Population and Sustainability in America

By Frosty Wooldridge

Part 1:  What is sustainability?

My long time friend, Dr. Albert A. Bartlett, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, has written a definitive understanding of America’s predicament as to short and long term consequences of relentless population growth.  You can reach Dr. Bartlett at www.albartlett.org  

SUSTAINABILITY

“Sustainability is what it’s all about. We need to know the meaning of sustainability. An understanding of exponential arithmetic is a prerequisite to an understanding of the problems of achieving sustainability. I assume that you are all well acquainted with the arithmetic of exponential growth, and in particular with the fact that steady growth can give astronomically large numbers in a modest period of time. To understand sustainability we turn first to the most widely quoted definition, which is for sustainable development: Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The World Commission On Environment And Development.”

Gro Harlem Brundtland, Our Common Future Oxford University Press, 1987

“We need a more detailed understanding of the meaning of sustainability than we can gain from this one statement,” said Bartlett.

“An Oxymoron The inescapable observation that follows from these two facts is that the term “sustainable growth” is an oxymoron! Now let’s look at a quotation from our national leaders: We will renew America’s commitment to leave our children a better nation — a nation whose air, water, and land are unspoiled, whose natural beauty is undimmed, and whose leadership for sustainable global growth is unsurpassed.”

William J. Clinton, Al Gore Putting People First: How We Can All Change America Times Books, New York City, 1992, pg. 94- 95

“Our leaders’ lack of understanding of sustainability is a major problem,” said Bartlett. “Let’s look at some facts that point to the urgency of thinking seriously about sustainability.”

Global warming:

“There is a growing scientific consensus that human activities are now having observable effects on the global climate,” said Bartlett. “Newsweek for august 11, 1997, pg. 62, reports that “average annual air temperatures on the Antarctic peninsula have climbed 5 degrees Fahrenheit over the last 50 years, 10 times faster than the global rate. “Average midwinter temperatures there are up 9 degrees. “The cause could be natural climate fluctuations. or it could be global warming induced by the heat- trapping “greenhouse gases” emitted into the atmosphere.””

The Ozone Hole:

“The destruction of ozone in the high atmosphere allows more ultra-violet light to reach the surface of the earth where it can have serious biological effects,” said Bartlett. “We must recognize that we are now embarked on a global experiment whose outcome is unknown. And more frightening, it is not even known if the global response to human activities is reversible. Are we walking along reversibly on level ground, or are we jumping irreversibly off a cliff ?”

Food:

“The Worldwatch Institute reports that annual global per capita production of grain has dropped from 346 kilograms per person in 1984 to 313 kilograms per person in 1996,” said Bartlett. “This is a drop of 9.5 % in the last 8 years! In an observation that should interest physicists, David and Marcia Pimentel estimate that in the united states, three units of fossil fuel energy are needed to produce one unit of food energy.”

Oceanic Fisheries:

“The annual oceanic fish catch stopped growing in 1989, and many of the world’s major fishing resources are now seriously depleted,” said Bartlett.

Fresh water:

“A report in January 1997 from Stockholm indicated that by the year 2025, two-thirds of the world’s peoples will suffer from water shortages,” said Bartlett. “The rate of growth of the use of fresh water is twice the rate of growth of world population.”

Petroleum:

“My own analysis suggests that approximately three quarters (75%) of the recoverable petroleum in the 50 states has been consumed and we in the U.S. are now coasting downhill on the remaining 25 % of the petroleum,” said Bartlett. “We in the U.S. now import more than 50 % of our petroleum. Further, my analysis, based on geological estimates of the total world resource of petroleum, suggests that world petroleum production will peak around the year 2004 and thereafter will start its inevitable decline toward zero. Think what it will mean to have declining world production of petroleum and an increasing world population that aspires to have increasing per capita consumption of petroleum. In 1996 the average world per capita production of oil was about 1.7 liters per person per day, and falling. Population Growth All of these problems are caused by population growth. None of these problems can be “solved” if population growth continues.”

As you can see, we face enormous challenges if we fail to take up the standard population equation.  You may direct your thoughts and ideas by visiting Dr. Bartlett at www.albartlett.org

Part 2: Reaching the student

##

In a five minute astoundingly simple yet brilliant video, “Immigration, Poverty, and Gum Balls”, Roy Beck, director of www.numbersusa.ORG, graphically illustrates the impact of overpopulation.  Take five minutes to see for yourself:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE&feature=player_embedded

“Immigration by the numbers—off the chart” by Roy Beck

This 10 minute demonstration shows Americans the results of unending mass immigration on the quality of life and sustainability for future generations: in a word “Mind boggling!”  www.NumbersUSA.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muw22wTePqQ

This is the best website to start:  www.numbersusa.org ; watch Roy Beck’s “Immigration by the Numbers” at 14 minutes. Bi-partisan and very effective. Become a faxer of pre-written letters to your reps to make positive  change.

Visit www.TheSocialContract.com for the best information on what we face as a civilization as to overpopulation, energy, immigration and much more.

Canada www.immigrationwatchcanada.org ; in Australia www.population.org.au and[email protected]; in Great Britain www.populationmatters.org ; and dozens of other sites accessed at www.frostywooldridge.com.   In Florida, www.flimen.org .

Must see DVD: “Blind Spot” www.snagfilms.com/films/title/blind_spot/ , This movie illustrates America’s future without oil, water and other resources to keep this civilization functioning. It’s a brilliant educational movie! www.blindspotdoc.com

Must see: Rapid Population Decline, seven minute video by Dr. Jack Alpert-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTWduFB_RX0

Must see and funny: www.growthbusters.org ; www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXSTrW_dARc
Dave Gardner’s Polar Bear in Bedroom:

growthbusters.org/2010/03/save-the-polar-bear-in-your-bedroom ; Dave Gardner, President, Citizen-Powered Media ; Producing the Documentary, GROWTH BUSTERS; presents Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity, Join the cause at www.growthbusters.org ;760 Wycliffe Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 USA; +1 719-576-5565

Check out this link with Wooldridge on bicycle and Lester Brown and panel discussion:

www.upnorthmedia.org/watchupnorthtv.asp?SDBFid=1631

Tomorrow’s Americaproject on www.youtube.com/contemporarylearning.

Producer: GEORGE A. COLBURNwww.tomorrowsamerica.com

DC: 202-258-4887

Email: [email protected]

Link to www.tomorrowsamerica.com for more discussions on America’s predicament.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.starbrightmediacorp.com

www.tomorrowsamerica.com

##

Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents – from the Arctic to the South Pole – as well as six times across the USA, coast to coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece. He presents “The Coming Population Crisis in America: and what you can do about it” to civic clubs, church groups, high schools and colleges. He works to bring about sensible world population balance at www.frostywooldridge.com He is the author of: America on the Brink: The Next Added 100 Million Americans. Copies available: 1 888 280 7715