The Earth is No Magic Pudding
by In the classic Australian children’s story, the magic pudding constantly replenishes itself, much to the delight of its owners. But we’re quickly coming to realize that the Earth is no magic pudding, and our days, as its “owners”, may be numbered.
In Norman Lindsay’s classic Australian story, The Magic Pudding , Bunyip Bluegum is lucky indeed – he become the owner of a pudding – a magic pudding. The pudding is able to speak, and even though it is also irascible and ill-tempered, it is greatly valued for its most outstanding characteristic: it is self replenishing; no matter how many slices are cut from it, its volume never diminishes- it just kept growing back.
For decades now, humans have treated the Earth like a Magic Pudding, behaving as though, no matter how many slices we take from it, it will also renew itself. In the past few decades, however, scientists have recognized that our Earth is no magic pudding; the resources that we draw from the earth are finite; once they are gone, they are gone forever.
The oil, coal and mineral resources we use in generating power and in the manufacture of goods are a diminishing resource; it is estimated that coal reserves, for example, will last for only a few decades. We are using up the Earth’s resources and placing enormous pressure on the Earth’s natural systems. The Earth’s coal resources, took between 60 and 300 million years to produce; it has taken humans less than 200 years to use them up.
Bunyip and his mates were lucky in another regard; their pudding was delicious – and no matter how much they ate, it didn’t make them sick! We’re not so lucky. When we use coal to create electricity or oil to power our vehicles and machines, the waste by-products damage our atmosphere – they damage the air we breathe. Our refrigerators let loose chemicals which do damage to our atmosphere – especially to the ozone layer, that part of the atmosphere that helps to protect the earth from damaging UV rays from the sun.
Many of the products we manufacture – often with the best intentions – end up doing irreparable damage. In the 50s, the pesticide DDT was hailed as the solution to the problem of crop-destroying pests; it was used freely. It took a decade or more for scientists to realize the damage DDT was doing to animals and birds and rivers.
None of this is new. Scientists have been slowly piecing together a clear picture of the damage that humans have been doing to the planet: the degradation of our air, water, soil and mineral resources; the depletion of fossil fuels; and so on.
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Post Commentreid
On January 3, 2008 at 12:51 am
mabey you should shorten some parts it went on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
Poppy
On January 8, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I guess when writing articles like this one, you’re always going to struggle with keeping it both informative and a reasonable length. I personally enjoyed reading the story because BC committed to his points without cowering. And the idea that the ‘earth is no magic pudding’ is strong and will resonate.
snowinmelbourne
On January 9, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Let’s not buy anything new if there is a second hand one available. Don’t send your own second hand goods to land fill. Sell over ebay or in papaer like trading post. Everytime you do this you reduce demand for one new good, reducing the minimg forestry and oil usign in trasporting it.
cheers
Betty
On January 9, 2008 at 5:51 pm
This article hits at issues we all are aware of, and some of us are quite concerned about. It’s a subject that can be written about ’till the cows come home’. I find long articles on the computer difficult to read right through. So if it could be made shorter, with the same impact, I think I would probably have read every word. As it is I skimmed over some of it in order to reach the end. We will all have to face this problem, and the sooner we do this the better it will be for our grandchildren etc.. Initially I think the first steps lie with perhaps the government in offering more rewards for anyone who takes a step in the direction of saving our planet. We all need it, and need it to be a healthier place than it is at present.
Jac
On January 10, 2008 at 4:26 am
I do not agree with Betty when she says the first step lies with the Govt. I think the first step lies with each person. I have a child at home who is at the “why” stage. e.g why do we save water etc and it feels good to be able to have the knowledge to teach the little people. Our awareness has come a few generations too late but it is good to start some where.
I can imagine when our time is being studied as history and we are side by side with dinosaurs. Those students are going to be saying ‘what the hell were they thinking’
Vance Lethurin
On January 10, 2008 at 10:35 pm
The purpose of government is to control and regulate the activities of people throughout the world and provide a sense of order. Without special rules and regulations, the world would be a much more unorganised and dangerous place, where people are permitted to do what they wish(such as abusing the planet) and worsen conditions even more. Actions concerning our enviroment should be controlled by the govt, who will make it a requirement and enforce it, rather than leaving people to decide by themselves. Most people could care less unless it directly effects them.
You’ll think twice about throwing that can from your car when there’s a cop watching you from across the street…
Vance Lethurin
On January 10, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Oh, and stop complaining about the length of the article! When covering such a broad subject you must keep the reader with you long enough to establish your point and clarify data; I doubt you can do that with a short article.
Poppy
On January 10, 2008 at 11:24 pm
I was raised to believe the environment was ‘everyone’s’ resposibility. I was also raised to question the government in order to create more awareness on this subject. Vance, I think you might be confusing what a government’s role is: THEY represent us, not vice versa. The first step lies with ‘everyone’ and rules and regulations are all well and good, but not necessarily the complete answer.
PS- Vance, I think your comment about the world (without rules) being more unorganised and dangerous is a solid one. But this raises another discussion entirely.
Barry
On January 11, 2008 at 4:51 pm
This is especially for Poppy and Vance; I’m grateful for your interest in The Magic Pudding article. I think what Vance is saying is that the government bears the responsibility for decision making about these matters. Governments CAN provide leadership. The new elected Australian government, for example, has just agreed to sign the Kyoto agreement after the previous conservative Howard government had denied the evidence about global warming, and had ‘protected’ Australian jobs and expirt income – especially in the coal industry.
But I agree with you, Poppy. We each must take responsibility for our won actions, in small matters (like switching the lights off) and in more far reaching matters – like who we vote for. It was sickening to see the way the Howard government, in its death throes just before the November election, suddenly decided that – YES – global warming is a problem. They responded ONLY when they realised that their opposition and blindness was going to cost them – in votes. That, sadly, is the laguage of politics; not ‘what’s good for our people and for the future’ but ‘what will keep me/us in power’. Knowing that, we each need to be active, writing to politicians, helping each other understand the issues and so on.
Heath
On January 31, 2008 at 9:56 pm
So many people need to ‘unlearn’ so many habits and beliefs. It will take a long long time but the issue is, at least, in the conscience of the community and i suppose that is a start. Articles like these serve to keep it there. It is the individual that must make the next step. Thank u Barry.