Current Affairs 8th Class

Category : 8th Class

 

Resources

 

 

Look and see the beautiful world around you. The flowers blooming in the garden, the bees and butterflies humming on them, the carpet of grass, the soft breeze, the warmth of the Sun, the flowing streams, the snow-covered mountain tops, the moonlit night, the chirping birds in their nests, and the blue sky. Nature's gifts are many. Some of the things that nature provides us are essential for our survival on the earth while some others satisfy our wants.

 

Since time immemorial, humans have struggled hard and extracted materials from nature which could be processed into products. With the passage of time, humans have made unbelievable progress on the technological and the economic front. These developments have raised their standard of living. All this has been possible due to the availability of various resources.

 

WHAT ARE RESOURCES?

Resources can be defined as all those features of the environment, which help us to produce things that satisfy our needs and are finally used by us. The term resources usually refer to natural substances which occur in the air, water or on the land. These natural resources include raw materials (such as, fuels and minerals), rain, wind, sunlight, soil and vegetation. Sometimes, we widen the scope of this term and include human resource as well. The human resources include labour and human skills. In this way, natural resources become 'resources' when we start using them to fulfil our needs.

 

NATURAL RESOURCES

 

Natural resources are all those useful raw materials that we get from the earth. This means human action turns naturally available things like?air, water, soil and forest, into resources. We use and modify natural resources in ways that are beneficial to us. On the basis of their origin, use and function; natural resources can be classified into different types.

 

 

TYPES OF NATURAL RESOURCES

 

Natural resources can be classified into different groups depending on:

 

?      Level of development and use

?      Origin

?      Stock (availability)

?      Distribution

 

We can sub divide these categories in the following way:

 

Resources according to the level of development and use

On the basis of development and use, we can divide natural resources into: (A) Actual resources and (B) Potential resources.

 

(A)  Actual resources are those resources whose quantity (amount of reserves) is known and which are currently being used. The coal deposits of Ruhr, Westphalia in Germany, Damodar Valley coalfields in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha (India), oil in the Middle- East, iron ore in the Krivoy Rog in the Ukraine, are few examples of actual resources. The quantity of these reserves is known (estimated) and these are being used at present.

 

 

Coal an actual resources       Windmill a potential resource

 

(B)  Potential resources are those resources whose entire quantity is not known or which have not been utilized up to optimum level due to unavailability of appropriate technology. However, these resources have the potential

To be used in future or they could be exploited in future with technological advances, e.g., tidal energy Many countries are not able to tap energy produced by high tides in seas and oceans; either due to lack of technology or the inaccessibility to markets that are needed to allow it to be developed on a commercial scale. Similarly, high speed winds were a potential form of energy, for our country some two centuries ago; but now this energy is being tapped and used in Nagercoli in Tamil Nadu and on the coast of Gujarat.

 

Resources based based on origin

On the basis of their origin, natural resources can be sub divided into: (A) Abiotic resources and (B) Biotic resources

 

(A) Abiotic resources are non-living resources such as soil, rocks and minerals.

 

 

(B) Biotic Resources are living resources that fulfil our needs, e.g. plants and animals.

 

 

Resources based on stock or availability

On the basis of their stock or availability, natural resources can be divided into: (A) Renewable resources and (B) Non-renewable resources  

(A)Renewable resources are those resources which can be used over and over again, recycled and regenerated. Some renewable resources are unlimited and do not deplete with their use. Geothermal, solar energy and wind power are some examples of the kind.

 

 

However, all renewable resources are not unlimited. Careless use of certain renewable resources like?water, soil and forest affect their stocks. These are called sustainable resources.

 

(B) Non-renewable resources are those resources which can be used only once and after which they cannot be replaced. They are said to be finite or non-sustainable (exhaustible) as their exploitation and use eventually leads to their exhaustion. Fossil fuels (coal and petrol) and minerals are examples of this kind. These take millions of years to form.

 

 

Resources based on distribution

On the basis of their distribution, natural resources can be divided into: (A) Ubiquitous resources, and (B) Localised resources.

 

 

(A) Ubiquitous resources are those resources which can be found everywhere on the earth, e.g., the air which around us and to some extent sunlight as well.

