Living on borrowed resources
Earth Overshoot day, also known as ecological debt day, is a marker to commemorate the day that we have used up all of the natural resources our Earth can produce in one year.
This includes water, food, energy, and also means that we have exceeded the planet's annual capacity to absorb waste products such as carbon dioxide.
According to Global Footprint Network, the planet arrived at the marker one day earlier than last year.
While we may be living on resources borrowed from future generations, not many students seems to know about it.
Santa Monica College student Andrea Wasawas was devastated and angry when she heard that the global community had used an entire year's supply of resources within eight months.
"We don't need to use the amount that we do," Wasawas said.
SMC student Kevin Kim was also unaware of Earth overshoot day. "I didn't know we even had a budget for resources," Kim said.
What seems to be the biggest problem about this day is the lack of publicity.
Jason Hwang, an international student from Singapore, believes that this news is worrying.
"I'm curious to see what implications there are and if there is an easy way to digest the statistics. Awareness has to start from somewhere, and the school should promote this day," Hwang said.
Michelle Pei, a second year student at SMC also thinks that the school should raise more awareness for Earth Overshoot Day and believes that it can be difficult for students to know what they can do.
"SMC does inform students on the TV, and they promote the water bottles, but there should be more posters, more activities, students need to be engaged," Pei said.
Many students felt that they didn't know where to begin when hearing about this problem.
Fred Herrate a second year student at SMC questioned, "Where did the resources go? How does the budgeting work?"
Herrate also believes that population and culture are major problems with resource consumption.
"We have a problem with over eating, especially in America. There are also too many people and we can't feed everyone. We need to wake up and take responsibility."
Many students felt that the sheer diversity within our campus promotes a more sustainable lifestyle and allows students to grow and conserve.
According to Global Footprint Network, we would need almost five planets if everyone in the world lived and consumed resources like an average U.S. Citizen.
If the world is headed towards ecological bankruptcy, it might be necessary to change the way we live and consume.