Earth Day: The Neglected Issue of Population Growth; CAPS Activists to Participate at Events(CA)

Earth Day: The Neglected Issue of Population Growth; CAPS Activists to Participate at Events in San Diego, Sacramento, Santa Barbara

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Contact: Diana Hull, Ph.D., of Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS), 805-564-6626, info@capsweb.org Web: http://www.capsweb

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- At the first Earth Day in 1970, millions of Americans celebrated nature and called for serious protection of the environment. Conservationists across the country noted wisely that "every environmental problem is a population problem." Now, this common sense understanding has become too "politically incorrect" to discuss, let alone act upon.

Since the first Earth Day 34 years ago, U.S. population has soared from 203 million to 293 million. At our current rate of growth, Census Bureau projections indicate that U.S. population could exceed one billion by the turn of the century.

In the years that followed World War II, the principal cause of U.S. population growth was the high fertility of American women. So, it was acceptable in 1970 to discuss the desirability of stabilizing U.S. population and many reasons were given for so doing.

But things change, and now rapid population growth in the U.S. and California is due principally to massive immigration.

In 2001, Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that "... in this country, it's phony to say 'I'm for the environment but not for limiting immigration.' It's just a fact that we can't take all the people who want to come here. And you don't have to be a racist to realize that. However, the subject has been driven out of public discussion because everybody is afraid of being called racist if they say they want any limits on immigration."

"On Earth Day and all during the year, CAPS works for replacement-level immigration and replacement-level fertility in order to protect the environment. The consequences of the growth all around us are obvious-loss of open space, traffic congestion, and never-ending sprawl," said Diana Hull, Ph.D., president of Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS). "But the unsustainable exploitation of irreplaceable natural resources is the greatest threat to nature and will seriously affect humans, wildlife and ecosystems."

The projections are most depressing for California, the fastest growing state, where the population now exceeds 36 million. The state Department of Finance calculates that the number of people living here will continue to increase at 1.7 percent annually, a higher rate than Bangladesh, and we will grow to about 60 million by 2040.

California has already lost 99 percent of its native grasslands, over 91 percent percent of its coastal wetlands and at least 73 plants and animals are extinct in our state. More than 150 animals and 280 plants are listed as endangered, threatened, or rare.

Unlike the situation at the first Earth Day in 1970, two- thirds of today's U.S. population growth is from immigration, according to the Census Bureau. The late David Brower, a CAPS Advisory Board member, noted, "Overpopulation is perhaps the biggest problem facing us, and immigration is part of that problem. It has to be addressed." (Visit CAPS website -- http://www.capsweb.org -- to view the study, California's Population Growth 1990-2002: Virtually All From Immigration.)

"We will never prevent environmental degradation until we stabilize our population," Hull said. "California also faces water and energy shortages, but politicians lack the courage and the will to tackle the problem."

CAPS members and board members will be participating in Earth Day events in Santa Barbara on April 18, Sacramento on April 24 and San Diego on April 25, distributing information and encouraging environmentalists to become population activists. On Earth Day and all during the year, CAPS works for replacement- level immigration and replacement-level fertility in order to protect the environment.

!!PROPAGANDA ALERT!!

AOL HEADLINES:

Which State Is the Healthiest?
Massachusetts Makes Top 10

!!PROPAGANDA ALERT!!

(Massachusetts was # 8 on their list. Why do you suppose they didn't mention some other state that was in their top 10???)

It's going to get worse. The propaganda's going to get more intense. It will be relentless, ubiquitous, often subtle, and always audacious!

"Audacity is 90% of the battle."
~Karl Marx~

What could be more audacious than accusing President Bush of being soft on terrorism?

What could be more audacious than to accuse Dr. Rice of lying?

Nothing.

Note that the above example is both audacious and subtle.

You can be for limiting immigration but don't use all that absolutely phony statistical environmental BS to accomplish the goal.

"California has already lost 99 percent of its native grasslands, over 91 percent percent of its coastal wetlands and at least 73 plants and animals are extinct in our state. More than 150 animals and 280 plants are listed as endangered, threatened, or rare. "

Spare me the eco nut use of how things are going extinct based on population growth. First, I'd like to see what those particular plants and animals are and compare the so called extinction rate to the rate in a non immigration stressed state.

This entire argument uses all the typical left wing logic, and conservatives need be very careful of falling into the trap. There may be legitimate reasons for limiting immigration but it's not because we are running out of water or space. Also, it is patently absurd to use present growth rates to project into 2040. Just one of many flaws in the article is their projection of growth in 2040. If we run out of water will immigrants continue to come to California? This is a very DUMB article.

If the towns and cities do not limit the unnecessary building then we won't have to worry about the environment because it will all be ruined from the overloaded septic systems. If you ever travel across country you will see all kinds of open space. There is even one town who is giving land away so that people will settle there and their town won't die. If we use don't preserve the environment then our health will go too. Even though there may be an increase of people, how can you turn away someone who needs help. If I were in another country that I could not walk out the door without wondering if I would be shot at because war was all around me or whether my children would be hurt in someway or were hungry then I would try to go to another country also where I did not have to worry or my family might have a chance. We forget how fortunate we are in a lot of ways. We should help other people, the environment, and the wildlife so that all could exist in harmony with one another.

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