Final Abstract

"For the U.S. to survive, the country will need to strictly reduce 1/3 of its population in order to be considered sustainable and avoid disasters."

The aim of this study was to discover the issues attributed to overpopulation and the associated problem of over consumption of oil, energy, food and unnecessary items. With all these concepts, I have found that it is necessary for us to drastically change our ways, although many are afraid to change our customs we are going to have to adjust quick.

Oil, is an over consumed resource that produces lots of energy all over the world. U.S. demand for oil has increased at a rate of 2% yearly (Churchill 2000). By year of 2020, peak oil will decrease and will cause a decrease in cars by 2050 (Strahan 2009). As many have seen, oil has lead the way for U.S. citizens to prosper for years, but yet we haven’t measured the future costs.

Food consumption is another issue we all need to be aware of and regulate. It is a worldwide issue and is highly driven by young kids and teens. For instance, the “Perfect Burger” contains days off CO2 emissions that derive from grain fertilization, to beef-feeding, to beef-transport and lastly to the consumer.

Material consumption should be controlled to an extent of purchasing necessary goods in contrast of consuming insane amounts of unnecessary material with credit. Material over consumption always ends up with hidden costs that are paid later by the health of our environment.

The fact that the population has expanded exponentially and consumption has become such a way of life. The human carrying capacity can’t truly be estimated. Sustainability is the key to our continued survived and the health of our planet. Therefore to ever be in a sustainable state, something has to happen in order for a change.

Recipe

Mexican Green Bean Salad Recipe

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Make sure to use the freshest green beans you can find. Good green beans should feel firm and should snap in half, not bend, when you try to bend them.

Ingredients

• 1 lb fresh green beans, strings removed, ends snapped off, cut in half into about 1 1/2 inch length pieces
• 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp lime juice or white vinegar
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (Mexican oregano if you can get it)
• 3/4 cup packed, chopped cilantro
• 1/3 cup canned, pickled jalapeño chili peppers, sliced
• 1/3 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese (salty Mexican cheese that resembles feta)
• 1/2 avocado, sliced or cut into inch long pieces
• 1 medium tomato, cut into 8 wedges, or a cup of halved cherry tomatoes

Method

1 Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the beans and simmer until just crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the beans and run cold water over them to cool them quickly. Drain completely.

2 Place beans in a large bowl. Gently mix in the the lime juice or vinegar, olive oil, 1/4 cup onion, sliced pickled jalapeños, sea salt, oregano and cilantro. Let sit for half an hour.

3 When ready to serve, gently mix in the chopped red onion and cotija cheese. Serve the avocado slices and tomato wedges on the side or mixed into the salad.

Serves 4.

Elise. " Mexican Green Bean Salad Recipe | Simply Recipes." Simply Recipes Food and Cooking Blog. N.p., 13 July 2008. Web. 3 May 2010. .


What I Think?

First, all the vegetables here in the recipe, are found to be grown locally and produced by a nearby produce store like Vons, Ralphs or Albertson's. Above all, I feel that combinating all the vegetables in the recipe would break out a new experience to building a great potluck delicase. I believe remaking this recipe will be a huge success to appeal consumers, yet draw people closer to the history of a mexican green bean salad.

Abstract!!

Pull Quote:
"For the U.S. to survive, the country will need to strictly reduce 1/3 of its population in order to be considered sustainable and avoid disasters."

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to discover the issues attributed to overpopulation and the associated problem of over consumption. This study focused on consumption of oil, energy, food and unnecessary items. With all these concepts, I have found that it is necessary for us to drastically change our ways, although many are afraid to change our customs on the reasons why we are going to have to adjust quick.

Oil, is an over consumed resource that produces lots of energy all over the world. To compare, the U.S. is profit driven by establishing agreements and invasions to withdraw oil from many other countries’ natural resources. Our demand for oil has increased at a rate of 2% yearly. By the year of 2020 the peak oil consumption will decrease and there won’t be much oil to exploit by 2050. As many have seen, Oil has lead the way for U.S. citizens to prosper for years, but yet we haven’t measured the future costs.

Food consumption is another issue we all need to be aware of and regulate. It is a worldwide issue yet, it is highly driven by young kids and teens. For an example the “perfect burger” contains many days of farm picked vegetables from all over the world, moving-vehicle CO2 emissions which pollute our air, and carryout many trans fats that can cause obesity.

Material consumption should be controlled to a certain extent, and should be used for purchasing enough supplies, in comparison to purchasing insane amounts of consumer goods with credit cards. Material over consumption always ends up leading to debt but also leads to many hidden costs that are paid for by the health of our environment.

The fact that the population has expanded exponentially and consumption has become such a way of life. The human carrying capacity can’t truly be estimated. For the U.S. to survive, the country will need to strictly reduce 1/3 of its population in order to be considered sustainable and avoid disasters.

Sustainability is the key to our continued survived and the health of our planet. Therefore to ever be in a sustainable state, something has to happen in order for a change.