Assignment 1 A Short History of Progress (1) PDF

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Running Head : A Short History of Progress

A Short History of Progress ENV 1101: Assignment 1 Name : Sartaj Aziz Student Number : 8679245 Due: 2021/02/09

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

Written by Canadian intellectual Ronald Wright, A Short History of Progress is a lecture series compilation that examines societal progress and collapse. Wright’s extensive background in anthropology, history and linguistics is used to explain human progress from the evolution of species to the current state of the world. This book explores the development and collapse of several historical civilizations such as the Mayans, Romans, Sumerians and Easter Island. Wright also talks about the human predecessors such as the Homoerectus, Neanderthal and Homosepians in great detail. Though the Homerectus and Neanderthals are now extinct, Homosapiens were able to survive and eventually evolved into present day humans. Wright credits their survival to their strong ability to adapt to societal and environmental changes. Ever since mankind developed the ability to reflect, certain existential questions have always been asked. Motivated by Paul Gaugin’s art piece, “Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?”, Wright attempts to address these questions. Through anthropological and archaeological analysis of some of the world’s greatest civilizations, Wright argues that when civilizations rise, their lack of planning and short-sighted view of development eventually contribute to their own collapse. He claims innovation often leads to the excessive allocation of resources which allow for a lifestyle of luxury and enjoyment. However, the collapse of society is inevitable due to the overburdened system. This is referred to as the “Progress Trap in the book. The historical findings suggest, due to overconsumption, unsustainable population increase, depletion of natural resources and not learning from past mistakes, societies eventually break down.

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

To answer the question, “Where are we going?”, he warns current societies that if we don’t learn from the failures in the past, the same fate awaits us. Wright uses examples of societies that fell victim to this trap. Three sets of civilizations are used to compare their progress and collapse. Easter Island and Sumer, Rome and Maya and Egypt and China. Overconsumption, overpopulation and the mistreatment of the environment ultimately led to the downfall of the first two sets of societies. China and Egypt on the other hand accounted for the massive population growth and used natural resources in a more sustainable way. This allowed for these civilizations to survive much longer before reaching their limits.

In Chapter 4 of the book titled “Pyramid Schemes”, Wright raises a critical question in the form of a riddle. “Why, if civilizations so often destroy themselves, has the overall experiment of civilizations done so well?” (Wright, 2004, p. 102). How is it possible that if Romans couldn't feed themselves in the long run, that there are more people on Earth today than there was in the Roman times? he asks. To answer this question, a few critical points are raised. Wright states the answer to that riddle is natural regeneration and human migration. Adding to that, he argues though some civilizations reached their natural limit, not all have. He also highlights how certain technological advancements that may be harmful for the environment, exponential population growth and increasing inequality are some of the key differences we currently experience that may lead to an unsustainable future.

Ancient civilizations were mostly local or regional and these civilizations usually fed on specific ecologies. In other words, local societies tend to exhaust ecologies in their particular environment. As one would fall another would emerge elsewhere. Wright says “A fast film of

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

the earth from space would show civilizations breaking out like forest fires in one region after another” (Wright, 2004, pg. 104). The author chooses a local ancient civilization called Easter Island to highlight the significance of regeneration. As the population started to rise, so did the demand for resources. However, the islanders continued to consume materials and resources at the same rate. Wright mentions how the people were aware that their resources were slowly being depleted, but did nothing to rectify their over consummatory behaviour. “The people who felled the last tree could see it was the last, could know with complete certainty that there would never be another and they felled it anyway” (Wright, 2004, pg.66). As deforestation continued, no more pollen was found in the annual layer of the crater lakes, which made natural regeneration problematic. Human migration is also another part of the answer according to Wright. Civilizations that recognized their natural resources were starting to diminish, often migrated and adapted to other settings. The last piece of the answer stated in the book is that although many societies exceeded their carrying capacity and collapsed within a millennium, not all have. Egypt and China being two of the prime examples. Egypt’s farming methods were environment friendly and their land was rich in natural resources. They planned ahead and were somewhat environmentally conscious. “Egypt's farming methods were simple - as conservative as the culture itself -and worked with, rather than against, the natural water cycle” (Wright, 2004, pg 105). The book also says the main differences today which would lead to the collapse of civilization are certain types of technology that harms the natural system, overpopulation and increasing inequality. “Civilizations have developed many techniques for making the Earth produce more food, some sustainable, others not.” (Wright, 2004, pg 105). Wright also touches base on his concerns that nuclear war might break out and threaten human existence. Technological innovation is good, however it can be the same force that might lead to our

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

downfall, he argues. The book then talks about another difference in present times that can lead to our downfall.. He highlights how the human population is increasing at an alarming rate. Nearly a hundred million per year, much higher than in the past. He believes this will increase carbon emissions and have a negative overall impact on the environment. Lastly, Wright talks about the issue of increasing inequality. He claims there’s an elite group at the top of the pyramid which he refers to as the “Billionaire’s club”. He claims this group at the top is only self-serving and contributes to increasing inequality through the control of capital and socioeconomic policies. Certain impoverished communities would not be able to deal with increasing financial burdens and may eventually collapse.

