Sustainability is the balence of all aspects of our world. The balence of human population, the environment, animal populations, fuel consumption, pollution, and science create sustainability. The things that stuck out to me most when talking about this concept is how humans contunually cut down trees thinking that they are an endless resource when they arent. Trees are renewable yes, but at the rate we are cutting them down they wont be. Trees produce the oxygen we need to survive and by depleating this resource we are degrading our air quality. This deforestation is also contributing to degraded water quality, because the job of certain forests is to basically filter the water that comes through the area. Deforestation also contributes to deseretification. The areas where forests are cut down are left barren, and without the root systems and trees and plants to shelter the soil, it is left to the wind and rain which results in the erosion of the soil. Desertification is also caused by hoofed animals overgrazing fields. I could go on forever about the connections between all the problems and solutions concerning sustainability, but overall in  AP Environmental Science I have learned that all the environmental problems in our world are connected in some way or another.

The ultimate goal of our society should be to live sustainabily. In order to accomplish this goal we need to find ways to decrease our intake of unsustainable fuels (ie. coal, oil, natural gas) and replace them with renewable fuels such as wind energy, solar power, or hydroelectric power. Once these changes are put into movement the econimic and social aspects will follow in suit.

The growth of the worlds population, fuel consumption, and pollution are way above the levels needed to call our world sustainable. The idea of sustainable living would allow every person in the world to have a steak and a glass of wine for dinner is a good measure.

Genetic enginering is a highly contriversial topic among all people. Scientists believe that it could provide people who do not have means to have stable diets with enhanced foods that could help balence them. For example rice can he altered genetically to provide protein. Another good thing about genetic engenering is that it can change crops to make them more tolerent to drought or flooding, decrease the likely hood of desease, and pest resistance.