Group Warns Consumption Is Outstripping Resources
By JONATHAN FOWLER, AP
GENEVA (Oct. 21) - People are plundering the world's resources at a
pace that outstrips the planet's capacity to sustain life, the
environmental group WWF said Thursday.
In its regular Living Planet Report, the World Wide Fund for Nature
said humans currently consume 20 percent more natural resources than
the earth can produce.
Consumption of fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil increased by
almost 700 percent between 1961 and 2001, it said. But the planet is
unable to move as fast to absorb the resulting carbon-dioxide
emissions that degrade the earth's protective ozone layer.
"We are spending nature's capital faster than it can regenerate," said
WWF chief Claude Martin, launching the conservation body's 40-page
study.
"We are running up an ecological debt which we won't be able to pay
off unless governments restore the balance between our consumption of
natural resources and the earth's ability to renew them."
Populations of terrestrial, freshwater and marine species fell on
average by 40 percent between 1970 and 2000, the study said. It cited
destruction of natural habitats, pollution, overfishing and the
introduction by humans of nonnative animals, such as cats and rats,
which often drive out indigenous species.
"The question is how the world's entire population live with the
resources of one planet," said Jonathan Loh, one of the report's
authors.
The study, WWF's fifth since 1998, examines the "ecological footprint"
- or environmental impact - of the planet's 6.1 billion-strong
population.
To calculate the average size of each person's footprint, it measures
land use, pollution, energy consumption, and the level of
carbon-dioxide emissions.
The impact of an average North American is double that of a European,
but seven times that of the average Asian or African.
Overall, the biggest culprits are the residents of the United Arab
Emirates, followed by the United States, Kuwait, Australia and Sweden.
The least-damaging are residents of Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti,
Tajikistan and Bangladesh.
Rich nations tread heavily on poorer countries, said Mathis Wacknagel,
head of the Global Footprint Network, a grouping including WWF. For
example, Western demand for of Asia's palm oil and soybeans from South
America has fueled destruction of natural habitats in those regions.
The study also warned of increasing pressure on the planet's resources
amid spiraling consumption in Asia, led by fast-growing China and
India.
"We can consume energy in a way that's harmful or in a way that's
sustainable," Loh told reporters. The technologies are available to
enable the world's population to live within the capacity of one
planet."
Governments, businesses and consumers should switch to energy
efficient technology, such as solar power, Loh said, adding that high
oil prices may help focus their minds.
"It's not a question of how much oil is left," he said. "The question
we should be asking is how much fossil fuel consumption the earth can
sustain. The earth has a limited capacity."
A Footnote From *THOSE* Who Care...
When We "Start" taking *Responsibility* For "Ourselves" We Will Have
*GIVEN* Those Who Will Be "OUR" *Offspring* for "Generations" to
*Come* an "Oppurtunity" to *LIVE* a "LIFE" Of *WORTH* Otherwise, there
will be "NOTHING" and what does that mean for *US* that are currently
"On Watch" and "Fully Responsible" For The Care and Upkeep Of *HIS*
Garden?
I beleive we can all "Surmise" the Very Real *Understanding* that 'WE'
"ARE" Throwing Away The Future For *Generations* To Come By Allowing
Those "Few" Have Too Much *POWER* over the "RESOURCES" that *GOD*
"Provided" For *ALL*. "WE" *TRUST* that *YOUR* Beginning To "Wake Up"
and *SEE* just how much *MANY* have been 'Deceived' by those who would
"Profess" to be *YOUR* "Providers, Defenders, and Leaders".
*GOD* "Established" The Boundaries and "MEN" "Changed" Them and *NOW*
We are "Faced" with *ALL* these problems because of the "Greed,
Corruption, and Destructive Behavior" of the "Money Boys" and Their
"minions" who have to make sure that in "Their Game Of Monopoly *THEY*
Win" and *WE* Lose", the simple *TRUTH* is, with *GOD* "Pulling" for
*US* Losers, *WE* Will "WIN" and *THEY* Will "LOSE" and when they
*FALL* they will "Reach The *Totality* Of Themselves In *ALL* Their
Essence" and that will "Consume Them Like A Lake Of Fire" and *THEY*
Will Be "NO MORE".
The time to "Change" is *NOW*, this world simply cannot afford to wait
until they "Horde It *ALL* To Themselves and Then Leave *US* to
"Suffer" without because we were "Foolish" and did not "Respect *OUR*
Rights as *GOD* Gave Them To *US* to *LIVE* By" and *OUR* "Ancestors"
*GAVE* Their Lives For. "Honestly People, This Life Is About *ALL* Of
*US* Not Just Those With *ALL* The "Resources" Horded To Themselves
and *YOUR* "Future Generations Of *Loved Ones* is Depending On *YOU*
To Make A Difference Today, So That They Can *LIVE* A Tomorrow thats
"Worth Living".
"WE" Pray For *YOUR* Understanding... "*YOU* Can *Trust* The "Words
Of Those *WHO* Know and *GAVE* All They Had So That *WE* (Their
Offspring) Could Have *Today*, and "We *MUST* Make Sure There Is
'Something Left' For *Tomorrows* Children" just like *OURS* Did For
*US*!!!
Prince Lightwing (Faithfully "Transmits" *Their* "Wishes" To *YOU*)
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