[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1941-E1942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2001

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, rapid population growth and urbanization 
have become catalysts for many serious environmental problems and are 
applying substantial pressures on infrastructure, manifested especially 
in pollution, transportation, health, sanitation, and public safety 
problems; making urbanization an issue cannot afford to ignore. Cities 
and urban areas today occupy only 2 percent of the Earth's land, but 
contain half of the world's population and consume 75 percent of its 
resources.
  It is therefore important for us to recognize the problems associated 
with rapid population growth and urbanization. Governor Kitzhaber has 
proclaimed the week of October 21-27 of this year as World Population 
Awareness Week in the great State of Oregon, and I

[[Page E1942]]

would like to support the Governor in this effort by entering his 
proclamation into the Congressional Record.

                              Proclamation

       Whereas: world population today exceeds six billion and 
     continues to increase by one billion every 13 years; and
       Whereas: the most significant feature of the 20th century 
     phenomenon of unprecedented world population growth was rapid 
     urbanization; and
       Whereas: cities and urban areas today occupy only two 
     percent of the earth's land, but contain 50 percent of its 
     population and consume 75 percent of its resources; and
       Whereas: the most rapid urban growth over the next two 
     decades is expected in cities with populations ranging from 
     250,000 to one million; and
       Whereas: along with advantages and amenities, the rapid 
     growth of cities leads to substantial pressure on their 
     infrastructure, manifested in sanitary, health and crime 
     problems, as well as deterring the provision of basic social 
     services; and
       Whereas: in the interest of national and environmental 
     security, nations must redouble voluntary and humanitarian 
     efforts to stabilize their population growth at sustainable 
     levels, while at all times respecting the cultural and 
     religious beliefs and values of its citizens; and
       Whereas: the theme of World Population Awareness Week in 
     2001 is ``Population and the Urban Future.''
       Now, therefore, I, John A. Kitzhaber, Governor of the State 
     of Oregon, hereby proclaim October 21-28, 2001 to be World 
     Population Awareness Week in Oregon and encourage all 
     Oregonians to join in this observance.

     

                          ____________________