ABSTRACT
The effects of globalization and environmental challenges throughout the world demonstrate the need for social workers to play a more active role in sustaining the Earth’s resources. These challenges include the depleting supply and safety of local water sources; the scarcity, loss, and desertification of land; global warming; air pollution; as well as reductions in the biodiversity of species (Hokenstad & Midgley, 2004). It is startling that much of the world is threatened by a lack of fresh water and fertile land (Kramer & Johnson, 1996). In 80 countries, comprising 40% of the world’s global population, industry, agriculture, and health are threatened by freshwater shortages, and in other countries, freshwater supplies are being depleted. Irrigated land is now decreasing due to waterlogging, salination, and population increases (Kramer & Johnson, 1996). Approximately 20% of the population in urban industrialized nations consumes 80% of the Earth’s resources (Harmony Foundation of Canada, 1989). At the present rate of consumption, both known and discoverable natural resources are rapidly drying up.
