Over Six Billion and Counting Population Over Six Billion and Counting

Ultimately, no problem may be more threatening to the earth's environment than the proliferation of the human species.

Currently 82 million people are being added every year in less developed countries, compared to 1.5 million in developed ones.

Less developed countries include Africa, Asia Less developed countries include Africa, Asia*, Latin America, the Caribbean and Oceania^ 90% of the world’s births and almost 99% of the world’s natural increase will occur in poorer, developing countries. * Excluding Japan, ^ Excluding Australia and New Zealand

The future will be determined by the youth of developing nations. The age at which they choose to marry, and the number of children they have may be the most important decisions of the 21st Century.

But 20% of the world's population now consumes 80% of the resources But 20% of the world's population now consumes 80% of the resources. Rich West Reluctant to Commit

Who consumes more? With only 4.6 percent of world population, Americans use about one-third of the world's processed mineral resources, and about one- fourth of the world's non-renewable energy sources, like oil and coal.

India vs America Compared to a person from India, a typical American uses: 34 times more aluminum 43 times more petroleum 184 times more natural gas 386 times more pulp wood (for paper)

Is it war or entertainment? US Marines land in Somalia; a “covert operation.”

Is this the future? Blackhawk Down? No real life. US Marine in Mogadishu, 1992.

Troops from the United States and other nations entered Somalia in late 1992 and helped ensure the distribution of food to avert further famine. However, efforts to reestablish a central government were unsuccessful, and international troops became enmeshed in the tribal conflicts that had undone the nation. Attempts in 1993 by U.S. forces to capture warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid, in reaction to an ambush by Somalis in which 23 Pakistani peacekeepers were killed, failed, while producing further casualties.

Clan-based fighting increased in 1994 as the United States and other nations withdrew their forces; the last UN peacekeepers left the following year. In 1995, Aidid was again proclaimed president by some factions, but in reality Somalia has not had any organized government with international recognition since Barre was overthrown. Aidid died in Aug. 1996 from wounds suffered in battle; his faction chose his son, Hussein Mohammed Farah, a former U.S. marine, to succeed him. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 1999, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

Is there nothing left but to run from the gun? 1976 Soweto

In 1976 Soweto was the scene of a massive uprising that began as a student protest against the government's use of Afrikaans in black schools. The rebellion soon became a violent expression of outrage at their inferior position under the South African policies of apartheid; it spread to other cities and more than 600 were killed as the revolt was put down. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Copyright © 1999

Is this progress?

Or this? Associated Press photographer Nick Ut captured this Pulitzer Prize winning image of a nine year old girl, Kim Phuc, badly burned and running naked down a road after her village was attacked with napalm. She now lives in Toronto with her husband and son.

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, with 1 The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, with 1.6 billion people worse off than they were 10 years ago. Source : United Nations Report.

The very rich are getting even richer, with the world's 358 billionaires having more assets than the combined incomes of countries housing 45 percent of the world's people. $90 billion and counting.

“The world has become more economically polarized both between countries and within countries.'' James Gustave Speth, Administrator of the U.N. Development Program

``If present trends continue, economic disparities between industrial and developing nations will move from inequitable to inhuman.'' James Gustave Speth, Administrator of the U.N. Development Program