I read that it was probably the addition of protein to man’s diet that made it possible to support a larger brain. Time-release fuel, if you will allow the imperfect analogy. Since those early changes leading to physiological improvements, we were then positioned to begin making other changes to benefit ourselves.
We began harnessing energy sources for our use. Even agriculture — in-place farming — harnessed the sun to grow more than could be otherwise be gained by hunting and gathering. Making of tools, the use of beasts as an energy source, and the capturing of wind-power to move boats are all familiar events in human history.
None of these events, however, hold a candle to the changes brought about by man’s discovery of fossil fuels to supply energy. The use of fossil fuels doesn’t go back in history much beyond a thousand years, and intensive use in a much shorter time. The blink of an eye, historically. However, the addition of these sources of energy have caused the greatest changes in man’s history. Petroleum and it’s by-products have been the most dramatic forces of change.
Most humans having access to petroleum have enjoyed extraordinary wealth compared to previous eras. As I sit here writing, I look around at my environment and wonder what it would be like without that precious fuel. No heat, no electricity to power my 42″ high-definition television flawlessly delivering a football game while I compose on my laptop computer. The carpeting, the paint, my clothing, almost everything I own is in some way dependent upon petroleum or coal in its manufacture or delivery.
Regrettably, there isn’t an endless supply. You know, if I was on a voyage and had a cookie jar full of my oatmeal-raisin cookies, but I realized that I could not get more or make more during the voyage, I would limit my consumption to make them last as long as possible. However, if everyone on the ship had access to the same cookie jar, and I knew that limiting my own consumption would not make the cookies last longer unless everybody on the ship also limited their consumption, I’d be tempted to take all the cookies I could eat. Greed, right? Survival instinct.
This ship needs a captain and a couple of strong boatswains. Remember who’s in charge of all the communication channels? Remember who finances virtually all political campaigns? Remember who DOES NOT want regulations and impediments to their profit making? It’s the gigantic ogre on our ship! He’s going to make sure that everybody on board will agree with him that conserving the cookies for the long haul is a bad idea.
Now, add another complication to our problem. The planet is host to 7 billion humans, and each of them wants one of our cookies. Not only that, but our reproduction instinct is only somewhat curbed by the invention of birth control. There are strong cultural forces working to actually bolster the reproduction instinct rather than curb it. The Roman Catholic church, for example, continues to encourage runaway population growth.
Don’t forget our ogre. He wants continued growth in the number of consumers to which he can sell his wares. All the while, he consumes resources like there’s no tomorrow. He doesn’t want population control. You can read the worries of countries like Japan who have an ever declining birthrate. Ogre worries and speaks of economic doom because of the poor population expansion record.