Altering the Environment

Every organism affects its environment. A seedling that puts down roots helps convert rock into soil. A beaver who builds a dam destroys some habitats and creates other new ones. Humans are not different from other organisms. Virtually everything people do, as individuals and as societies, alters the world around them.

Humans are different from other organisms in one important way. The changes we make in our environment are far greater and more significant than those caused by other organisms. The cities we build create entirely new microclimates that differ measurably from the natural environment around them. The dams we build destroy countless trees, bushes, and other forms of plant life and displace whole populations of animals. We are beginning to see that our activities may even be causing changes in the earth's atmosphere and its climate.

Humans have not always been aware of or much cared about these changes. Some people do not believe that humans are all that much of a factor in the great natural processes around us. Others are convinced that the universe was put here for humans' use and enjoyment and that we should not concern ourselves about the harm we may do to other species. Of course, many people do believe that humans have a responsibility to care about and care for other organisms.

As the magnitude of human effects on the environment becomes more clear, the debate among these points of view has become more heated. There are serious questions about the ways in which humans alter their environment. Some of those questions include the following:

1. Do other organisms have some inherent right to survival that humans must respect in their own activities?

2. How likely is it that the planet's climate is changing as a result of human activities and, to the extent that it is, what changes should human societies make to deal with that problem?

3. How should nations and individuals respond to the apparent loss of ozone in the earth's atmosphere as a result of products we use?

4. How serious is the threat of acid rain to the environment and what, if anything, should be done about this problem?

created by: Debbie Anholt
updated: 5-5-2000
contact me: anholt@lclark.edu