The
WorldWatch Institute is about to launch it's annual
Vital Signs report on the state of the planet, and it makes sobering reading...
Follow these links for the report's
preface,
table of contents and an
overview...
In summary, the report outlines
two different types of environmental destruction related to
inequality + poverty. The first is the result of
excessive consumption by rich countries, while the second is a result of the world's poor having to
eek out a living...
A few
Vital Facts include:
More than 13 million children who have lost a parent due to AIDS
14.4 million people die each year from infectious disease
There were 12 million international refugees in the beginning of 2002
While the global economy has grown 7x since 1950, the disparity in per capita income between the 20 richest and 20 poorest nations more than doubled between 1960 + 1995.
Fortunately, the report
isn't all bad news, as it ends with an empowering
list of things we can all do...
Including
serving those in need,
greening our community,
becoming an informed voter,
Quitting smoking, exercising more, and eating more fruits + vegetables,
practicing + promoting safe sex,
helping eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS +
ensuring safe motherhoods...
Now all we need is for enough people to decide these things have to happen, which is where
we all have a part to play.
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