Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
But there are some basic reasonable and sensible adjustments that seemingly must be made if the world
wants to ensure that tens of thousands of babies won't die each day from diseases exacerbated by malnutri-
tion. Improved agricultural techniques have already increased crop production radically in many areas of
the world that once could not support themselves without importing basic foods. Simply upgrading tools
from the Stone Age implements still used in some parts of Africa would help increase crop yields. Appro-
priate irrigation and use of fertilizers, the planting of the right crops, and reforesting to lessen the effects
of drought and desertification are all simple and relatively inexpensive responses.
If peace holds in this ethnically torn nation and if the peasants are given proper encouragement,
Ethiopia could feed itself one day.
One big problem the world over—watch out Ronald McDonald—is that about 40 percent of the world's
grain goes to feed livestock. In the United States that figure is 90 percent! It takes at least ten calories of
feed to produce one calorie of steak—an absurdly inefficient way to make food. And that is not to mention
the large amounts of fresh water needed to raise cattle—very thirsty animals in a world running low at the
water tank.
This is not a call for the elimination of our four-legged friends. Most domesticated animals around the
world are quite efficient. They forage off plants that humans don't use—and they do it with no adverse con-
sequences for natural environments, except when their numbers rise to unsustainable levels. But a simple
moderation—not elimination—in the consumption of beef could have major consequences. Besides that,
even the United States government has finally caught up with good medical sense and called for Americ-
ans to reduce their red-meat intake. So it's not only good for the rest of the world, it's good for you too!
Milestones in Geography VII
1992-Present
1992
Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 hurricane, kills sixty-five people and causes $26 billion in damage
to Florida and other U.S. Gulf Coast areas.
1993
A truck bomb planted by terrorists explodes under the World Trade Center in New York, killing six
people.
The “Storm of the Century” strikes the U.S. East Coast, with massive flooding along the Mississippi
and Missouri Rivers, causing $60 billion in damages and loss of power for 10 million.
1994
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect.
The Northridge earthquake kills seventy-two in the Los Angeles area.
1995
