Dick Farkas, Political Science Professor at DePaul University, gave a fascinating talk about the importance of sand in the world. Sand is used in construction materials, electronics, glass and other industrial uses. But not all sand is usable for these purposes; only “angular” sand from beaches can be used; sand from deserts is too “round” even though it is abundant. Dick explained that the sand that is used for industrial purposes is being used up on a worldwide scale. Criminal elements especially in underdeveloped countries have taken over the extracting and exporting of sand. Stricter enforcement and finding alternative materials must be initiated worldwide to avoid an economic and environmental catastrophy.
