NATURAL RESOURCES
There are currently 118 known elements, of these 92 occur naturally, others have been created in laboratories some of which have since been found in nature.
Some elements combine to form compounds (hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water), some exist as different isotopes (carbon 12, carbon 14) and some isotopes can, over long periods of time change into other elements (plutonium to lead).
Essentially, the natural resources we have been given is all that we have to live with, utilise and exist upon. Natural resources, for our purposes can be divided into 7 main categories, soil, water, land, air, energy, marine and mineral.
The future or our planet and all its flora and fauna, including mankind, depends on how well we manage these resources. Up to now we have not done very well and are at a point where, if we do not make radical changes to our lifestyles, could shortly face the destruction of the earth and everything on it.
The earth is about 4.5 billion years old, modern man has existed for about 200,000 years. Over a period of time man developed the ability make and control fire, make and use wheels and grow crops. This led to people banding together and forming settlements. Initially wood, from the trees, and stone was used to make shelter, tools, weapons and eventually boats and ships. As mankind developed new technologies were discovered and bronze, iron and eventually steel were developed to make better tools, weapons and early machines. Certain minerals were found to be rare and of great value and were mined, as mankind progressed towns and cities started to develop, spurred by the need for the safety of individuals, land, crops, minerals, animals and settlements. Differences in cultures, religion and wealth between settlements caused wars, walls, boundaries and eventually countries.
Industry, on any large scale, did not begin until the 1800’s when the steam engine revolutionised manufacturing industry and transport. The steam engine was developed in the late 18th century but by the mid 19th century everything was powered by steam. Large quantities of coal were mined, needed to fuel domestic and industrial purposes and this could probably be seen as the beginning of the environmental crisis that has continued to develop and worsen ever since.
The blame for the environmental crisis though does not lie entirely with industry, banks and individuals invested heavily to make a lot of money and the desire to be rich drove more and more industrialisation. Industry spread all around the world, creating wealth and generating more need for energy and power. All the time more countries are developing their industries and driving the need for energy upwards.
Although the warning signs of impending ecological and environmental disasters have been evident for some time, they have either been ignored or assumed to be false flags.
The reality is that, in less than 200 years, mankind has effectively managed to push the planet and all its life to the brink of destruction.
Now that the crisis has been acknowledged we have to find solutions to, not only, stop further damage but to reverse the damage already done.