Our planet is currently suffering a staggering rate of dramatic environmental change. Around the world, ecosystems are increasingly subjected to the negative effects of human population growth and its expanding ecological footprint (Jackson et al. 2001; Hughes et al. 2003). Be it in the form of habitat loss or alteration, the introduction of invasive species, pathogen spill-over, accumulation of persistent pollutants, climate change or stratospheric ozone depletion, global environmental change has altered physical and biological systems and is becoming of increasing concern for the well-being and survival of many species.
Human activity is by far the biggest cause of habitat loss. The planet’s human population has doubled in the past 50 years and the pressure to house and feed more than seven billion people has seen incursions into previously pristine natural habitats increase dramatically. At the same time, human impacts on the Earth’s climate are radically changing weather patterns and, as a result, the spread and nature of wild habitats.
Biological diversity is the resource upon which families, communities, nations and future generations depend. It is the link between all organisms on earth, binding each into an interdependent ecosystem, in which all species have their role. It is the web of life.
The Earth’s natural assets are made up of plants, animals, land, water, the atmosphere AND humans! Together we all form part of the planet’s ecosystems, which means if there is a biodiversity crisis, our health and livelihoods are at risk too.
But we are currently using 25% more natural resources than the planet can sustain. As a result, species, habitats and local communities are under pressure or direct threats (for example from loss of access to fresh water).
Biodiversity underpins the health of the planet and has a direct impact on all our lives.
Put simply, reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease, and where fresh water is in irregular or short supply. For humans that is worrying.
206 Million Pounds of Toxic Chemicals are Dumped Into U.S. Waterways Every Year
When humans destroy wild land to build homes, factories, shopping malls, amusement parks, garbage dumps, even to build a visitor center, store and restaurant in a park, the land is changed. The animals that once lived there, from the bugs that lived in the ground to the birds that ate them, all may disappear. Some can move to new home areas, but there are already other animals living there. There is not enough food, water or shelter for all of them. Many of the animals will die.
When farmers spray chemicals on their crops to save them from pests (bugs and molds and things that eat the plants), the chemicals get into the water and into the soil. Bugs that do not hurt the crops die. The birds and mammals who eat these poisoned bugs may also die, or they cannot reproduce, or their offspring die young.
Factories, automobiles, trucks and planes put chemicals into the air. The exhaust from their engines contains tiny specks of toxic chemicals that fall on plants, on the ground, and into the water. There, they get into the animals when the animals eat the plants, drink the water, or nest in the ground. These animals, too, can die or not reproduce.
FOOD AND FASHION INDUSTRY
There are many people who do not eat animals or wear animal skins (leather). They are called “vegetarians.” There are others who will eat animals, but only when those animals are raised humanely (in clean places with enough room to move around in, with plenty of good food, and few, if any drugs given to them) and slaughtered (killed) without pain, and only when the whole animal is used. When we slaughter a cow, sheep, or pig, we use the whole animal: the slaughtered animal provides food for people and other animals, skin for leather clothes and other goods, even the hooves and bones are made into other things and used for people and other animals.
There are many types of farms and factories that raise animals for slaughter. Many of these animals are kept very close together, so close that they can hurt each other just by moving around. Many are fed foods and drugs to make them grow but that do not make them healthy.
Some animals are raised or hunted just for their skins, bones, shells or internal organs. Some are hunted for meat, but only part of the animal is actually eaten. For example, certain fishermen kill sharks, but just cut off and keep the fin. People kill large snakes and lizards just to get their skin; they don’t eat all that meat. Bears are killed just for their paws and gall bladders.
Average for females is 5’4” Average for males is 5’9”
Healthy weights depend on many factors.
Average: Females 110-158 lbs Males 175-197 lbs
The average is 78.6 years
The American diet is about 50% carbs, 15% protein, and 35% fat. Most humans consume 57% ultra-processed foods
World 7.53 Billion
Humans can be aggressive to each other. In 2017, there was a total of 17,284 murders and disease deaths accounted for 2,744,248
Compared to most animals, humans engage in a host of behaviors that are destructive to our own kind and ourselves. Life Sciences has calculated 10 destructive common behaviors that we do and not for survival.
We cheat, lie, steal, crave violence, stress out,
cling to bad habits,
bully, alter our bodies
for social reasons, gamble and gossip.
Humans can also show affection in many ways.
The cornea is the only part of the body with no blood supply.
We contain enough fat to make 7 bars of soap.
Between birth and death, the human body goes from 300 bones to 206.
In cases of extreme starvation, the brain will begin to eat itself.
Humans and chimpanzees share about 98 to 99 percent of their DNA.