The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann - Essay Example

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann1. Book Title and Author:Book Title: The Last Hours of Ancient SunlightAuthor: Thom Hartmann 2. What is the book about?This book discuss in three major portions the damage to atmosphere, the reason for this damage and steps need to be taken in order to fix this damage. It presents a very good summary about the state of the world. 3. What are some ways that people are affected?Rapidly increasing human population ultimately demands increase utilization of fossil fuels.

Furthermore, an increasing trend of agricultural extension to meet the rising needs of growing population results in clearing of lands. These factors ultimately results in greater emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which are known to cause damage to our biosphere particularly by destruction of ozone layer. The presence of ozone layer in immediate surroundings of earth atmosphere serves as shield against harmful ultra-violet rays of sun. The destruction of ozone due to utilization of fossil fuels as source of energy and for urbanization of lands, thus directly trigger severe deathly diseases.

In addition the rising of new/younger cultures has always resulted in destruction of older cultures. From annals of civilizations, the desire of younger cultures to acquire material possessions, to grow, and to dominate other groups is responsible for much oppression, human misery, and violence leading to extreme end as “genocidal” wars of extermination. The deleterious effects of war are well recognized as the initiation of new diseases. The drastic increase in human population will soon exhaust the fossil fuels, leaving us nowhere in coming future due to lack of energy resources.

The above mentioned factors, all together greatly affect human population because of their negative consequences on human health and density of population. 4. What is something interesting that you learned from this book?This book well explains some prominent features of older civilizations such as their peaceful organization, healthy and prosperous life and then their replacement by younger civilizations. Older populations were satisfied with their lifestyle even while living in cages and hunting animals.

These civilizations were not brutal and were consuming energy resources at required rates. But it was the development of younger cultures that led to increase demands of materialistic objects, desire of ruling on larger areas and constructions of weapons in order to get victory in wars. This book also explains how these younger populations destroyed the older populations such as indicated in the story of the Toradjas tribe. The rising needs of these younger civilizations caused rapid depletion in ancient resources of energy by destructing cultivated lands for urbanization.

After explaining the harmful effects on biosphere as induced by these younger civilizations, this book further explains how we can try to fix the induced damage by providing many solutions such as use of our remaining oil resources to help us develop the next energy solution (construction of solar panels among other), renouncement of war against any living things, establishment of intentional communities, practicing small acts of anonymous mercy, becoming fully alive, alert, aware, conscious of or surroundings and the divinity everywhere and reconnection with God directly.