the end of the world...

[voivod]

Humans living far beyond planet's means: WWF
By Ben Blanchard
Tue Oct 24, 6:29 AM ET

Humans are stripping nature at an unprecedented rate and will need two planets' worth of natural resources every year by 2050 on current trends, the WWF conservation group said on Tuesday.

Populations of many species, from fish to mammals, had fallen by about a third from 1970 to 2003 largely because of human threats such as pollution, clearing of forests and overfishing, the group also said in a two-yearly report.

"For more than 20 years we have exceeded the earth's ability to support a consumptive lifestyle that is unsustainable and we cannot afford to continue down this path," WWF Director-General James Leape said, launching the WWF's 2006 Living Planet Report.

"If everyone around the world lived as those in America, we would need five planets to support us," Leape, an American, said in Beijing.

People in the United Arab Emirates were placing most stress per capita on the planet ahead of those in the United States, Finland and Canada, the report said.

Australia was also living well beyond its means.

The average Australian used 6.6 "global" hectares to support their developed lifestyle, ranking behind the United States and Canada, but ahead of the United Kingdom, Russia, China and Japan.

"If the rest of the world led the kind of lifestyles we do here in Australia, we would require three-and-a-half planets to provide the resources we use and to absorb the waste," said Greg Bourne, WWF-Australia chief executive officer.

Everyone would have to change lifestyles -- cutting use of fossil fuels and improving management of everything from farming to fisheries.

"As countries work to improve the well-being of their people, they risk bypassing the goal of sustainability," said Leape, speaking in an energy-efficient building at Beijing's prestigous Tsinghua University.

"It is inevitable that this disconnect will eventually limit the abilities of poor countries to develop and rich countries to maintain their prosperity," he added.

The report said humans' "ecological footprint" -- the demand people place on the natural world -- was 25 percent greater than the planet's annual ability to provide everything from food to energy and recycle all human waste in 2003.

In the previous report, the 2001 overshoot was 21 percent.

"On current projections humanity, will be using two planets' worth of natural resources by 2050 -- if those resources have not run out by then," the latest report said.

"People are turning resources into waste faster than nature can turn waste back into resources."

RISING POPULATION

"Humanity's footprint has more than tripled between 1961 and 2003," it said. Consumption has outpaced a surge in the world's population, to 6.5 billion from 3 billion in 1960. U.N. projections show a surge to 9 billion people around 2050.

It said that the footprint from use of fossil fuels, whose heat-trapping emissions are widely blamed for pushing up world temperatures, was the fastest-growing cause of strain.

Leape said China, home to a fifth of the world's population and whose economy is booming, was making the right move in pledging to reduce its energy consumption by 20 percent over the next five years.

"Much will depend on the decisions made by China, India and other rapidly developing countries," he added.

The WWF report also said that an index tracking 1,300 vetebrate species -- birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals -- showed that populations had fallen for most by about 30 percent because of factors including a loss of habitats to farms.

Among species most under pressure included the swordfish and the South African Cape vulture. Those bucking the trend included rising populations of the Javan rhinoceros and the northern hairy-nosed wombat in Australia.

(Additional reporting by Alister Doyle in Helsinki)

[FORD]

[jimmy812]

"...and I feel fine."

[sisca]

"...and I feel fine."

you forgot LEONARD BERNSTEIN!!

[FORD]

[Red]

When did the World Wrestling Federation become the authority on the enviroment?

(Probably the same day Rush Limbaugh became an authority on Parkinson's)

[chefcraig]

When did the World Wrestling Federation become the authority on the enviroment?

(Probably the same day Rush Limbaugh became an authority on Parkinson's)

Why do you think it's now the WWE? Yup, the World Wildlife Fund sued Vince McMahon, and in a rare instance, actually won.

[smithjc]

Wow somebody sued Vince? Kewl.

So it's safe to say that this weekend s/b prime mimbo hunting then?

Seriously tho, it's scary to think about this kinda thing, plus the global warming crap.

[Filthy 150]

If I remember correctly, the sun is going to swell in a hundred thousand years(or so) and engulf the first three planets and either explode into a supernova, ignite Jupiter or implode into a black hole.

So the Earth will not survive in any case.




I'm not that bad really, I just play a jerk on the net.

[FORD]

Why do you think it's now the WWE? Yup, the World Wildlife Fund sued Vince McMahon, and in a rare instance, actually won.

That's because the World Wildlife Fund sent a grizzly bear into the ring. Even if Vince's boys were actually wrestlers (as opposed to actors) none of 'em are that good.

[chefcraig]

That's because the World Wildlife Fund sent a grizzly bear into the ring. Even if Vince's boys were actually wrestlers (as opposed to actors) none of 'em are that good.

The world is crying out for the return of Dan Haggerty, NBC TV's "Grizzly Adams".

Remember when he set his face on fire?

[WinterlessIceness]

...in a hundred thousand years(or so)

*millions

[FORD]

The world is crying out for the return of Dan Haggerty, NBC TV's "Grizzly Adams".

Remember when he set his face on fire?

No I don't. Was he hanging out with Richard Pryor?

[chefcraig]

No I don't. Was he hanging out with Richard Pryor?

Although Haggerty had several run-ins with the police over cocaine, I honestly can't remember if it was a freebasing deal or not.

Saturday Night Live did a fake commercial before a broadcast stating: "Grizzly Adams Sets His Face On Fire" will not be seen tonight so we can bring you this...

Much like the "Al Hirt Gets Hit In The Face With A Brick" won't be seen... commercial, after some fucker chucked a brick at Al Hirt during Mardis Gras in New Orleans and nailed him right in the mush.

[Filthy 150]

*millions

220, 221, whatever it takes.

I'd bet we are gone in a few thousand anyway.