THE DESTRUCTION OF MAN KIND

Below is one of our free research papers on THE DESTRUCTION OF MAN KIND. If the term paper below is not exactly what you're looking for, you can search our essay database for other topics.

THE DESTRUCTION OF MAN KIND
"We know there will be problems in environmental terms, many
serious problems, but it is a matter of economics. There won't be any
complete disaster, and what we cannot solve, well, that's the price we have
to pay."
                        - Eduardo Albuquerque Barbosa
   
    There is a constant war that is being fought in the rainforests of
South America. The death toll is one that far surpasses any other war in
history. Vietnam and World War II had minimal loss of life compared to this
never ending battle. It is predicted that by the year 2020, the casualties will
reach 150 per day. This total does not even include the loss of human life
due to the lack of oxygen and the unsuitable living conditions. This
horrible scenario would be the result of mankind's failure to cooperate and
live in harmony with the environment, especially the rainforest of South
America. In the end, the destruction of the rainforests will mean the
destruction of mankind.
    The devastation of the rainforest may be compared to playing a
game of Russian Roulette. One-forth of existing medicines are derived
from tropical plants whose homes are in the rainforests of South America.
For every acre that is lost in the burning season, there is one acre less that
we have for possible life saving medicines. About 70 percent of plants
used in anti-cancer drugs come from the rain forest. We are slowly
destroying ourselves and the environment. Whether we realize it or not,
the world could quickly c...

Submitted by: digitalessays
Date Submitted: 10-06-06 2:54pm
Category: Science
Words: 1618
Pages: 6.47