The Top Three Issues of the 21st Century

There are three issues that top the scale for their overall impact on the progression of human society in the 21st century.

They are:
1) Water: Human beings are mostly water. The earth is mostly covered in water.

2) Trash: Humans generate ever increasing amounts of trash. The earth is mostly covered in trash.

3) Energy: Human beings consume ever increasing amounts of energy.



Water tops the list because it is absolutely necessary to sustain human life. Our bodies cannot survive without a reliable supply of clean, potable water. Our food cannot be grown without water. And water plays host to most of the organisms that threaten our health. Additionally, water is used for cleaning. From the food we eat to the plates we eat it off of, to the waste our bodies eventually turn that food into, we keep our surroundings sanitary by using water.


Energy is at the bottom of the list because it is absolutely unnecessary to sustain human life. We are blessed with bodies that can generate all the energy they need to survive, from sources available in our surroundings. We can eat wild foods and clothe and shelter ourselves with the by-products of other animals, plants and minerals. Energy is important because it feeds human ambition. Energy produced by means other than our own body's digestion of food, is what allows humans to engage in activities other than survival. Energy allows for progress. Energy feeds our egos and makes us feel important.


Trash lands in the middle. There is no escaping our trash, but trash functions to serve the other two issues. How we manage our trash determines for how long our water supply remains pure and healthful. How we manage our trash determines how long we can pursue the production and consumption of energy before we choke on the by-products. Trash management acts to maximize the sustainability of both water and energy.

In order to direct human activity towards health, achievement and sustainability, these are the three issues that must be addressed.

Good luck, to all of us.