Population vs consumption

[Neil Jones]

Someone asked me a few days ago to justify my statment that
*per capita consumption* was the real issue not overpopulation.
 
I do not deny that population increase is a problem. It is not
sustainable. However it is actually the amount of consumption
that is key to amount of damage.
 
Which ever way you look at the damage the bigger the consumption
the bigger the damage.
 
It you build, for example, a house twice the average size
it will occupy more land and require more quarrying or logging
to construct it. It will generate more pollution from the energy required
 to heat (or cool) it.
 
I have seen figures that the average US citizen uses more energy than
the average citizen in any other country.
 
Whether one needs all the consumption for a good quality of life
is a different matter.
 
--
Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn Bog
National Nature Reserve
 
 
 
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