Which argument do you identify yourself with? Explain the reasons why.?

Question

Some people believe that poverty, hunger and overpopulation in developing countries are to be blamed for the serious environmental degradation. However, others argue that the serious environmental problems are the consequences of the high levels of consumption per person in developed countries.

Answer 1

Both of your premises are true but the most serious environmental degregation arises out of practices like strip minning, forest slashing, water pollution, air pollution, soil depletion etc. with future problems about to occur such as genetically modified grains, viral and bacterial mutations to the point of no longer having antibiotics be able to control bacterial diseases. The five requirements for life are: ability to reproduce, ability to take on nourishment, give off waste, get away from waste and the ability to adapt.

Answer 2

Personally I think the problem is big then what you stated. Both answers our equally correct in some form. With issues like this there is so many variables to fact in. Like what type of government the people have; IE dictatorship, communist, fascists, kingdom or what have you. And how honestly that government is trying to solve the problems or just keep the status Que going. You also have to look at the countries around you. Are they helping, hurting the problem or just letting the problem continue. Then you have to look internationally as well and see what they are doing to solve these problems or not solve these problems. But what it comes down to is that ever single person on this planet affects each other by how we act. We have the power to stop or at least slow the problem down with the governments if we are willing to look for the right information and do something about it. If the people want a change then their will be a change and no body can stop it. Or at least that's my idyllic thought is.

Answer 3

How can povery, hunger and overpopulation cause environmental degradation for the world - it will cause death for those untold millions who have no clothes on their back and no food in their wretched stomachs.

It is overconsumption and scant regard for the rest of the worlds ecosystem that causes environmental degradation. If only the developed countries used only as much was needed and shared with the rest it would have made this world a better place to live in....

Answer 4

the serious environmental problems are the consequences of the high levels of consumption per person in developed countries.

US. 300,000,000 consumers.

I'm one, but now less than most. Ret.

Answer 5

The "high levels of consumption per person in developed countries" argument.

Answer 6

Why must one be mutually exclusive of the other?

In poor countries, forests are desimated to become farm land.

In wealthy countries, resources are over used with little regard to the impact on the earth.

In many countries, over population is a huge problem, but then, world wide, the human population has become too large for the planet to properly support.

I don't see the issue as being a poor country vs wealthy country.
I see the problem as being a human issue.

Answer 7

Please, clarify what you mean by "the serious environmental degradation." Some problems (like rainforest clearing) can be blamed on poverty and overpopulation. Holes in the ozone layer, on the other hand, are purely caused by industrial societies.

Answer 8

I believe it is a combination of both, perticularly the overpopulation part of the former and most certainly the over consumtive lifestyle of the developed nations. Why pick one or the other, I think they both contribute.

Answer 9

I agree with the latter argument.

Answer 10

i never argue with myself, i like me