Conclusion

The current environmental crisis is not a whim of fate; it is the logical consequence of the negligence and the wasting in which this so-called "developed" world revels. As previously stated, such negligence and wasting are the offsprings of a whole civilisational and cultural heritage. For this reason, excessive exploitation of natural resources and the environmental pollution which it engenders will continue for as long as our attitude to life is dominated by such considerations as material progress and the protection of industrial assets. At this stage, one should ask the question of how to get out of this deplorable situation. The answer lies in the double necessity to continue exploiting natural resources on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to set limits to such exploitation in order to protect the environment.