From the text, we can infer that until fairly recently ……………

Mankind had been fooled into believing that the world's resources could never be exhausted. Only with the massive growth in industry has It become obvious that our planet not only has limits but these limits are fast being approached. Although some new supplies remain to be discovered and others will be replaced, we cannot afford to live in the same manner. If we continue, the demand for energy and minerals could generate an industrial ‘famine' that would bring a worldwide crisis. To avoid this, man must discover a new relationship with the Earth and learn to conserve its vital resources.