Evidence points to the fact that as the population grows so does the severity of problems.

By Dr. John J. Hidore

July 16, 2015–In the second decade of the 21st Century, Earth’s human population is in turmoil. People are protesting hunger, poverty, unemployment, and drastic environmental changes. The Fund for Peace maintains a list of nations that are in danger of failing due to internal stress. In 2015 among 11 categories, 10 countries in Africa are listed in the most critical two categories. These countries are in the most danger of collapsing into failed states. Out of the 35 countries in highest risk conditions 25 of them were listed as higher at risk from 2012 to 2013.

Root Causes of Turmoil

A large percentage of people in these countries are leaving their homes and migrating to other regions in order to avoid violence, poverty and terrorism. In 2014 extremists in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia committed 13,500 terrorist attacks compared to 10,000 in 2013. Terrorists killed an estimated 33,000 people last year compared to 18,000 the previous year. They also carried out more than 9000 kidnappings. There are a number of phenomenon now operating simultaneously that are root causes for the uncertainty and turmoil.

The root causes of global turmoil include the following:

1. An exploding population: The global population is growing at some 80 million per year. This means adding another billion every 12-13 years.

2. Global warming: The year 2014 was the warmest ever recorded on the planet since records have been kept. Every region, from the Antarctic to the tropical rain forests, are changing as a result of the warming. The evidence of the planetary heating is overwhelming. Still the economic establishment has spent billions to deny the existence of a warming planet and to cover up the impact of global warming. Many admit global warming exists but insist this change is not due to human activity.

3. Resource depletion: The cost and consumption of non-renewable fuels is rapidly growing. Fresh water, agricultural land, and mineral resources are becoming scarce.

4. Individual and International debt: Individual debt is the highest in history. The European Economic Union is in danger of collapsing.

5. The rapid transfer of wealth upwards into the hands of a few. There are now nearly 2,000 billionaires in the world. On the other hand, there are more than three billion people that live on less than $2.50 per day. What’s worse is that there are more than one billion that live on less than $1.25!

Human History and Our Future

Human history covers three million years and modern humans have inhabited the earth for the last 200,000 years. The global population has been growing throughout this long period of time. Evidence points to the fact that as the population grows so does the severity of problems. If we translate the three million years of human existence into a day, these events have become widespread in less than the last second of human history. What is unique is that they are all now taking place at the same time on a global scale. Not only are they taking place at the same time, but the speed of these processes is increasing at an accelerated rate. The rate of change, in some cases, is so rapid it is difficult to forecast their future status more than a few months in advance. This makes planning for the future very difficult.

Common Characteristics of Civil Uprisings

Desperate people take desperate measures. Civil uprisings are widespread over the earth. The people want change, the ruling establishments do not. The uprisings result directly from growing poverty among the people. In Africa, Asia and South America governments have fallen to these uprisings. Some of the characteristics of these unstable areas are:

High population growth rates
Economic decline
Deterioration of public services
Breakdown of law and order
Growing inequality of wealth
Tribal conflicts

Predictions for our Future

If these trends continue, the results include, but are not limited to the following:

There will be more intense crowding
There will be more and more uprisings by large numbers of people as they protest the continual decrease in quality of life.
There will be more and larger migrations of people in search of better opportunities.
There will be more and more environmental problems and disasters of all kinds.
Global climate change will result in greater stress for most living species.

Making a Difference

How long these trends will continue is unknown. If enough people take action to resist these changes they can be drastically slowed or stopped. The source of all action is the individual who decides to make a difference. Whether alone and moving ahead with individual projects for change, or by joining other people who are concerned and creating strength of action through numbers, it is only when enough people decide the negative trends are against the benefit of the majority, will things take place to stop them!