TEDTalk: The Anthropocene
Executive Director of the Australian National University’s Climate Change Institute, Professor Will Steffen, takes us on a journey through the science measuring humanity’s effect on the planet. Using tangible, real measures, Will shows us the profound change in the planet since the Industrial Revolution and argues that now, more than at any other time, humanity is the single most influential factor in global changes; so much so that we should recognise that now is the age of mankind – The Anthropocene.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to sway a climate-change denialist, but regardless, it’s an excellent overview of this important theory.
A few years back I heard the term "antropocene" in a documentary, BBC's Power of the Planet series, and the presenter (Iain Steward) raised another point regarding the idea that we've moved into a new geological era. He stated that in a single year we now move more earth and rock than all of the Earth's natural processes (erosion etc.) put together.
Despite taking a look just now I can't find any solid data to back up that statement, nor can I find any data on how much the Earth's natural processes change the surface (in terms of kilos moved) per year, but I'm willing to accept that point given that on a local scale I can observe that the landscape around me is affected by humans far more than it is affect by wind, water or ice.
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