As most of us know (I think) energy consumption is one of the main reasons why that there is a exploitation of the world's natural resources.




http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/international/iealf/table11.xls




As seen in this data, the world consumption of fossil fuels have been steadily increasing to meet our daily needs. In this map it shows that most of the energy consumption comes from most of the developed countries, due to their high standards of living, and it not only energy, but also other resources such as paper. For example, the average European uses 130 kilos of paper a year -- the equivalent of two trees. The average American uses more than twice as much -- a staggering 330 kilos a year.
map from http://atlas.aaas.org/index.php?part=2








However, in this comic the people living in the first world countries, blame the energy consumption on the billions of people living in the third world. This is not true(as can be seen from the map above) as many of the people living in the third world countries are too poor to even afford something as cheap as a radio and a fridge while the people living in the first world countries can afford to buy many electrical appliances.(this can be seen in the other cartoon) and while the average African consumed natural resources from only 1.36 hectares out of the 1.55 available on the continent, the average West European used the product of 5.0 hectares -- 2.84 hectares more than the region has.



figures from http://www.hempfarm.org/Papers/Natural_Resources_Report.html








comics from: www.cartoonstock.com and www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au

Entitled "Living Planet Report 2002," the study said there was so much pressure on water supplies, forests, land and energy sources that within 150 years the planet's riches could be exhausted and temperatures pushed inexorably upwards.

Therefore how do we reduce energy consumption?

not by this way...

or this way.....

so then how do we conserve the natural resources?

Due to globalization, there has been many negative impacts on the environment such as greater consumption of natural resources and pollution to improve the country's economic development.

However, it is through globalization that we can actually save the planet that we live in, when we pull the economic resources of all the countries together.

For example, under the Kyoto protocol the governement of Canada is committed to the development and implementation of a Made-in-Canada plan for reducing greenhouse gases and ensuring clean air, water, land and energy for Canadians and focus on achieving sustained reductions in emissions in Canada while ensuring a strong economy. For example,
The Government has already announced a number of initiatives that reduce emissions in the transportation sector. Initiatives included significant new investments in public transit infrastructure and a tax credit for public transit users, as well as a commitment to require 5% average renewable content in transportation fuels by 2010.

source from: http://www.ec.gc.ca/climate/home-e.html

Another example would be China, even though it is not under the Kyoto Protocol, it was under pressure by other countries to change its laws to protect the environment.

A report released in 1998 by the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that of the ten most polluted cities in the world, seven can be found in China, therefore as an attempt to reduce air pollution, the municipal government in 1999 ordered city vehicles to convert to liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas. By 2002, Beijing had the largest fleet of natural gas buses in the world - a total of 1,630 vehicles. Subway and light rail systems in Beijing also are being expanded.

source from: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/chinaenv.html

In conclusion, globalization has damaged the environment. Barriers and borders does not matter anymore when it is OUR environment that WE must save and that the countries of the world must work together to save the environement . The Kyoto Protocol has been desgined for countries to work together and now it depends on each country to play their part

~Liewxun~ - Half economical half environmental and health expert :P

2:58 AM