them to the year 2070, by which time the human population of the world maybe anuthing from twice to three times the present total. IN other words, they will have toshares what is left of the earth's resources with between 10 and 15 billion other people. BUt that assumes that there will be a signifivant decline in the rate of population growth. What if it does not decline? The answer is that by the time those 1991 babies reach the age of 40 they could be sharing resources with as many as 10 billion other people.

Limiting the pollution of water and the atmosphere, controlling the output of the chemicals that may be causing global warming and climate change, recycling glass bottle and eating less meat may go some way to help, but can anyone seriously imagine that these are going to solve the problem of the 'baby class of 91'? 

There is no getting away from the fact that people are responsible for the present state of the world, and only people can solve the problems. The decisions have to be taken by people as members of parliaments and national and local governments; as administrators and directors of aid agencies; as leaders and decision makers in industry and commerce; as thise responsible for the exploitation of natural forest and the oceans, as scientist and technilogists, as professional engineers and designers; as leaders of voluntary organizations, as religiuos leaders and as individual citizens.

The connection between the managementof industrial and commercial enterprises and the conservation of natureneeds to be clearly understood. Companies are entitled to maximize profits for the sake of thier share-holders and workers, but not without regard for the consequences ofthier products, or for the truthfulness of thier advertisements, managers must accept moral and practical responsibility for limiting damage to the natural environment.

I am glad to say that recent yeras have seen the development of a remarkable pertnership between business and the conversation organizations to achieve more effective protection of the natural environment. I do not think it is much to hopethat every honest and responsible manager should have a sufficiant understanding of facts of the natural environment to enable him to manage his comapny with proper regard for the long term well-being of the whole world.

Prince Philip

Source : Newsweek 17 June 1991

Back to Archive Page

Recycling Point Dot Com

(C) 2000 All Rights Reserved