The Many Systemic Risks To Our Modern Lifestyle
We are living through an extraordinary blip on the timeline of life throughout human history.
World population stands today at 7.9 billion.
100 years ago, 1.6 billion.
Look at that steep growth curve the last 100 years. Wow, right?
We are surviving longer than we did 100+ years ago. There are many reasons that attribute to this extraordinary human population growth during these years.
The world’s population has exploded since the Industrial Revolution which began in the 1800’s. It really picked up speed beyond the 1920’s. The underlying reasons for this expansion in population are many.
Oil, Electricity, Medical, Big Agriculture, Transportation, Infrastructure. It’s all somewhat complicated.
World Dependence Upon Critical Systems
The Systemic Risk(s)
The majority of the world’s 7.9 billion human population are literally (or nearly) 100% dependent upon other ‘systems’ to stay alive. And they don’t even realize it. That is what you call, systemic risk.
The slightest hiccup in today’s modern world (systems) send ripple effects throughout other systems. It is largely intertwined. Some, extremely so. And it’s not just the physical systems – but the money systems and political systems too.
A majority of people used to ‘manage’ themselves. But now, they need managing to survive (to be managed). Seemingly helpless outside the walls of the many invisible systems of infrastructure and protection…
As you know, a significant part of the human population live in or around city regions.
As population and population density increases (and more people live closer together)…
- energy resources are in higher demand
- increasingly strained distribution systems
- ‘dependent’ attitudes and ideologies
- very reliant versus self-reliant
- tensions increase as personal space and freedoms shrink
- more restrictions
- the odds increase that more ‘things’ could go wrong
- infrastructures decay
- nations war for resources and power
- spreading of virus/disease more likely
You get the idea… Add more to the list in your comments below.
List the ‘systemic risks’ given higher population and population density.
Population Density
Population densities are massive in many areas throughout the world. The inter-dependencies in these areas are astounding when you think about it. There are staggering numbers of lives at risk should major systems (or even one critical system) fail.
Billions of people suffer from normalcy bias. The results of which could become deadly. They do not see the risks. And therefore do nothing to mitigate them. Or prepare for them. Because their world has always been okay – so therefore it always will be (okay).
We might live out the rest of our lives not ever experiencing a major societal collapse.
But on the other hand, many feel that it is inevitable. That we are on the cusp of such an event. Or events. I do personally feel that we’re close to some very ‘earth shattering’ changes. Seems we’re already well underway in that regard… Just waiting for the avalanche to rip free from it’s grip to the mountainside.
Civilized civilization is only 3 meals away from social chaos.
I’m not so much worried or concerned about the little things regarding my own personal preparedness. It is ridiculously easy to be moderately prepared for the most likely scenarios.
However it’s the BIG systemic risks that are interwoven within our lives which concern me (some more than others).
The challenge is finding life balance while being prepared for the big things. At least being prepared to the extent that one can.
[ Read: Gangs Will Rule The Cities
