Posted by
Conservative in Paradise on Monday, October 02, 2006 12:40:05 PM
As the US population reaches 300 million people Reuters asks the question, how will it affect our environment? Reporting on a report written by the Center for Environment and Population they write this:
U.S. population to top 300 million this monthIn the areas of land-use, water, biodiversity, forests, fisheries and aquatic
resources, Americans are consuming more than they did in the past. The report
found:
-- Each American occupies 20 percent more developed land -- housing, schools,
shopping and roads -- than 20 years ago.
-- Each American uses three times as much water as the world average; over
half the original wetlands in the United States have been lost, mainly due to
urban and suburban development and agriculture.
-- Half the continental United States can no longer support its original
vegetation; nearly 1,000 plant and animal species are listed by the U.S.
government as endangered or threatened, with 85 percent of those due to habitat
loss or alteration.
-- The United States consumes nearly 25 percent of the world's energy, though
it has only 5 percent of the world's population, and has the highest per capita
oil consumption worldwide.
-- Each American produces about 5 pounds (2.3 kilogram) of trash a day, up
from about 3 pounds (1.4 kilogram) in 1960; the current rate is about five times
that in developing countries.
I wonder how having 1 billion people, such as in India and China affects the environment? I also wonder if their government or people even care?
I also wonder if the 300th million person will be brought into our country legally or illegally? I tend to think it will be the later.