Alarm sounds on US population boom

The Boston Globe ^ | August 31, 2006 | John Donnelly

[A. Pole]

WASHINGTON -- The United States, now at nearly 300 million people, is the only industrialized country that has experienced strong population growth in the last decade, creating concerns that the boom and Americans' huge appetites for food, water, and land will sharply erode the nation's natural resources in coming years, according to a report released yesterday.

The Northeast remains by far the most densely populated region of the nation, but it also had the slowest population growth in the country during the 1990s

[...]

In contrast, the South and the West were booming, creating new pressure on fragile environments and water sources.

For the first time, the report compared national and regional population trends with environmental indicators, highlighting stresses that growing populations are placing on nature, according to the report and outside analysts.

While some researchers focus on alarming fertility rates in poor countries, which grew by 16.3 percent from 1995 to 2005, the US population grew by 10.6 percent in that period, or 29 million people, the report noted. Europe during that time grew by 504,000 people, or less than 1 percent.

[...]

Americans consume like no other nation -- using three times the amount of water per capita than the world average and nearly 25 percent of the world's energy, despite having 5 percent of the global population; and producing five times more daily waste than the average in poor countries.

[...]

But the booming South and West regions show some of the most dramatic environmental stresses, according to the report. For example, the four fastest-growing states -- Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah -- all have areas of acute water shortages.

[...]

[A. Pole]

"Population boom" bump

[DBrow]

Get a handle on immigration now, and the population boom will abate.

[BenLurkin]

Sounds as though we are doomed.

Better send all the illegals home right now.

[lovecraft]

the US population grew by 10.6 percent in that period, or 29 million people, the report noted.

And damn near half of that is from illegal immigration.

[DungeonMaster]

America is sparsely populated.

[Gay State Conservative]

And damn near half of that is from illegal immigration.

You mean 95%,don't you??!!

[unixfox]

Americans consume like no other nation

Is this a great country or what. But of course the Boston Globe doesn't like that, especially when evil republicans are in charge. /s

[Tenacious 1]

[In contrast, the South and the West were booming, creating new pressure on fragile environments and water sources.]

The fragile environment? Here we go again. I would like the author to tell us what America should do to stunt our growth. Should we:

1) Stop all legal and illegal immigration
2) Pass legislation that restricts reproduction via state issued birthing licenses
3) Drown female babies at birth
4) Offer government sponsered sterilization
5) Start deporting illegal immigrants by the millions
6) Move part of the American population to another planet

I will wait for the scientific solution to this funded study.

[b4its2late]

It ain't due to births I'm sure.

[Vision]

America is sparsely populated

How do you figure? While there is a lot of land, the areas with infrastructure are filled. DC's traffic is almost a catastrophe.

[cinives]

Americans consume like no other nation -- using three times the amount of water per capita than the world average

That's because we brush our teeth and take showers at least once daily, unlike the rest of the world.

[Vision]

I've been told NJ is almost built out.

[50sDad]

Americans consume like no other nation

Because we invent, create, build, make, devise and produce like no other nation. And we have the money, and the power. Shut up and move to France, you apologetic Nancy-boy.

[RSmithOpt]

Precisely!! Population boom is the article slant, not birthrate of US citizens by US citizens!!

[yoe]

In contrast, the South and the West were booming, creating new pressure on fragile environments and water sources.

The consummate reason why Arizona should not elect Jim Pederson, a wealthy developer challenging Senator Jon Kyl.

[aruanan]

The United States, now at nearly 300 million people, is the only industrialized country that has experienced strong population growth in the last decade, creating concerns that the boom and Americans' huge appetites for food, water, and land will sharply erode the nation's natural resources in coming years, according to a report released yesterday.

If this is due to an increase in numbers of young and babies, it's a good thing. We're that much farther away from the demise of Europe and other non-reproducing regions.

[Darnright]

Uh-huh, sure. Let me guess, the liberals are going to begin a new round of "we're overpopulated, so concerned Americans should limit their families to 2 children".

I have a better idea. Let's quit dragging in people from all over the planet, and our "population problem" will correct itself.

[50sDad]

Earth First! And when we have mined it to Oblivion, we make Mars our b!+ch!

The more people we have, the more reason to get off this rock. And when we've got off planet colonies, the less chance that some moron like we have in Iran can screw the whole human race.

[kabar]

LOL. I was wondering how long it would take for the environmentalist wackos to realize finally that open borders have an impact on the environment and the consumption of natural resources. We would have a population growth of less than replacement if we didn't have immigration, legal and illegal, which accounts for three-fourths of all U.S. population growth.