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CCN's 5 Point Program
WHAT IS CARRYING CAPACITY?A common fallacy is to equate existing and seemingly open or "unused" spaces with the kind of resources and ecologically productive land needed to support human life under modern conditions. In fact, the criterion for determining whether a region is overpopulated is not land area, but carrying capacity. Carrying capacity refers to the number of individuals who can be supported in a given area within natural resource limits, and without degrading the natural social, cultural and economic environment for present and future generations. The carrying capacity for any given area is not fixed. It can be altered by improved technology, but mostly it is changed for the worse by pressures which accompany a population increase. As the environment is degraded, carrying capacity actually shrinks, leaving the environment no longer able to support even the number of people who could formerly have lived in the area on a sustainable basis. No population can live beyond the environment's carrying capacity for very long. The average American's "ecological footprint" (the demands an individual endowed with average amounts of resources, ie, land, water, food, fiber, waste assimilation and disposal, etc. puts on the environment) is about 12 acres, an area far greater than that taken up by one's residence and place of school or work and other places where he or she is. We must think in terms of "carrying capacity" not land area. The effects of unfettered population growth drastically reduce the carrying capacity in the United States. |
Tancredo Legislation to Set Pro-Immigrant Policy of Low Immigration "Massive immigration must be addressed, and it is time we ask ourselves, what level of immigration is best for America and of real help to the world."
August 1, 2001
WASHINGTON, DC--U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO), chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus, introduced legislation today to develop a pro-immigrant policy of low immigration.
"Massive immigration must be addressed, and it is time we ask ourselves, what level of immigration is best for America and of real help to the world," Tancredo said. "Massive immigraton strains our nation's economic and social resources, and depresses wage rates for low-skilled workers."
The Mass Immigration Reduction Act of 2001 would impose a five-year moratorium on immigration, during which time only spouses and children of Americans would be allowed into the country, in addition to 25,000 refugees. When the provisions of the bill are implemented, total immigration into the country will drop from over 1 million immigrants to approximately 300,000.
Hoping to address the rampant flood of illegal immigration, the bill includes a provision lifting the immigration moratorium if the president reports to Congress that the number of illegal immigrants entering the country has been reduced to less than 10,000 per year.
"It's time to confront the true costs of massive immigration, which have skyrocketed beyond our society's ability to handle them successfully," Tancredo concluded.
1. WRITE, FAX, CALL, AND E-MAIL President Bush and your Representatives in Congress and tell them you support Representative Tancredo's Immigration Moratorium!
2. E-MAIL Representative Tom Tancredo and let him know you strongly support his new Immigration Moratorium Bill! Go to Representative Tancredo's website and learn more about it! He can also be reached at his D.C. office, at 418 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2701, or by calling (202) 225-7882
or faxing (202) 226-4623.
3. MAKE A SPECIAL TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO CCN TODAY to help us continue to fight for our sustainable future. Your tax-deductible donation will help us fight against detrimental legislation and propel us in the right direction.
4. JOIN CCN'S EMAIL ACTION ALERT GROUP: Send CCN your email address so we can electronically transmit up-to-the minute information as it becomes available.
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