108 Billion
That is the number of human beings who have ever lived in the history of mankind. Of course, that is just a crude estimate; but even so, that seems like an awfully small number when you consider the fact that there are over 7 billion people currently alive. That means that 6.5% of all human beings who have ever lived on the Earth during its 4.5 billion-year lifespan are currently living. That thought is mind-blowing. And in the midst of all that, the population continues to grow. Scientists estimate that 210,000 people are added to the world’s population each day. Basically, that means that every 24 hours, the population of Lubbock clones itself. (This doesn’t literally happen, of course. And thank god for that. We don’t need any more Lubbockians running around the place.) According to predictions, the world population is going to reach 9 billion by 2045, a mere 30 years from now. And that poses a big problem.
We are in a state of crisis. Though nobody seems to be overly concerned. Right now, around the world, about one in ten people does not
have access to clean drinking water.
Meanwhile, here in the U.S., we use 1,400 gallons of water a day per
capita to do everything from shower and flush toilets to water crops and run
power plants. And as the global population continues to
grow, the demand for water is going to continue to increase. However, the supply is dwindling. Anyone who has taken an introductory
economics class can tell you right off the bat that that spells trouble. And it’s not just the monetary value of the
liquid that we have to worry about.
(Although some people, like oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, aren’t the
least bit worried as they sell their water rights for hundreds of millions of
dollars.) The main concern is that once
the water runs out, it’s gone for good.
But most people do not seem to be excessively preoccupied with that
prospect, even though it is closer than they likely realize. Why is that?
Well, how are people supposed to notice
a shortage of something that surrounds them so abundantly? It would be like trying to convince people
that the air supply is running out. They
would just take a few deep sniffs in, scoff at you, and walk away. The same seems to be happening with trying to
spread awareness about the water shortage.
To be fair, it is a little hard to believe at the outset. Earth’s surface is 71% water. It is literally everywhere. How can there possibly be a shortage? Well, unfortunately, 99% of that water is
unusable by humans. Most of it is ocean water, which humans can’t (or rather, shouldn't) drink thanks to
our ol’ pal salt. Desalination is an
option, and it is performed in some places, but to do it on a mass scale would
simply become cost prohibitive. So we’re
left with 1% of the Earth’s water to satisfy 100% of the Earth’s (growing)
population. Aye, there’s the rub.
Fortunately, people are finally starting
to wake up and think about ways to deal with this problem. Several government agencies have enacted
legislation to restrict citizens’ water usage and technological innovations are
allowing things like agricultural irrigation to become more efficient and less
wasteful of water. Every little bit
helps. But honestly, there is only so
much that can truly be done. At some point,
we must start looking further down the road at what long-term consequences a
growing population and increasing demand for water could bring.
Which brings us around to the whole
purpose behind TCU’s Academy of Tomorrow initiative and its flagship facility
in Rees-Jones Hall. The walls are
covered with information on global population growth and water usage. There is an interactive infographic that one
can use to learn more about these issues.
And then there are classes like this one, Literature & Civilization
II, that emphasize one of the themes to make the students think more
critically about the world around them.
I know that for me personally, it has really opened my eyes. I certainly never realized the true extent of
the water issue until I came to Texas and especially after I read The Big Thirst. In the great state of Indiana, less than an
hour from Lake Michigan, I was living in ignorant bliss. Sure, I heard on the news about the drought conditions that
were plaguing California, but I just figured those crazy Californians were at
it again and the problem would eventually work itself out. Well, it didn’t. And now as I walk across the
lawn at our fair institution of learning and feel the dewy residue of the
sprinklers on my exposed toes, I get a little annoyed. Not only by the fact that
my feet are now wet, but also because of the inordinate amount of water that goes into making our campus look "camera-ready." And believe me; I'm no tree hugger. But what really rustles my jimmies is the overemphasis on aesthetic, the belief that the grass must be a sparkling
shade of emerald at all times. Which,
when you really think about it, is pretty dumb.
I mean, who cares what color the grass is?
We all do. Let’s face it. If you’re driving in a neighborhood filled
with luscious landscapes and then come across one with a bunch of yellowing
grass, you automatically assume that the owner is either lazy or neglectful. We may love our amber waves of grain, but don’t
even think about an amber field of grass on your front lawn. And when you put it that way, it makes you
really stop and think: When it comes to our water usage, should we really be
telling people to go green?
