HUMANS ARE FORMED BY THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHERWISE THE PEOPLE FORM THE ENVIRONMENT
Humans live in their environment. They interact with components of the physical environment, both biotics (animals and plants) as well as with abiotic components (soil, water, rocks and others). Humans also interact with others or their social environment and develop values and norms to regulate these interactions. From these interactions, humans produce culture in various forms such as language, technology and others. In the beginning, when humans were not familiar with technology, human relations with other environmental components were still running in harmony. In addition to being still small in number, they are also not excessive in taking natural resources, so they do not cause significant damage. However, as technology develops, and human numbers and needs increase, they tend to exploit or overtake natural resources. As a result of these behaviors, the environment undergoes changes. Pollutants left over from human activities pollute the aquatic, air and terrestrial environments. The damage will ultimately adversely affect humans, including the development of disease, natural disasters, and others. 1. Humans as social creatures Humans cannot live alone. In his life he needs other people to communicate and interact. Imagine if we live alone or shunned by our friends, it would be tortured, right? That means humans need the presence of other humans. Why is that? Humans are naturally social beings. That is, humans have needs, abilities and habits. Based on this, grouping in human life is a need that must be met. Through life as a group of people can meet the needs of communication, security, order, justice, cooperation, and to get prosperity. Through communication humans can convey ideas or ideas to others. They can also shed their feelings through communication. To communicate humans develop language. In addition to communication, humans also need security in groups. If they live alone, they will certainly be vulnerable from security disturbances or crime. Therefore, in a residential environment, humans form a security system by making a siskamling (environmental security system) or known as patrol. Order will also be maintained because humans are in groups and each group member must obey the rules made by the group. In groups it is also possible for cooperation among its members, so that it also allows humans to live well. Apart from needs, the nature of groups in humans is based on the ability to communicate, express feelings and the ability to work together. These capabilities are supported by media in the form of language. With human language can also exchange information and culture with other human groups. 2. Biophysical environment Consider the environment around us. Around us there are land, rocks, water and air and of course living things in the form of plants and animals. The environment is called the physical or biophysical environment which is almost the same meaning as natural resources. Land, water, air and plants and animals affect our lives and we also influence the processes that occur in our physical environment. Farmers who grow crops in areas with fertile soil, will get more results than in areas that are not fertile. In areas where there are many sources of water, residents usually build fish ponds. Besides being influenced, humans also affect their environment. Clearing forests for agriculture will increase the level of erosion or erosion. In addition, the amount and quality of water is also reduced due to forest destruction. So, biophysical environment is everything that is physical in our environment that affects our lives. Broadly speaking, the biophysical environment is land, water, air, rock, and plants and animals. 1. Land Soil (Soil) is a natural body formed from a mixture of weathering results of rocks (inorganic), organic materials, water and air that occupy the very top of the lithosphere. The soil body consists of rocks that have experienced weathering, then mixes with the remnants of organic matter, water, air, and undergoes physical and chemical processes to form a layer of soil. Land is a source of life for humans and other living things. Different types of plants are very dependent on the soil, so their growth will largely be determined by soil conditions. These plants in turn become food for humans and animals, so basically all living things depend on the existence of the soil. Land is also a priceless natural resource. Fertile soil can bring prosperity to the inhabitants of a nation. Because of this, civilizations often begin to develop in fertile lands such as the Tigris and Euphrates River valleys. Until now the distribution of humans and their settlements tend to be concentrated in fertile lands. Although land has enormous benefits, often humans make little effort to preserve and protect it from damage. As a result, the land that was fertile turned into infertile, even damaged and abandoned. The impact of course is very detrimental to humans themselves because they have to lose valuable resources. Most of the land in Indonesia is volcanic land. However, there are also various other types of soil, including peat or organic soils, alluvial soils, regosol soils, lithosol soils, latosol soils, grumosol soils, red-yellow mediterranean soils, and gray hydromorph soils. 1. Water Water is a component of the biophysical environment that covers almost 71% of the earth’s surface. There are approximately 1.4 trillion cubic kilometers of water (330 million miles) on earth. Water is mostly found in the sea (salt water) and on the ice sheets (at the poles and mountain tops) and in the form of clouds, rain, rivers, lakes, water vapor, and sea ice. The existence of the water is very vital in supporting life in it. Without water, living things cannot possibly live and breed. That is why until now, the earth is the only planet that can be occupied by humans and other living things. All the necessities of human life, especially water, are provided to meet human needs. 2. Air In the environment around us there is air that we continuously breathe. Humans are very dependent on air. If only the air we breathe is polluted air, then our health will certainly be disrupted. Earth’s dry air contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% water vapor, carbon dioxide and other gases. The content (elements of gas and particle compounds) in the air will change along with changes in height from the ground surface. Likewise its mass, will decrease with height, the closer to the troposphere, the thinner the air, so that it passes through the earth’s gravitational limit, then the air will be completely empty. oxygen is very important to support the life of beings and the occurrence of the combustion process. Nitrogen is a fertilizer for plants. Bacteria use nitrogen from the air to fertilize the soil. The air also protects the earth from harmful radiation coming from space. Air is called poor quality if the nature of its constituent elements is harmful or damaging. Dirty air contains dust, sand, soot, and harmful gases. A small town can produce more than 5,000 kg of air pollution a day. 3. Plants and animals In the environment around us there are also various types of plants and animals. Plants and animals are not passive or neutral as they appear at first glance, but affect human life. Imagine if we lived without plants and animals? Where can we get food and clothing if without the presence of plants and animals? It is from them that we get all the food we want and all the clothes we wear. Humans also obtain medicinal materials from plants and animals. Based on this, the presence of plants and animals is very important. Humans cannot carry out their lives without plants and animals, but plants and animals can carry on their lives without humans. This happened when before humans, plants and animals were able to live well. Although human life and survival are closely related to plants and animals, it is difficult for humans to preserve their functions. Plants and animals are only benefited, but habitats are often destroyed. As a result, the function of plants and animals in supporting human life is declining.