Facts about our Facts about our EarthEarth

Earth factsEarth facts Age of the earth is 4.6 billion yearsAge of the earth is 4.6 billion years Humans have existed on earth for 4 Humans have existed on earth for 4

million yearsmillion years If we scale this time down to 46 yearsIf we scale this time down to 46 years Humans have existed for 4 hoursHumans have existed for 4 hours The Industrial Revolution began 1 The Industrial Revolution began 1

minute agominute ago Population Growth was 1 billion in Population Growth was 1 billion in

18001800 6.5 billion in 20066.5 billion in 2006 In 61 years world population will In 61 years world population will

doubledouble

Over the last 50 years humans Over the last 50 years humans have changed the natural world have changed the natural world more rapidly and extensively more rapidly and extensively than any other time in historythan any other time in history

Every year 10 million hectares of Every year 10 million hectares of farming and grazing land is lost to farming and grazing land is lost to desert in the process of desert in the process of DESERTIFICATION DESERTIFICATION

……..this is equivalent to an area the ..this is equivalent to an area the size of Tasmania being destroyed size of Tasmania being destroyed each year..each year..

Extinction worldwide threatensExtinction worldwide threatens 1 in 4 mammals1 in 4 mammals 1 in 8 birds1 in 8 birds 1 in 3 fish1 in 3 fish 2 in 5 amphibians2 in 5 amphibians In Australia half of In Australia half of

our forests and ¾ rainforestsour forests and ¾ rainforests

have beenhave been

clearedcleared

During the 20During the 20thth Century average global Century average global temperatures increased by 0.6°Ctemperatures increased by 0.6°C

Temperatures are predicted to rise by Temperatures are predicted to rise by between between

1.4° and 5.8°C this century1.4° and 5.8°C this century …….and up to 10°C at the poles.and up to 10°C at the poles Since 1975 the number and intensity of Since 1975 the number and intensity of

cyclones, hurricanes (eg. Katrina and Larry)cyclones, hurricanes (eg. Katrina and Larry) … … floods and heat waves have increased by floods and heat waves have increased by

150% 150% 2006 was the hottest year on record2006 was the hottest year on record Sydney and Melbourne had in 2006 only 16 Sydney and Melbourne had in 2006 only 16

months of water in storage – the number of months of water in storage – the number of heatwaves and days over 40 degrees are heatwaves and days over 40 degrees are predicted to increase.predicted to increase.

Arctic ice is 40% thinner than it was in Arctic ice is 40% thinner than it was in 19601960

2006 was the worst snow season on 2006 was the worst snow season on record in Australiarecord in Australia

Poor snow means Poor snow means

less water in spring intoless water in spring into

rivers rivers

And…And… Carbon dioxide measurements from the Carbon dioxide measurements from the

Antarctic shows that concentrations are higher Antarctic shows that concentrations are higher than at any time during the last 650,000 yearsthan at any time during the last 650,000 years

Glaciers are retreating globally since 1850 – Glaciers are retreating globally since 1850 – by 2100 no glaciers will exist … by 2100 no glaciers will exist … Spring arrives earlier in many Spring arrives earlier in many parts of the world eg. New York parts of the world eg. New York this winter (Christmas 2006 no this winter (Christmas 2006 no snow and temperatures of 20°C)snow and temperatures of 20°C) Sea Levels could rise by an Sea Levels could rise by an average of 50cm up to the year average of 50cm up to the year 2100 and would threaten 20% world’s 2100 and would threaten 20% world’s

populationpopulation

Even Polar bears have been declared Even Polar bears have been declared endangered as their ice habitat endangered as their ice habitat melts beneath them…..melts beneath them…..

Coral reefs in 32 countries have Coral reefs in 32 countries have experienced dramatic coral bleaching experienced dramatic coral bleaching episodes – this kills the coral and affects episodes – this kills the coral and affects the whole ecosystem. the whole ecosystem.

Tropical oceans are warming…this affects Tropical oceans are warming…this affects currents and bleaching episodes. currents and bleaching episodes.

The current drought in south eastern The current drought in south eastern Australia is due to the warming of the Australia is due to the warming of the Indian OceanIndian Ocean

Hurricane KatrinaHurricane KatrinaAugust 2004August 2004

Was the costliest and one of the deadliest Was the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in USA historyhurricanes in USA history

1,836 people lost their lives1,836 people lost their lives Caused $81.2 billion US damageCaused $81.2 billion US damage New Orleans may never fully recover as itNew Orleans may never fully recover as itis a city situated below sea levelis a city situated below sea level ……other cities at risk of rising sea levels other cities at risk of rising sea levels

due to storms or melting ice caps include due to storms or melting ice caps include London, Amsterdam, Venice …..London, Amsterdam, Venice …..

