boxcarwilly Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Earth's population will be forced to colonise two planets within 50 years if natural resources continue to be exploited at the current rate, according to a report out this week. A study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), to be released on Tuesday, warns that the human race is plundering the planet at a pace that outstrips its capacity to support life. In a damning condemnation of Western society's high consumption levels, it adds that the extra planets (the equivalent size of Earth) will be required by the year 2050 as existing resources are exhausted. The report, based on scientific data from across the world, reveals that more than a third of the natural world has been destroyed by humans over the past three decades. Using the image of the need for mankind to colonise space as a stark illustration of the problems facing Earth, the report warns that either consumption rates are dramatically and rapidly lowered or the planet will no longer be able to sustain its growing population. Experts say that seas will become emptied of fish while forests - which absorb carbon dioxide emissions - are completely destroyed and freshwater supplies become scarce and polluted. The report offers a vivid warning that either people curb their extravagant lifestyles or risk leaving the onus on scientists to locate another planet that can sustain human life. Since this is unlikely to happen, the only option is to cut consumption now. Systematic overexploitation of the planet's oceans has meant the North Atlantic's cod stocks have collapsed from an estimated spawning stock of 264,000 tonnes in 1970 to under 60,000 in 1995. The study will also reveal a sharp fall in the planet's ecosystems between 1970 and 2002 with the Earth's forest cover shrinking by about 12 per cent, the ocean's biodiversity by a third and freshwater ecosystems in the region of 55 per cent. The Living Planet report uses an index to illustrate the shocking level of deterioration in the world's forests as well as marine and freshwater ecosystems. Using 1970 as a baseline year and giving it a value of 100, the index has dropped to a new low of around 65 in the space of a single generation. It is not just humans who are at risk. Scientists, who examined data for 350 kinds of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, also found the numbers of many species have more than halved. Martin Jenkins, senior adviser for the World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge, which helped compile the report, said: 'It seems things are getting worse faster than possibly ever before. Never has one single species had such an overwhelming influence. We are entering uncharted territory.' Figures from the centre reveal that black rhino numbers have fallen from 65,000 in 1970 to around 3,100 now. Numbers of African elephants have fallen from around 1.2 million in 1980 to just over half a million while the population of tigers has fallen by 95 per cent during the past century. The UK's birdsong population has also seen a drastic fall with the corn bunting population declining by 92 per cent between 1970 and 2000, the tree sparrow by 90 per cent and the spotted flycatcher by 70 per cent. Experts, however, say it is difficult to ascertain how many species have vanished for ever because a species has to disappear for 50 years before it can be declared extinct. Attention is now focused on next month's Earth Summit in Johannesburg, the most important environmental negotiations for a decade. However, the talks remain bedevilled with claims that no agreements will be reached and that US President George W. Bush will fail to attend. Matthew Spencer, a spokesman for Greenpeace, said: 'There will have to be concessions from the richer nations to the poorer ones or there will be fireworks.' The preparatory conference for the summit, held in Bali last month, was marred by disputes between developed nations and poorer states and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), despite efforts by British politicians to broker compromises on key issues. America, which sent 300 delegates to the conference, is accused of blocking many of the key initiatives on energy use, biodiversity and corporate responsibility. The WWF report shames the US for placing the greatest pressure on the environment. It found the average US resident consumes almost double the resources as that of a UK citizen and more than 24 times that of some Africans. Based on factors such as a nation's consumption of grain, fish, wood and fresh water along with its emissions of carbon dioxide from industry and cars, the report provides an ecological 'footprint' for each country by showing how much land is required to support each resident. America's consumption 'footprint' is 12.2 hectares per head of population compared to the UK's 6.29ha while Western Europe as a whole stands at 6.28ha. In Ethiopia the figure is 2ha, falling to just half a hectare for Burundi, the country that consumes least resources. The report, which will be unveiled in Geneva, warns that the wasteful lifestyles of the rich nations are mainly responsible for the exploitation and depletion of natural wealth. Human consumption has doubled over the last 30 years and continues to accelerate by 1.5 per cent a year. Now WWF wants world leaders to use its findings to agree on specific actions to curb the population's impact on the planet. A spokesman for WWF UK, said: 'If all the people consumed natural resources at the same rate as the average US and UK citizen we would require at least two extra planets like Earth.' The world's ticking timebomb Marine crisis: North Atlantic cod stocks have collapsed from an estimated 264,000 tonnes in 1970 to under 60,000 in 1995. Pollution: The United States places the greatest pressure on the environment, with its carbon dioxide emissions and over-consumption. It takes 12.2 hectares of land to support each American citizen and 6.29 for each Briton, while the figure for Burundi is just half a hectare. Shrinking Forests: Between 1970 and 2002 forest cover has dwindled by 12 per cent. Endangered wildlife: African elephant numbers have fallen from 1.2 million in 1980 to half a million now. In the UK the songbird population has fallen dramatically, with the corn bunting declining by 92 per cent in the past 30 years. Link: http://www.observer.co.uk/international/st...,750783,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REGULATOR Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE AHHHHH!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ctrl+alt+del Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 well i hope we can stop playing that "its the end of the world as we know it....." song until 2049 then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smart Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 the WWF said that? Wow... wrestlers... is there anything they CAN'T do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Fire Inside Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 It's a safe bet that cutting back will not take place. I always knew we'd kill the Earth, but I never thought it would be so soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Rage- Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Nice Smart, nice... :D _____________________________________________________ As one of my AIM away messages goes: I hope that the world DOES destroy itself in some biological cataclysm, so that in turn lies the realization that we are all possibly the stupidest species in the fucking universe. Fuck off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jah Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 i dont have time to read that whole thing right now but from what i read its a pretty fucked up situation. im not fuckin moving to outer space. ill move to the middle of the fuck jungle or forest or mountains somewhere with a woman and forget about all those fucks who would rather die than live without all hte extras. and you wonder why we have people bombing us. stupid fucks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phEaM Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 i hope i loss my virginity by then.