There must be a relationship between major environmental issues and the 250% spectacular growth of the world?s population in the last five decades. Yet, it would be blindly simplistic and biased to solely blame demographic explosion for our global issues. A serious look at the wrong side of man?s heart might provide a wider diagnosis of our predicaments.

In fact planet Earth is regularly subjected to ungrateful assaults, which ironically come from its most pampered guests. As an example, the US is not only the richest country in the world but it is also the biggest producer of noxious greenhouse gases claiming 24% of global emission. Yet, the US were selfishly reluctant at signing the Kyoto treaty for reduction of those gases responsible for the ominous global warming.

This phenomenon might have contributed to the 160% increase in natural calamities such as cyclones, floods and tsunamis throughout the world since 1975. Even our little country recently suffered from rare giant waves. Global warming is also threatening icebergs and glaciers. If unchecked, it might cause a significant rise in the ocean levels. For instance, the legendary snow coat of the Kilimanjaro is shrinking everyday!

Human activities account for more than 60% of the greenhouse gases. Deforestation in developing countries claims from 20 to 25% of CO2 emission while transport accounts for 14%. There are for example more than 800 million cars in the world. Even our island possesses 120,000 cars for its mere 2020 km road network. Some 67,000 cars converge to Port Louis everyday! Is it not time for immediate feasible measures such as car pooling pending the middle /long term solutions being worked upon?

Unfair distribution of wealth and resources has more to do with poverty issues than population growth. It is estimated that new techniques for food production can cater for the needs of up to 12 billion people, yet with a population of half that size, the world counts 1 billion people suffering from hunger and a lot more are malnourished.

This is quite understandable when we consider that the wealth of the three richest persons on earth is greater than the GDP of the 48 poorest nations in the world!

Fortunately enough, some billionaires such as Bill and Melinda Gates are investing huge amounts to help poor regions like Africa get access to basic facilities and needs.

On the other hand, those countries should fight corruption and promote peace. They should be helped by the rich in this difficult endeavour.

The NGO Global Witness estimates that more than 118 Million USD coming from the sales of cocoa have, for instance, been used to fuel civil war in Ivory Coast. As much as diamonds, your bar of chocolate might be doing more harm than good to poor African countries openly nurturing conflicts and corruption. It?s high time for the arms race and conflicts to be brought under control especially in poor countries.

According to a global issues website, ?less than one percent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn?t happen?.

Military spending is indeed out of proportions compared to what is earmarked for global basic life sustaining necessities. We cannot do much about it but we can avoid waste. Imagine throwing away 15 tons of water with the kilo of meat we might be discarding to the bin after a hefty family meal. 15,000 litres of water are in fact required to produce a kilogram of meat and half that much is needed for a T-shirt.

60% of the vital liquid is controlled by less than 10 countries in the world. Scarcity of it is behind the greatest sufferings in the world. We should consider ourselves lucky in Mauritius to have easy access to drinking water, so don?t waste it!

Besides avoiding waste we can also on an individual level, nurture green instincts to improve our environment. Planting a tree, avoiding the use of air-conditioning devices, switching off unnecessary lights and favouring public transport, which hopefully will improve in safety and comfort, are examples of environmental- friendly simple measures.

We can also learn to share with the less fortunate. There are many organizations who know where they are and what they need. Why not give them a helping hand?

It?s unbelievable how a small percentage of what we spend on trivialities might work volumes for others. If 10% of what is spent on perfumes in the US alone were saved for 10 years, it would provide enough food and sanitation facilities for the whole world! Why not give generosity a chance?

Although population growth is not the only factor affecting our world, it has to be controlled. Therefore sexual education should be promoted from school in a responsible way. Women must be empowered and given the same rights to education as their male counterparts.

Together we can build a better world, let?s start at home while sailing as far as we can in our endeavours because the island we are now living on is called planet earth!

<B>Alain JEANNOT</B>