population

TOKYO (AFP) - Toys are no longer just child's play in Japan, where an ageing population and expanding waistlines have spawned a wave of gadgets to help adults beat stress, battle the bulge or relieve loneliness.

According to a Harris survey, more than 90% of Americans are recycling, but over 1/3rd of the entire U.S. population hasn't changed their lifestyle because they "did not know what to do" in order to be more green.

Thomas Friedman, New York Times Columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning Author, reads from, and discusses, his forthcoming book, Hot, Flat And Crowded, which describes potentially catatrophic effects of global trends of climate change, worldwide economic growth and population increases, and energy consumption. Friedman says U.S. leadership is needed to deal with them.

A growing body of research indicates that [reasons for declining male birth rates] could include exposure to pollutants such as pesticides, mercury, lead and dioxin. More controversial is the idea that synthetic chemicals known as endocrine-disrupters may be damaging male fetuses during critical periods of development or affecting men's sperm counts and testosterone level

Some of us who examine and discuss environmental matters are constantly puzzled and frustrated by the seeming inability of elected officials, environmental organizations, and environmental and political writers to “get” the nature of our ecological plight. Could it be they’re simply unaware of the ecological principles which enable one to understand it?

This post is a great summary to send around to folks.

Uh oh… Let’s hope there aren’t mass mutations.

"Melbourne neuroscientist Dr John Reid is somewhat sceptical about the ability of science to rescue humanity from its own folly. He suggests that our planet will be unable to support an ever increasing population and talks about ways to limit population growth."
An interesting, and very scary, talk transcript on the consequences of overpopulation.

Population rate in Pakistan has reduced down to 1.86 percent and efforts are underway to reduce it even further, Minister for Population Welfare Chaudhry Shahabaz Hussain informed Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that Population growth rate has to be controlled so that the benefits of economic growth reach to the maximum number of people.

As Population Rises, Spurred By Immigration, The Region Becomes Denser. That means either things are going to get really crowded and crappy, or planners take the opportunity to lay out new developments smartly, taking advantage of new urbanism. The future is in the balance.