Environmental Degradation

Once upon a time, deforestation occurred, predominately, because rural farmers needed to clear land so that they could create farm land.  You know, agriculture.  Deforestation was bad then, just as it is now; however, it's sort of difficult to oppose someone who is just trying to eat and stay alive.  As a society, we are encouraged not to hate on the little guy; we root for the underdog.  Like Rudy.

Times have changed, however, and deforestation is no longer primarily the result of rural farmers just trying to survive.  Now, deforestation occurs in response to consumerism.  Supply and demand.  As a society, we want post-its, paper towels, toilet paper, news papers, pencils, hardwood floors, building materials, notebooks, and of course, animals.

Land is constantly being cleared for the raising of animals like cattle.  These animals are commonly used for things like leather.  So, let's think about this.  100-some-odd miles of rainforest are cleared away to raise cattle.  That cattle is slaughtered and shipped and sent to some nice place in say Vietnam, for example, where it is made into shoes or something that is later shipped elsewhere; the US, UK, Germany, etc.  The act of deforestation creates mind-blowing amounts of carbon emissions -- ironically, the trees are what rid the air of carbon and create oxygen.  Then, it gets shipped all over the place on boats, on planes, and in trucks, again creating carbon emissions.  Now, the factory in Vietnam received it's leather from Brazil, who subcontracted to ranchers in the Amazon.  This network spans thousands of miles.  This extensive travel contributes to environmental degradation.

Picture from here.

Deforestation is one of the biggest problems plaguing the world today.  It is a supply and demand enterprise, however, which means that we, the consumers, can help put an end to it.  How, you ask?  Excellent question.  I'll tell you.  Now, let me first tell you something.  I am in no way trying to simplify the seriousness of deforestation.  A lot needs to change in order to end this horrible act that is suffocating the planet.  The first step, though, like with everything else, lies with the individual.  The individual needs to want to make the changes.  Needs to want to know about the issue.  Needs to want to make a difference.  It all starts with the little things, also.  It's the little things that will add up.  Gateway drug, remember?  So, let's discuss what you, as an individual human person can do to lower the demand for deforestation and in turn, lowering the supply.

Go paperless:  With almost everything -- maybe even everything, actually -- there is the option to pay your bills online, only.  The paperless option saves paper in the forms of statements, envelopes, stamps, etc.  This also creates less carbon emissions from the processing of the trees into wood pulp, and the wood pulp into paper.  Also, go paperless when it comes to all of your mail.  Cancel your magazine subscriptions.  Call the companies responsible for junk mail and tell them to take your name off of their list.  Cancel the phone book/yellow pages.  Use e-mail instead of standard mail.  Read your news online instead of getting news papers (I highly recommend The Huff).  You can get almost everything online, including news papers and many magazines.
Microfiber:  Instead of buying paper towels and napkins, use towels and microfiber clothes that you can wash.  Paper towels are not recyclable if they are wet or dirty.  So, basically if you used a paper towel, you can't recycle it.
Electronic Books:  If you have a Kindle, Nook, iPad, or a computer -- which I'm assuming you do since you're reading this -- then you can read all of your books electronically.  As an English student, I am a book junkie and it is called upon me to buy a lot of books for school.  I do, however, have a Kindle.  Kindle has an app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, as well as a downloadable version for computers that allows you to buy Kindle books without a Kindle.  With the exception of new releases, Kindle books are usually much cheaper than standard paper books -- I've never seen a book more expensive on Kindle than it is in a bookstore.
Don't Wear Leather:  Not only is it gross -- it's the flesh of a dead animal that would be decomposing if it hadn't been chemically treated with poisons.  The lower the demand for leather, the less land being cleared to raise the cattle, the more trees that stay intact purifying our air and serving as homes for millions of species of animals as well as producing components for medicines.

Deforestation is no longer poverty-driven; it's industry-driven.  If we change the demand for these products, we can change the supply.  When the 2012 election starts, do your research.  Use your vote in a way that not only benefits you but the entire planet.  Use your voice.  In the meantime, be a conscious consumer.  There is so much more that can be done to put an end to deforestation.  Above are just the bare-basics.  I encourage you to research the issue and educate yourself on your planet.  If someone were ripping out your lungs, wouldn't you have something to say about it?  The trees are the lungs of the planet.  We need them.