Carrying Capacity Network Action Alert U.S. and World Headed for Ecological Collapse if Current Trends Continue

November 2004

– Best-seller Limits to Growth 30-year Update Finds World in "Overshoot" Mode –

– Mass Immigration Threatens U.S. Sustainability - U.S Population Doubling Time Now Only 60 Years –

CCN HAS A SOLUTION

Just over 30 years ago a pioneering book grabbed the attention of the world with its dramatic and sobering message: without a drastic change in the rates of economic and population growth, the planet was headed toward ecological collapse. Harshly attacked by critics who wanted to dismiss the conclusions presented as pessimistic exaggeration, The Limits to Growth nevertheless became an international best-seller and was translated into more than a dozen languages.
Now, Limits to Growth: The 30 year Update examines the accuracy of the predictions of 30 years ago and updates us on the present situation. Unfortunately, if current trends continue:

"The collapse will arrive very suddenly, much to everyone's surprise."

Readers of the latest version of Limits will find some grim conclusions: The human burden on the natural environment is already above sustainable levels, and if a profound correction is not made soon, a crash of some sort is certain to occur within the lifetimes of many who are alive today. Alarming facts and statistics paint a picture of a planet in peril:

• Major and widespread climate changes have occurred with startling speed. Roughly half the north Atlantic warming since last ice age was achieved in only a decade;
  

• The world is facing widespread shortages of our least substitutable and most essential resource – potable water. Groundwater sources are being depleted faster than they can recharge on every continent except Antarctica;
  

• The world's large water bodies contain 61 major dead zones – areas where virtually all aquatic life has been killed. The Mississippi dead zone covers 8,000 miles, the size of the state of Massachusetts;

• The Colorado, Yellow, Nile, Ganges, Indus, Chao Phraya, Syr Darya, and Amu Darya rivers are so diverted by withdrawals for irrigation and cities that their channels run dry for some or all of the year;
  

• Mass extinction of plant and animal species is underway at a rate ecologists say has not happened since the extinction wave that eliminated the dinosaurs 65 million years ago;
  

• The current atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane are far higher than they have been for 160,000 years;
  

• Peak oil – meaning the maximum annual production achievable – followed by decline, is predicted to arrive within a few years. Some experts claim Peak Oil is Now! Peak production of natural gas is expected to follow within 20 years. This will severely crimp our ability to grow food in present quantities, because both fossil fuels are major inputs in agricultural production;
  75 percent of the world's oceanic fisheries have now been fished at or beyond capacity; and, most alarming,
  

• The world's population growth is on track to increase from the current 6 billion to over 9 billion people by 2050. This increase in population will greatly exacerbate the aforementioned trends.
  

A frightening forecast, indeed. But perhaps not unalterable. The enclosed synopsis outlines the evidence and identifies the authors' main conclusions. The Limits To Growth: The 30 Year Update leaves us with a hopeful, if urgent, message: although the situation remains precarious, there is still time to bring the Earth back from the brink of ecological collapse, if we act now.

- The United States is in Overshoot Mode -

As citizens of the United States we don't need to look beyond our own borders to see the scenario presented in this latest update unfolding all around us. Consider the following:

• One acre of natural habitat and/or farmland is converted into built-up space or highways for each person added to the U.S. population;
  

• 400 gallons of oil equivalents are expended annually to feed each American. The U.S. already imports 56% of every barrel used to meet domestic demand;
  

• Much of the United States Western grain belt is irrigated by the Ogallala aquifer, which is annually depleted 30-60% in excess of recharge rates;
  

• Although Americans make up only 4 percent of the world's population, we produce 25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution;
  The United States (exclusive of Alaska) has lost 95 percent of its original forest cover;
  

• The U.S. population is now 294 million. If the present growth rate continues, the U.S. population will exceed 500 million by 2050 and one billion by 2100. Nearly 90 percent of that growth will come from mass immigration, if current trends continue.
  

• Currently, the U.S. earns $40 billion per year as the largest food exporter in the world. If present trends in population growth, domestic food consumption, energy supplies, and topsoil loss continue, U.S. food exports will cease by 2040.

According to Limits, the "most essential" step we can take toward sustainability is to slow and eventually stop exponential growth of population and physical capital.

Each year over 3.3 million people are added to the U.S. population. Nearly 90 percent of that growth results from mass immigration and the children born to immigrants. This influx puts massive pressure on our country's resources.

The ecosystem of our country cannot bear another several hundred million consuming residents.

If we are to avert a catastrophic crash we must work quickly to stabilize our population, by enacting a moratorium on all immigration in excess of 100,000 per year, the highest number that will allow us to achieve population stabilization. Such a moratorium would dramatically reduce the population growth that is the primary cause of increased pollution, traffic jams, sprawl, and environmental degradation in the U.S.

Equally important, reducing immigration into the U.S. would greatly help sending countries reduce their exploding populations' growth rates. Studies have shown that allowing high levels of emigration actually drives up fertility rates in the sending countries.

- New Details of Amnesty Plan Foreshadow Threat to U.S. Ecosystem -

Guest-worker plan would legalize 8 - 12 million illegal aliens and increase legal immigration!

CCN has warned about the repercussions of the various proposed amnesty plans in previous Action Alerts. Previously undisclosed details of the proposed "guest worker" (amnesty) plan reveal a scheme to provide "incentives" to encourage illegal aliens to "come out of the shadows." The plan would allow 8 - 12 million illegal aliens to remain in our country indefinitely. Not only that, but the plan would seek an annual increase in legal immigrants! As we go to press, both presidential candidates have given every indication of continuing the push for an illegal alien amnesty when Congress reconvenes!

ONLY CCN and its ASAP Coalition allies have a realistic solution to Achieve U.S. Population Stabilization

1) Arm yourself with the latest U.S. population and environment statistics with CCN's new Carrying Capacity Check-up Datasheet.

2) Call, write and fax your senators and Representative today and urge them to oppose any amnesty, whether blatant or disguised. You can reach your senators and representative by calling the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121. Fax and mailing contact info can be found at www.congress.org.

3) Tell your members of Congress that a moratorium on all immigration in excess of 100,000 per year is essential to stabilizing the U.S. population and protecting our resources and environment. To achieve maximum effect, it is essential that you couple your opposition to the amnesty with a call for a moratorium on mass legal immigration. This ensures that congress "gets the message." Urge your representative to sponsor H.R. 946, the Immigration Moratorium bill in the next session of Congress, as well as the other bills listed here.

4) Help us intensify our efforts to stop the amnesty by using the enclosed business reply envelope to send a special donation to CCN today. You can also make a safe, secure, on-line donation.

AND, VITALLY IMPORTANT: In order to multiply our impact, CCN urgently needs more activist members! Help us increase our clout by giving a gift membership to a friend or relative who may not be aware of the costs of mass immigration.

Remember, even if we do not succeed in passing a moratorium in the next session of Congress, the act of pushing for it is very important, because that act generates pressure to stop "bad" bills, and to pass "good" ones.