History Will Only Keep Repeating Itself

According to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, more land was converted to cropland in the 30 years after 1950 than in the 150 years between 1700 and 1850. As the world’s population continues to increase, the number of land converted to crops is going to rapidly increase to meet the needs of the growing population. In order to support these extensive crops, humans will have to increase their use of various natural resources including water and soil. If this is not monitored closely, the world is at a risk of exhausting many of its important natural resources. 

Easter Island is a great example of what can happen when a population overuses and exhausts what the land has provided. The island once had a population of 7,000 and was home to one of the most advanced Polynesian societies of its time. The demise of the society lies on the lack of abundant natural resources and misuse of what they had. To accommodate their growing population, the people converted the abundant forests on the Island to create land for agriculture and to obtain materials for other needs. The deforestation led to a world of problems including lack of shelter, soil erosion, and reduced sources of food. If the people of Easter Island had taken time to recognize what they were doing to their land and had tried to fix it, it is possible that the society would be still around. 

Today, we should use the demise of their society as an example of what can happen if we do not put effort into correcting our ways. In Maeve Reston’s article “Rick Perry Calls Global Warming an Unproven, Costly Theory,” it is mentioned that Rick Perry, current Texas Governor and Republican Presidential Candidate, believes governmental programs used to limit climate change are costly and the money spent on them should be used elsewhere. This frame of mind is only going to further the problem of climate change and can put us into the same situation as Easter Island. 

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment mentions different scenarios that could help reverse the degradation of the Planet. Most of the scenarios mention that it is important to implement governmental policies that will help regulate the use of resources and restrict the harmful activities that put a strain on the planet.  We should take the advice of the assessment and implement those policies. Also, we should work together to create alternatives to those resources that are becoming depleted so that we are not so dependent on them. Easter Island failed because they became dependent on the limited resources they had and did not think of ways they could extend the life of those resources. If we do not work fast, we might just end up in the same situation as Easter Island.