 

(B) Localised resources are those resources which are found only in particular regions, e.g., minerals.

 

Q. List out three renewable as well as three non-renewable resources that you use in your day to day life.

 

MAN-MADE RESOURCES

 

Some resources are found on earth, but are not natural resources. They are man-made resources. They are created by man using his skill and technology from natural substances, after transforming their form, shape, composition and level of utility. Basically, it is the level of technology, along with government policies and economic-political-social set up; that helps in generating man-made resources. Buildings, roads, railway tracks, airports, communication towers, advance machinery, furniture and automobiles; all are man-made resources.

 

 

HUMAN RESOURCES

 

Human beings are a very important natural resource. Human beings can make the best use of other natural resources through their intelligence, knowledge, skill and the technology developed by them. They are able to change natural resources into a range of valuable products. Moreover, human beings are the only resource that have the quality of improving and refining their skills. This quality of humans has helped them create more resources which is called Human Resource Development. Physical and mental, both kinds of work help in using natural resources. Thus, all the labourer, workers, doctor, teachers, engineers and other professionals are Human Resource.

 

Fact File

·         On the First Earth Day, 22nd April 1970, The Mother Earth had 3.7 billion children. Now we are 7 billion.

?      We have lost 50% of the planet's original forest cover in the last 30 years.

?      Agriculture consumes 75% of fresh water used.

?      The grain in the ethanol that fills 1 SUV tank can feed one person for a year

?      If other nations consumed resources at the rate of United States; we'd need six planets to meet their demand.

 

 

RESOURCE CONSERVATION

 

INCREASING DEMAND FOR RESOURCES

The demand for resources is increasing at an alarming rate. This is due to the population growth and development in technology.

 

?      In 2013, total world population was 7.125 billion and it is still increasing. This causes a pressing demand on the limited natural resources.

?      In almost all countries of the world, a race for economic development is on. In an attempt to raise the standard of living of their people and provide them quality life; countries are setting up more industries. Thus, natural resources are on high demand.

?      Increasing wealth in all countries has helped in technological development. Ultimately, this has created a demand for more and more resources.

?      Technological advances in developed countries have also enabled people to discover new uses of natural resources, extract more natural resources and find out new resources as well. For example, earlier petroleum was used as a fuel for transport and was a source of energy but now, it is used as raw material for various industries like?paint, detergent, glue, varnish, plastics, synthetic fibre and cosmetics, etc.

 

 

SUSTAINABLE MEANS OF RESOURCE CONSERVATION

 

A need to manage the earth's resources in a sustainable way is felt in every country. This ensures that these resources are not wasted and they are used carefully. This is called resource conservation. Due to combined effects of population growth, increasing wealth, economic development and the advances made in the technological spheres; the demand for resources is growing more and more. There is a fear that non-renewable natural resources will diminish fast and a situation will arise in the future where our future generations will be left with very limited resources or no resources.

 

Balancing the need to use resources and to conserve them for the future is called sustainable development. Sustainable development is the process of development in which resources are used wisely without wasting them or damaging the environment. This can be done through:

 

?      Recycling of things and products such as-metal waste, papers, glasses, cans, etc.

?      Conserving our natural vegetation and wildlife which form our ecosystem.

?      Developing technologies to tap renewable resources, so that they can be used on a larger scale, e.g., energy from the Sun, wind, water and tides.

 

Fact File

 

 

Using the principle of three 'R's, i.e. Renew, Recycle and Replace is the key to sustainable use of resources and their conservation.

 

? Controlling pollution caused by the industries, thermal power stations, vehicles and domestic wastes.

? Developing appropriate technologies to use low cost energy sources, e.g., biogas.

? Using local knowledge and skills to conserve local resources, e.g., water harvesting in deserts of Rajasthan.

? Using resources according to the need of the people; people should avoid overusing resources as Gandhiji said, "There is enough for everyone's needs, but not enough for everyone's greed."

 

Whether the physical environment can continue to support us or not, depends on our attitude and the way we interact with the physical environment. If we can change our lifestyle and reduce wastage and overuse of the natural resources; then we will be able to face the future with confidence. We have to constantly remind ourselves that there is Only One Earth!