Africa Running Out of Natural Resources
Mon, Jun 9, 2008
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According to the conservation organization WWF, African countries are slowly but surely draining the continent of its natural resources. The statement is part of a report issued by the organization on Africa’s ecological footprint – it takes into account a country’s land and sea surface that is used in meeting the peoples’ consumption needs. The report entitled “Africa-Ecological Footprint and Human Well-being” was released along with a U.S.-based research body, the Global Footprint Network.
“A growing number of African countries are depleting their natural resources — or will shortly be doing so — faster than they can be replaced,” said WWF President, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in presenting the findings to a Johannesburg conference.
The list is topped by countries such as Egypt, Libya or Algeria, whose people are living well beyond their ecological means. Further down the list, other nine countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe) are using resources beyond their capacity. Despite these consumption needs, Africa’s overall ecological footprint should be 1.3 hectares of land and sea per capita, but is now at 1.1.
If it were to continue at this pace, scientists believe that we will need the equivalent of two planets by 2050. Furthermore, Africa’s population of 680 million is growing rapidly and is expected to represent a quarter of the world’s population by 2050.
“Development that ignores the limits of our natural resources ultimately ends up imposing disproportionate costs on the most vulnerable and the most dependent on the health of natural systems, such as the rural poor,” said Global Footprint Network director Mathis Wackernagel.
According to the organization, Africa has been under threat of losing its natural resources for several years. Global warming means reducing rainfall that affects crops and animals alike. The effects of global warming can be seen on top of Mount Kilimanjaro which has shrunk by more than 80% since 1900. East Africa’s corals are not looking better either – more than 50% have either died or have been bleached as a result of heat levels in the water.
sources: 1, 2; photo credits: gvizane
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“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else.”
June 9th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Awesome! The more people that die of starvation, the fewer we’ll be to consume. We need to cut down on the overpopulation, that’s today’s truth.
John Feeney said it best:
http://www.corrupt.org/act/interviews/john_feeney
June 10th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Most natural resources are consumed not for internal use, but often they are exported in the West, we have to remember it.
Thanks for your article
June 11th, 2008 at 1:20 am
If there is a threat to the survival of all of mankind due to population problems of certain countries, then all children born in that country should be fixed at birth until the problem is resolved.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
can you say OVERPOPULATION? yet our country only provides abstinence birth control funding in Africa. Are we intentionally exacerbating the situation seems to be the question of the moment. Perhaps after the resources are gone, we can teach prayer circles to the white man’s GOD.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
A continent with such a large spectrum of ressources. But mankind is like ants – growing in numbers, but not in intellect.
Is this really possible?
“Africa’s population of 680 million is growing rapidly and is expected to represent a quarter of the world’s population by 2050.”
We all will see this people looking for a place to live. Its just one world!
June 26th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I agree with all of you; we need a world population reduction, and that ASAP. The more people on this planet we are, the more resources will be consumed and green land will be bulldozed.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
these people are like animals over there and they are better off living like that. now that may come off wrong and i dont actually know what it is like to live in africa but i know that over populating, sucking resources, aids and the ever so frequent african genocide does nothing but cause problems. suck the resources dry, i hope to god they do. this article makes me feel its take take take for these african people. they gotta take some initiative and get there shit together. survival of the fittest, its an age proven system, time tested. if you cant adapt you die. thats life. its just gonna lead to more problems in the future because i dont see the country doing anything to maintain the gw problem or over populating or disease out break or political revolt. sometimes you just have to not care.
June 27th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Beyond a critical point within a finite space, freedom diminishes as numbers increase. This is as true of humans in the finite space of a planetary ecosystem as it is of gas molecules in a sealed flask. The human question is not how many can possibly survive within the system, but what kind of existence is possible for those who do survive.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
you hope they do die because of overpopulation? Hmm.. aren’t we the lucky ones to not have been born in a third world country. That’s right survival of the fittest. Maybe the next time you’re in africa someone who is stronger, faster, meaner, and more competitive can snatch you all up take your stuff along with your identity and then move back to where ever you are from since it’s all about the survival aspect of life. Not that any of us consume resources irresponsibly? To doom a whole country because of some that are evil is ridiculous. I’ve been to africa and seen people walk 13 miles to a well. You think they are just sloshing that stuff all over the place. I’m pretty sure that they aren’t abusing the resources but do not have the EDUCATION to use other means to tap those resources. Man what a bunch of douchebags.. Survival of the fittest.. that’s a laugh..half of yall would hate to live in a world where that was the common rule…
July 1st, 2008 at 10:43 pm
You’re deluded and put words in my mouth.
Africa is not doomed. I hope it shapes up, but it can only do so by reducing its overpopulation. See here: http://www.corrupt.org/news/africa_is_being_destroyed_by_overpopulation
Africa could use some education, but not imported from the West. We shouldn’t oppress them anymore or make them dependent upon us. Give Africa freedom, leave its people and resources alone.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I’m sorry if I came across so ugly. I was reading some of the other comments that were not considerate of human life and it was disturbing to me made me angry. I didn’t mean to offend. My point was that through education and technology smart choices could be made. I agree wholeheartedly with you about leaving their people and resources alone. Take care and have a good day.
May 11th, 2009 at 11:33 am
They receive nothing from their own resources…
June 21st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
The West should pull out of Africa completely. This includes all business and investment, all funding of any form, all charity work and all people of non-African ancestory (white South African etc). In return all Africans outside of Africa should return to Africa to help educate and aid the revival of Africa. If Africa is as resourceful as many Africans claim and if Africa is birth place of everything known to man, as many Africans claim, then it should have no problem at all being completely independent from Europe, America, Asia…Anywhere else on the planet. It is the only way. Give Africa back to the Africans, give Africans back to Africa and let them be as great as they believe they were prior to European colonisation. If resources is in such a decline as stated, then I don’t think it will be a problem as it is my understanding that these people discovered and invented everything prior to European colonisation and that everything was just stolen from them. If that is the case then once they are on their own, then they should be fine! Look at Zimbabwe! Looks fine to me! Yep complete independence is what Africa needs!!
October 14th, 2009 at 2:55 am
So sad read this!!
Infortunately countries like this will be the first affected by our negligency and poor sense of responsability…..
November 16th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
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