World's land turning to desert at alarming speed, United Nations warns

WCCO 4 ^ | 6/15/04 | Chris Hawley - AP

[Dasaji]

The world is turning to dust,

WHERE? I haven't been able to put my boat in the water this year because it KEEPS RAINING and the river is a mess.

[I still care]

I think the answer is private property ownership. No one cares about land they don't own, unless they can manage to get government funds for it.

[cripplecreek]

Ive burned up two submersible pumps keeping my well pit dry this year. If Michigan is a desert, I don't even want to know what a swamp is.

[RightWhale]

Breaking news to another college freshman class.

[joesnuffy]

Oh no...guess we better let the UN take over all the worlds land so they can 'save us'
from disaster....
we better give them all our money and possessions and all our freedom so they can 'better manage all of humanity' than individual humans could ever mangage themselves...

[MediaMole]

If the UN has some buckets, they can get the water in my basement.

[Watery Tart]

"You live in a desert! You know what it's going to a be a hundred years from now? It's going to be a ------- desert! We have deserts in America we just don't live in them!"

< /kinison>

---

Sorry, it's the first thing that popped into my mind.

On the other hand, it may dry out enough THIS MONTH so that we can mow our lawn. *crossing fingers*

[gathersnomoss]

Sam Kinnison blames hunger on the desert, for those who live there.

[frithguild]

The human race was dyin' out
Noone left to scream and shout
People walking on the moon
Smog will get you pretty soon

Everyone was hanging out
Hanging up and hanging down
Hanging in and holding fast
Hope our little world will last

Yeah, along came Mr. Goodtrips
Looking for a new a ship
Come on, people better climb on board
Come on, baby, now we're going home
Ship of fools, ship of fools

The human race was dyin' out
Noone left to scream and shout
People walking on the moon
Smog will get you pretty soon
Ship of fools, ship of fools
Ship of fools, ship of fools
Ship of fools, ship of fools

[fat city]

World Day to Combat Desertification

Party time!!

[rock58seg]

I haven't seen a dust storm here in Texas since the mid fifties. Apparently dust-bowl conditions can be reversed when proper methods are used. Living here in San Antonio, on the edge of the Great Western Desert, even we're pretty damp also right now.

(sarcasm) In spite of the obvious tremendous increase in global warming.

[Faraday]

Even if you grant the UN points (and I would not be quick to do so), what is not said is very important. Population growth rates are falling over most of the globe--it is undergoing a crash in some areas. Agricultural output grows as technology is applied. Finally, the spread of capitalism holds great hope for the more efficient use of current resources.

Notice the report makes no recommendation for a solution to the "problem" they cite. Why not? Because the UN socialist bureaucrats would favor the elimination of the capitalist economic system, the strangling of the economy via energy controls, and the forced reduction in population via abortion, euthanasia, mandatory birth control, and genetic genocide. Not a pretty picture. No wonder the AP wouldn't ask the obvious questions.

[ohioman]

We are running at 5" above normal here in Ohio with another 1 to 2 inches of rain expected tonight. The corn and soybean crops (in non-flooded fields) are looking great. I guess this means we should pay more taxes due to our good fortune. The UN will soon blame us for controlling the weather.

[been_lurking]

Is this before or after Global Warming floods the Earth by melting the Polar Ice Caps?

(Which, incidentally has to wait in line behind the Global Warming Ice Age.)

[razoroccam]

I'm happy to inform you (and all others) that India has acutally increased its green space from 17% to 23% over two decades................
At least in one area, India does better than China

[dasboot]

I though L. Ron Hubbard was nuts.

[yankeedame]

The world is turning to dust, with lands the size of Rhode Island becoming desert wasteland every year... the United Nations says.

(sigh) Fine. Whatever. How much do you want this time?

[kidd]

source=http://www.esd.ornl.gov/projects/qen/nerc.html

Today's regions that are classified as 'desert biomes':

Source=http://www.aptoshs.net/~agoldenk/Melissa%20Buron/desert%20page

Conclusion: Things were once much worse

==========================================

Present total land surface area = 57,500,000 sq miles
Non-desert area = 6/7*57,500,000= 49,286,000 sq miles
Area lost to desert = 1374 sq miles/year (0.002%/yr)
Conclusion: In 1000 years, at this rate, we will lose 3% of non-desert land to desertification.

==========================================

This is natural, and is no cause for alarm

[Junior]

Well, look on the bright side. Now there will be more places for all those baby boomers to retire to.

[Natural Law]

Sure hasn't stopped people from moving to Arizona and Nevada.