The Anthropocene -- The Age Of Man

Geologic history has many eras, epochs, and ages:  the Cambrian, the Jurassic, the Pleistocene, et al.

Here's a new one:  The Anthropocene -- The Age of Man.

Human beings are the new geologic age.  We homo sapiens have had more impact in a very short time than all the multi-millenia of Big Bangs, amoebas, trilobytes, dinosaurs, lower mammals and Neanderthals combined.


Since 1950 on Planet Earth:

• Energy use has tripled.
• Atmospheric carbon dioxide has tripled.
• The number of motor vehicles has increased from 177 million to 1.3 billion.
• The decline in both the number of species and the tropical forest area has doubled.
• And the biggie -- human population has increased from 2.5 billion to 6.9 billion.  At the current rate, there will be 9.6 billion by 2050.

Virtually every crucial problem of today and tomorrow is linked to over-population.  Dr. Paul Ehrlich was right -- we are a population bomb, and our procreational proclivities may be a terminal condition.

The Old Philosopher, D.W., has said he fears we humans may be just another failed species.  Hope not, but time will tell.  I thank him for sending the link below, We Blew It:  A Timeline of Human Impact on the Planet.

http://www.vice.com/read/we-blew-it-0000643-v22n5