Already Pacific Island nations are sinking Already Pacific Island nations are sinking causing people to migrate to NZ…causing people to migrate to NZ…

……Bangladesh is also at risk with its huge Bangladesh is also at risk with its huge populationpopulation

The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect Is resulting inIs resulting in- Increased droughtsIncreased droughts- Increased bushfiresIncreased bushfires- Increased extremes Increased extremes of weatherof weather- Rising sea levelsRising sea levels- Thinning Polar and glacialThinning Polar and glacial IceIce- Changing ocean currentsChanging ocean currents- Loss of speciesLoss of species- Spread of tropical diseasesSpread of tropical diseases- Increased demands on water and electricity to - Increased demands on water and electricity to

cope with heatwavescope with heatwaves

An uneven worldAn uneven world 20% world’s population lives in the rich 20% world’s population lives in the rich

developed nations developed nations …….we produce 10 times more greenhouse gases .we produce 10 times more greenhouse gases

per person than the remaining 80% world’s per person than the remaining 80% world’s population that lives in the poor developing population that lives in the poor developing nations of the worldnations of the world

The richest 10% world holds 85% world’s wealth The richest 10% world holds 85% world’s wealth – – in the richest nation, in the richest nation, the USAthe USA,, the wealthiest 10% population the wealthiest 10% population holds 70% of its wealth…andholds 70% of its wealth…and ..the top 1% hold 33% of its ..the top 1% hold 33% of its wealthwealth

20% world’s population does not have 20% world’s population does not have drinkable waterdrinkable water

40% world’s population lacks 40% world’s population lacks improved sanitation (toilet facilities)improved sanitation (toilet facilities) 40% world’s population lacks 40% world’s population lacks electricityelectricity Half of the world’s Half of the world’s population population lives on less than $2 daylives on less than $2 day 80% world’s wealth is 80% world’s wealth is owned by 15% people owned by 15% people from the rich from the rich developed nations developed nations

1 in 5 adults worldwide cannot 1 in 5 adults worldwide cannot

read or write – 90% are from developing read or write – 90% are from developing nations and two nations and two

thirds are girls and women!thirds are girls and women! In China 118 boys are born to every 100 In China 118 boys are born to every 100

girls – millions of men in China will never girls – millions of men in China will never marry as there are not enough eligible marry as there are not enough eligible women – these men are called “bare women – these men are called “bare branches” branches”

– – this imbalance is because this imbalance is because

girls are aborted suffer girls are aborted suffer

infanticide or adoptedinfanticide or adopted

A fifth of the world’s population has no access to A fifth of the world’s population has no access to drinking waterdrinking water

Between 1950 an 2005 the amount of fresh water Between 1950 an 2005 the amount of fresh water available per person decreased by 2/3rds due to available per person decreased by 2/3rds due to population increase and technology usepopulation increase and technology use

On average 40 litres of water is consumed per On average 40 litres of water is consumed per person, per day..person, per day..

however, in Madagasgar a farmer uses 10 litres per however, in Madagasgar a farmer uses 10 litres per day, a French person 240 litres per day andday, a French person 240 litres per day and

an American 600 litres per day….an American 600 litres per day…. In the NSW city of Goulburn, residents are limited In the NSW city of Goulburn, residents are limited

to 150 litres per person per day on Level 5 water to 150 litres per person per day on Level 5 water restrictionsrestrictions

If we all lived along the Amazon River in South If we all lived along the Amazon River in South America there would be enough water for every America there would be enough water for every person on Earth…person on Earth…

but we live in many but we live in many places with varyingplaces with varying rainfall and landscapesrainfall and landscapes

Already over half of the world’s tropical forests have Already over half of the world’s tropical forests have been lostbeen lost

When you visit a pharmacist one in every FOUR When you visit a pharmacist one in every FOUR purchases will have come from a tropical forestpurchases will have come from a tropical forest

Medicines produced in tropical forests are worth $30 Medicines produced in tropical forests are worth $30 billion annually – the contraceptive pill, cancer and billion annually – the contraceptive pill, cancer and arthritis drugs are all originally sourced from tropical arthritis drugs are all originally sourced from tropical plants….even many foods such as bananas, avocadoes plants….even many foods such as bananas, avocadoes and mangos come from tropical forests…many and mangos come from tropical forests…many industrial gums and glues also come from tropical industrial gums and glues also come from tropical plants including rubberplants including rubber

