I am sometimes amazed at the amount of trash my family generates. When I was single, I might have had one paper bag full of trash a week. When Jenn and I got married, that increased to about 1-1.5 garbage bags a week. After we had Ethan, that number of bags increased slightly to about 1.1 Mega-Jillion bags, twice a week. When I go to the landfill, it is like Norm coming into Cheers…BEN!!!
It bothers me, a lot actually. Recent shortages in the US bring to mind something I have worried about since taking Biology 101: Carrying Capacity. The idea is that when an animal fills a new niche, the population of said animal will spike until the resource it is exploiting is exhausted. There is usually a drastic drop in population followed by a steady state where the environment supports a certain number of individuals.
This is true from ants to elephants. With one notable exception…people. Every time we hit a new peak, we find a way with technology to have just a “bit” more, usually at the expense of other forms of life.
I can’t help but wonder if we are on the brink. There are just too many of us. And I am not helping the situation. My ecological footprint makes Sasquatch look like a field mouse. Having a kid with medical issues generates untold waste. You would not believe the amount of packaging and latex we throw away on a daily basis.
Not sure where I am going with this… Just my warped thoughts for the day.
