Essay Sample on Environmental Resource Management

Jensen's main idea talks about the management of several resources which is vital to the lives of every individual. Some of the resources he mentions include water and energy. Jensen finds odd the fact that people are affected with water shortage, and some even die due to lack of access. The fact that people suffer due to water shortage is attributed to the wrong reasons. According to Jensen, water shortage does not occur as a result of decreasing levels, but rather, due to the fact that other sectors of the nation use more water than others. A term he refers to as stealing. Regarding energy, much of its major uses goes to the commercial, corporate, industrial, agribusiness and government (Jensen 2). On another note, Jensen finds industrialization to have detrimental impacts on the environment and the planet as a whole. He also tries to capture on the ways that we can use to counter the depreciating environmental quality. In his findings, he is able to conclude that, no matter the method we use, we still have a cost to pay. This is through the fact that every strategy has its unfavorable results (Jensen 3).

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Bill McKibben main emphasis on waste management and how the concept has led to several consequences to the current situation. Use of improper waste management practices has manifested itself through several instances. McKibben talks about the fact that technology has not been used to manage old-fashioned waste. This is the kind of waste that is sooty and dangerous (McKibben 1). He further notes that the pollution from carbon dioxide melts the ice caps. In addition to this, he also mentions about deforestation. This concept, in this case, refers to that of cutting down trees mainly for mail services. In this case, he finds it wrong and sees this is a waste of precious time and resources. In another illustration, the innovative technology that has been used to come up with fuel efficient cars has been used in a less important area. This technology has been used to develop cars that have a high acceleration of speed within a few seconds (McKibben 2). In his view, these high speeds are barely used especially with adults and furthermore, people do not really need cars with high engine power. In another occasion, the money spent on nuclear energy would have been used to reduce carbon emission. He further adds on the military expenses in Iraq and how they have incurred a high cost to the nation. He finalizes by acknowledging the fact that America was once a rich and fertile nation, but with all these issues, it is a waste.

Jensen and McKibben's views are indeed very significant to our lives today. For instance, deforestation is one of the leading causes of global warming today. Trees are an essential part of our lives and also to animals. Trees are some of the carbon sinks and cutting down means there will be a generation of much of it. This, in turn, causes global warming which is evident through the melting ice caps and desertification (McKibben 1). Industrial civilization is another factor to consider. This is important in regulating the effluents which are harmful to the environment and us as the ones who are eventually affected. We should learn and apply the knowledge in our lives to ensure that future generations are able to find a sustainable environment with resources that can satisfy their needs. It is also important that we derive practices that have the least harm to the environment we are living in. Growing of the economy and living standards should be accompanied by special attention to the environment and resources that come with it.

Works Cited

Jensen, Derrick. "Why personal change does not equal political change." Forget shorter showers 19 November 2013: 1-4. 8 April 2019. <https://orionmagazine.org/article/forget-shorter-showers/>.

McKibben, Bill. Waste Not, Want Not. May/June 2009. 8 April 2019. <https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/04/waste-not-want-not-2/>.