Other threats to our earth includeOther threats to our earth include- The Hole in the Ozone Layer over the The Hole in the Ozone Layer over the

Arctic and AntarcticArctic and Antarctic- Acid Rain due to air pollutants mixing Acid Rain due to air pollutants mixing

with water vapour in our atmospherewith water vapour in our atmosphere- Draining our wetlands and rivers of water Draining our wetlands and rivers of water

for excessive urban and agricultural use – for excessive urban and agricultural use – this affects whole aquatic ecosystemsthis affects whole aquatic ecosystems

- The spread of pests such as feral animals, The spread of pests such as feral animals, weeds and insects weeds and insects

- Bioaccumulation ofBioaccumulation of toxins in our waterwaystoxins in our waterways such as at Homebushsuch as at Homebush Bay with dioxinBay with dioxin- Hunting and killing Hunting and killing rare rare wildlife wildlife for the for the touristtourist industryindustry

SolutionsSolutions International Agreements eg. Montreal Protocol on Ozone layer, International Agreements eg. Montreal Protocol on Ozone layer,

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol National, State and Local laws, fines, licencingNational, State and Local laws, fines, licencing Education in schools, TAFE, via news media and pamphlets/fridge Education in schools, TAFE, via news media and pamphlets/fridge

magnetsmagnets Individuals can also act by turning off lights not in useIndividuals can also act by turning off lights not in use Installing water saving devices or appliances or rainwater tanks, Installing water saving devices or appliances or rainwater tanks,

install insulation in roofinstall insulation in roof Not littering – put rubbish in a bin including cigarette BUTTS or carry Not littering – put rubbish in a bin including cigarette BUTTS or carry

small container for buttssmall container for butts Better building design – insulation, eves and verandahs to stop heat Better building design – insulation, eves and verandahs to stop heat

from the sun, consider aspect of building and westerly sunfrom the sun, consider aspect of building and westerly sun Take Green shopping bags to supermarketTake Green shopping bags to supermarket Increased study and environmental researchIncreased study and environmental research Donate money to environmental groups or researchDonate money to environmental groups or research bodiesbodies Recycle as much as possible – recycle bin, charities, Recycle as much as possible – recycle bin, charities, Reverse Garbage complex Marrickville; Planet ArkReverse Garbage complex Marrickville; Planet Ark..

Environmental Issues Environmental Issues Sydney Sydney

needs to considerneeds to consider Water shortage – desalination plants use a lot of Water shortage – desalination plants use a lot of

electricity; underground water supplies take a electricity; underground water supplies take a long time to recover; water tanks are expensivelong time to recover; water tanks are expensive

Electricity shortages – what type of power will Electricity shortages – what type of power will fuel the desalination plant and our growth in air fuel the desalination plant and our growth in air conditioning use and building energy inefficient conditioning use and building energy inefficient McMansionsMcMansions

Eutrophication – excessive algae growth on Eutrophication – excessive algae growth on waterways due to detergents, sewage and waterways due to detergents, sewage and fertilizer runofffertilizer runoff

Growing congestion on roads – increases air Growing congestion on roads – increases air pollution and greenhouse emissions; demands pollution and greenhouse emissions; demands for public OR private transport systems and who for public OR private transport systems and who pays?pays?

Weeds and Pests in our local bushlands and Weeds and Pests in our local bushlands and parks – Eg. do we kill wild horses and or deer parks – Eg. do we kill wild horses and or deer in our National Parksin our National Parks

Increased garbage – landfill sites running outIncreased garbage – landfill sites running out Bushfires in urban areas and national parksBushfires in urban areas and national parks Population increase at 1,000 people per week Population increase at 1,000 people per week

and 1 million cars added over last 15 years – and 1 million cars added over last 15 years – Consider:Consider:

- how does the city continue to supply - how does the city continue to supply housing, transport, water and electricity to housing, transport, water and electricity to the growing city without reducing the quality the growing city without reducing the quality of lifeof life

What type of urban communities do we What type of urban communities do we want? Exclusive or community; Houses or want? Exclusive or community; Houses or apartments? Parks or Tollways?apartments? Parks or Tollways?

How much more fertile farmland should How much more fertile farmland should go under concrete and bricks for housing go under concrete and bricks for housing when areas growing our food are under when areas growing our food are under increasing drought?increasing drought?

……our Earthour Earth

The only place we know The only place we know

life exists at the momentlife exists at the moment

……..it keeps us alive..it keeps us alive

…….lets keep it alive.lets keep it alive

The EndThe End

By Corinne GastonBy Corinne Gaston