Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your opinion?

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

The Earth is, indeed, being harmed (damaged) by human activity. Overpopulation, deforestation, pollution, and other human interferences all contribute to the degradation of our planet. Furthermore, it is beyond doubt that human activity has made the Earth a better place to live. Overpopulation is a serious problem. The human population has risen significantly in the last two centuries. Increased urbanization, industrialization, and technological advances have led to an increase in the standard of living, but also to the commodification of the environment. The infrastructure that has provided so much benefit to mankind is now putting serious strain on the environment. The destruction of forests, through logging and mining for fuel, is depleting the Earth’s topsoil and releasing massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Pollution is an environmental issue whose effects are felt globally. The release of toxic chemicals into waterways and the atmosphere causes untold damage to the natural environment. The effects of global warming, which is caused by human activity, are particularly disastrous.

As the human population has increased, so too has the amount of garbage that we produce. The production of garbage has increased tenfold since 1900. In the United States alone, over 800 million tons of waste are produced annually. Much of this waste comprises food, which ends up in landfills or is discarded. Garbage collection, however, is inefficient, and much of the garbage that is produced remains uncollected. In many cities, garbage is flushed down the toilet or tossed into a river or lake. These actions threaten the health of aquatic creatures and humans who drink these waters. Additionally, the lack of effective garbage collection systems results in the accumulation of garbage in densely populated areas, such as Tokyo. This creates an unsanitary environment that increases the risk of disease. Another major contributor to pollution is fuel combustion. Fossil fuels are burned to power our vehicles, heat our homes, and generate electricity. The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Most of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere during fuel combustion is absorbed by the oceans, which leads to the acidification of the oceans, and this in turn affects marine life. The oceans absorb about a quarter of the carbon dioxide that is emitted, and so they play an important role in mitigating global warming. However, as the oceans become acidic, the rate at which carbon dioxide is absorbed decreases, and this in turn leads to an increase in the rate of global warming.

The greatest threat to life on Earth is the destruction of the ozone layer. The ozone layer consists of several layers of ozone that shield the earth from harmful radiation generated by the Sun. The ozone layer was originally formed in 1980 when two chemicals, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, were released into the atmosphere in large quantities. These chemicals eventually broke down the ozone layer. Since CFCs and halons are toxic to humans and other animals, they continue to be used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Similar chemicals, called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are used in the production of foam and aerosols. The phasing out of CFCs has been hampered by the concern that CFC-free products will not be as durable as CFC products, and by the fear that they will cost more. Nonetheless, many nations have agreed to phase-out the production and consumption of CFCs, which is helping to restore the ozone layer. The depletion of the ozone layer has serious ramifications for human life. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and eye damage. Ultraviolet radiation can also cause cataracts in humans who are exposed to it every day. The ozone layer can also affect plants. Ultraviolet radiation causes damage to plant tissues, which, over time, can prevent them from producing food. Finally, ultraviolet radiation can cause genetic mutations in plants and in animal species. Some mutations can be beneficial to humans, but others are harmful to human health.

The human population continues to grow, and this, combined with a growing consumption of natural resources, has created serious problems for the Earth. Increased population has led to an increase in the need for food, shelter, and energy. The human population has increased by more than one billion since 1960, and the demand for food and energy is expected to rise even further. Efforts have been made to increase food production, most notably through agricultural biotechnology. Agricultural biotechnology involves the use of agricultural tools such as fertilizers and pesticides, which increase crop yields. However, agricultural biotechnology also involves the use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, which are organisms that have had their DNA artificially altered. GMOs are used to produce plants immune to herbicides, such as Roundup, which kill weeds. The increased use of Roundup has resulted in an accumulation of the herbicide in soils and waterways. This accumulation, combined with the widespread use of Roundup on crops, has resulted in the contamination of many crops, including soybeans, cotton, and rice. The contamination of crops with GMOs has rendered them unsafe for human consumption, and this, in turn, has forced many farmers to grow crops that cannot be sold. In addition to causing financial losses to the farmers, the contamination of crops with GMOs has seriously affected the food supply, both in the United States and worldwide

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