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissmyass#1 Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 http://www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/images/x33.jpg'> devilush and i got the ride, who wants to leave with us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dyptheria Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Earth will be just fine. Humans on the other hand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mopius Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 whoa...i think im the only one that read the whole thing...shit like what that just said didn't suprise me at all. look at the garbage that people throw out every week its crazy:crazy:....i wonder what will happen??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klypse Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by jah i dont have time to read that whole thing right now but from what i read its a pretty fucked up situation. im not fuckin moving to outer space. ill move to the middle of the fuck jungle or forest or mountains somewhere with a woman and forget about all those fucks who would rather die than live without all hte extras. and you wonder why we have people bombing us. stupid fucks... word, if i ever get the chance im straight moving to the jungle, and live life as a aborigini or some shit. When it comes to the U.S. i doubt anyone would be able to give up some of their luxuries, theyd just begin to over consume the other luxuries, its gotta be all or nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest -sudz- Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 hey if this all happens, we can always kill ourselves right? no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greedy mars Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 shit i hope i die befoe that shit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d-town_bomber Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 let me ride with yall on the space ship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Retnilps Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by Dyptheria Earth will be just fine. Humans on the other hand... exactly. but really, who gives a shit about humans? itll be a suprise if we make it that far without starting World War Numero 3. so either way we're fucked, but the earth isnt. like pheam said.. i hope i lose my virginity by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.T Boy Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 id say we shuold all riot now. or go out in one big drunken orgy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Dazzle Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Isn't Earth going to colide with the sun by the year 300 or something? Damn.....sucks to be those guys...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smart Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 it's already been year 300 TWICE! I don't think it's coming around again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyLawrence Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by T.T Boy id say we shuold all riot now. or go out in one big drunken orgy. DRUNKEN ORGY RIOTS!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Dazzle Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by Smart it's already been year 300 TWICE! I don't think it's coming around again... You know what I mean. 3000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jah Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by -sudz- hey if this all happens, we can always kill ourselves right? no problems. are you kidding me? thats a pussy way out. id rather go down in a blaze of flames than kill myself. you wouldnt want to see the end of hte world? how many times do you get to see something like that? besides that wouldnt apply to the whole world anyway. just the really indrustrialized and super polluted places. to some, though, the end of the world means they dont get to watch tv anymore so whatever. sad motherfuckers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
When Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 hmm id better step up to three packs a day ill be dead while all you suffer muhuhahahahaa :lol: hey wait ill probably suffer oh well youll suffer worse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzep Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 im just glad that earth will finnaly get rid of us. but seriously, were all dum fucks arent we? a bunch of you guys said that you would give up luxeries in order to survive, you probably havent though, and probably never will. and even if you do, do you really think that thatll stop the cataclysm? or save you from destruction? god, its funny thinking that we humans think that were the smartest and yet were the dumbest things to walk the planet. however, i do belive we should at least try, because if we didnt, then we would certainly be the dumbasses of the universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ToYs Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by Smart the WWF said that? Wow... wrestlers... is there anything they CAN'T do? i think that was simpsons moment translated to fit smarts own devious replies:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jah Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by Armenhammer im just glad that earth will finnaly get rid of us. but seriously, were all dum fucks arent we? a bunch of you guys said that you would give up luxeries in order to survive, you probably havent though, and probably never will. and even if you do, do you really think that thatll stop the cataclysm? or save you from destruction? god, its funny thinking that we humans think that were the smartest and yet were the dumbest things to walk the planet. however, i do belive we should at least try, because if we didnt, then we would certainly be the dumbasses of the universe. i was just talking about when the industrial areas get too polluted to live in id rather go to a rural area in the middle of no where as long as i had enough to survive and a lady companion or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DETO Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by Smart the WWF said that? Wow... wrestlers... is there anything they CAN'T do? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drunken phil Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 there IS the possibility of nuclear war or mass disease. which do you prefer?:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest drunken phil Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 Originally posted by jah i was just talking about when the industrial areas get too polluted to live in id rather go to a rural area in the middle of no where as long as i had enough to survive and a lady companion or something. not to mention some kowledge of fermenting certain plants into a drink, and some "seeds".... cowshit might be nice too. ooh. a cow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jah Posted July 8, 2002 Share Posted July 8, 2002 ^^^good call. those are essentials. maybe some grape seeds too yea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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