A surfer riding a wave of rubbish near Java in Indonesia, the world's most populous island.

Terry Orwell for Art-Sheep

More than 7 billion people now inhabit planet Earth, and Earth is going through some pretty difficult times. Global Population Speak Out, an environmental NGO, has published a book with photographs which show the planet’s sufferings, titled “Overdevelopment, Overpopulation, Overshoot”. There’s a considerably exceptional point of view in this book, and that is the fact that many of the issues the planet is facing are connected to overpopulation.

Amazonian jungle in Brazil, burned to the ground for "repurposing".
Amazonian jungle in Brazil, burned to the ground for “repurposing”.

If we want to be straightforward, more people means more consumption, more trash and, hence, more pollution. Huge pieces of land are being deforested and cleared out in order to be prepared for farming and resource extraction. Rubbish escapes from dumps and into rivers and then into the sea. Not to mention the devastating consequences of accidents taking place at oil platforms, like fires and spills, or factory run-offs into rivers.
Global Population Speak Out tries for raising awareness regarding the problems we are facing from overpopulation and the extreme levels we are reaching in consumerism. Their primary arguments include liberation of women and wider access to education for everyone, which both have the potential of leading to birth control.

via demilked

An albatross that died from eating plastic rubbish. Midway Islands, N. Pacific.
An albatross that died from eating plastic rubbish. Midway Islands, N. Pacific.
Glacier melting in the Arctic Ocean (Svalbard).
Glacier melting in the Arctic Ocean (Svalbard).
Zone rich in tar in Alberta (Canada), affected by mining and toxic waste.
Zone rich in tar in Alberta (Canada), affected by mining and toxic waste.
A landscape of greenhouses in Almeria, Spain.
A landscape of greenhouses in Almeria, Spain.
The rising water levels will engulf Maldives in the Indian Ocean by 2050.
The rising water levels will engulf Maldives in the Indian Ocean by 2050.
The Yellow river in Mongolia is so polluted that breathing is almost impossible.
The Yellow river in Mongolia is so polluted that breathing is almost impossible.
The world's biggest diamond mine in Mir, Russia.
The world’s biggest diamond mine in Mir, Russia.
An Indonesian forest that is now a palm plantation.
An Indonesian forest that is now a palm plantation.
The Ken river oil field in California, U.S.A. is being exploited since 1889.
The Ken river oil field in California, U.S.A. is being exploited since 1899.
99% of Willamet's national forest in Oregon, U.S.A. is now deforested.
99% of Willamette’s national forest in Oregon, U.S.A. is now deforested.
Bagger 288, the world's bigger coal excavator. Tagebau Hambach strip mine, Germany.
Bagger 288, the world’s bigger coal excavator. Tagebau Hambach strip mine, Germany.
Electronic trash ends up in Third-World countries, like this landfield in Accra, Ghana.
Electronic trash ends up in Third-World countries, like this landfield in Accra, Ghana.
Landscape full of trash in Bangladesh.
Landscape full of trash in Bangladesh.
20 million people live in Mexico City, Mexico.
20 million people live in Mexico City, Mexico.
A surfer riding a wave of rubbish near Java in Indonesia, the world's most populous island.
A surfer riding a wave of rubbish near Java in Indonesia, the world’s most populous island.

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