The rapid growth of our civilization has put massive pressure on our natural limit which can potentially be disastrous. Although there are many flaws in the current sustainability model, societal collapse is certainly preventable if proper measures are taken. Wright says “The great advantage we have, our best chance for avoiding the fate of past societies, is that we know about those past societies. We can see how and why they went wrong” (P 131). It seems that we’ve started to learn from the past and are headed in the right direction through raising awareness, reducing our footprint, and slowly fostering a culture of socially responsible corporations that take initiatives to conduct business in a more sustainable way. Sustainable food production and the replacement of fossil energy are key factors in preserving our resources long term. Additionally, other problems such as overpopulation, overconsumption, and deforestation are also of great concern.

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

One of the most important measures taken by our Global leadership was changing the UN Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals. “The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030”. (“Sustainable Development Goals.” UNDP, www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html.) The adoption of this new environmentally friendly plan by member states can significantly curtail the depletion of natural resources. Fighting climate change, building sustainable cities, developing clean energy and responsible consumption are some of the key goals outlined in this plan. There have already been some success because of these initiatives as countries have moved towards a cleaner energy source. For example, “For  the first time ever, solar  and wind made up the majority of the world’s new power generation. Solar additions last year totaled 119 gigawatts, representing 45% of all new capacity, according to research by BloombergNEF.” (Kaufman, 2021, And Now for Some Good News About Climate, Bloomberg).

The emergence and acceptance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is another great sign of moving towards a sustainable future. CSR refers to the moral responsibility of corporations to have a positive impact on the environment and society in which they operate. An example of CSR is the Danish Multinational Corporation Lego taking initiatives to reduce their negative impact on the environment. “Lego will invest $150  million over the next 15 years with a focus on addressing climate change and reducing waste.” (DMI, Feb 2019, “16 Brands Doing Corporate Social Responsibility Successfully”). In the book, Wright emphasizes the importance of sustainable farming and agriculture. The preservation of our food source is a key factor in

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

not exceeding our carrying capacity. Many corporations around the world have recognized this and are taking steps in the right direction. Companies like BeyondMeat have gained popularity for their ability to substitute meat products with vegan alternatives. American Multinational Corporation PepsiCo has implemented a Sustainable Farming Program (SFG). The purpose of this program is to encourage farmers and producers to continuously improve their farming practices. “For example, in two states in the U.S., Illinois and Iowa, PepsiCo is helping farmers to plant cover crops on their land between rotations. Its goal is to help prove a model for supporting soil health and farm resilience in the face of heat, cold, drought and flood, and to demonstrate further how building the health of soils can help farmers mitigate, and adapt to, climate change.” (OnPepsiCo's  Sustainable Farming Program (SFP).”( Food and Land Use Coalition, www.foodandlandusecoalition.org/case-studies/pepsico-2/) .Not only is it beneficial for the environment and the locals, this often helps the companies as well. More and more people are becoming concerned about the Environment and the increasing inequality in our world. Modern day consumers want to give their business to companies that are contributing to sustainable development and addressing social issues.

Social media campaigns educating and raising awareness about sustainability has been another major step in the right direction. Social media influencers on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and other platforms are starting to advocate for change and spreading awareness of environmental issues using different means. This is mainly targeted at the younger generations who are constantly using social media. It’s aim is to educate children and young people early so that they grow up with a concern for the environment.

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

The progress towards a sustainable future is gaining traction, although it’ll take a lot more time for Governments, businesses and people to change their practices. Many politicians and influential figures still don’t take environmental issues seriously. However, I am quite hopeful that we will learn from the failures of previous civilizations and take the necessary measures. I believe the younger generation is becoming more environmentally aware and are making sure our voices are being heard. Climate change has been one of the main topics of discussion in the National elections in recent times. This is a huge achievement as this brings attention to a serious threat that we face. Also, technological innovations have been a major source of hope for me as I believe it’s the most important tool to create a sustainable future.

I myself am prepared to and have already made some lifestyle changes to contribute to building a sustainable future. From using public transit more often to purchasing biodegradable items, I believe I am taking some important steps in the right direction. The overuse of plastic in our society has been a huge concern of mine. I have seen the horrible effects of plastic waste and it poses a great risk to our environment, especially the aquatic ecosystem. I think society as a whole is starting to wake up and recognize we have certain moral obligations to take care of our planet. I do believe people are willing to make sacrifices and lifestyle changes. We’re seeing the rise of electric cars, eco-friendly products and an overall change in consumer behaviour. We are becoming more environmentally conscious, especially millennials. If we continue to educate people and campaign for a sustainable future, I firmly believe we can make a huge impact. However, we still have a long way to go.

Running Head : A Short History of Progress

External Sources :

(DMI, Feb 2019, “16 Brands Doing Corporate Social Responsibility Successfully”) https://digitalmarketinginstitute.com/blog/corporate-16-brands-doing-corporate-social-responsibi lity-successfully

(Kaufman, 2021, And Now for Some Good News About Climate, Bloomberg). https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-21/here-is-some-good-news-about-the-clima te-for-a-change

(Food and Land Use Coalition, 2018, “PepsiCo Sustainable Farming Program (SFG)) ( Food and Land Use Coalition, www.foodandlandusecoalition.org/case-studies/pepsico-2/) .

(UNDP, September 2020, “Take action for the Sustainable Development Goals”) www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html.)...