[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1976-E1977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               REGARDING WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 31, 2001

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter into the Record the 
attached Proclamation of Bill Graves, Governor of the State of Kansas, 
designating October 21-27 World Population Awareness Week.
  Rapid population growth and urbanization have become catalysts for 
many serious environmental problems, applying substantial pressures to 
the infrastructure of nations around the world. These pressures caused 
by population growth and urbanization are manifested especially in 
pollution, transportation, health, sanitation and public safety. 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. World population stands today at

[[Page E1977]]

more than 6.1 billion and increases by one billion every 13 years.
  Therefore, it is important for us to recognize the problems 
associated with rapid population growth and urbanization. Governor 
Graves has proclaimed the week of October 21-27 of this year as World 
Population Awareness week in the great state of Kansas, and I would 
like to support the Governor in this effort by entering his 
proclamation into the Congressional Record.

             STATE OF KANSAS--PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR

     TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS:
     WHEREAS, World population stands today at more than 6.1 
     billion increases by some one billion every 13 years; and
     WHEREAS, The most significant feature of the 20th century 
     phenomena of unprecedented world population growth was rapid 
     urbanization; and
     WHEREAS, Cities and urban areas today occupy only 2% of the 
     earth's land, but contain 50% of its population and consume 
     75% 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 their citizens; and
     WHEREAS, World Population Awareness Week was proclaimed last 
     year by Governors of 32 states, as well as Mayors of more 
     than 315 United States cities, and co-sponsored by 231 
     organizations in 63 countries:
     NOW, THEREFORE, I, BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF 
     KANSAS, do hereby proclaim the week of October 21-27, 2001, 
     as

                    World Population Awareness Week

     in Kansas and urge all citizens to join in this observance.
       Done at the Capitol in Topeka under the Great Seal of the 
     State this 25th day of September, A.D. 2001.

     

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