[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18470-18471]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  THE STATE OF IDAHO'S PROCLAMATION OF WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

 Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, I rise today to enter into the 
Record a proclamation signed by the Governor of the State of Idaho.
  Rapid population growth and urbanization have become catalysts for 
many serious environmental impacts and they apply substantial pressures 
on many facets of our infrastructure. These pressures often result in 
transportation, health, sanitation, and public safety problems, making 
urbanization an issue that cannot be ignored.
  It is, therefore, important for us to recognize the problems 
associated with rapid population growth and urbanization. The Governor 
of the State of Idaho has proclaimed the week of October 21-27, 2001, 
as World Population Awareness Week in my State. I would like to commend 
the Governor for his commitment to this issue.
  I ask that the proclamation be printed in the Record.
  The proclamation follows:

                              Proclamation

       Whereas, the world population stands today at more than 6.1 
     billion and increases by some 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 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 the advantages and amenities, the rapid 
     growth of cities leads to substantial pressure on their 
     infrastructure, manifested in security, 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; and

[[Page 18471]]

       Whereas, the theme of World Population Awareness Week in 
     2001 is ``Population and the Urban Future'';
       Now Therefore, I, Dirk Kempthorne, Governor of the State of 
     Idaho, do hereby proclaim the week of October 21 through 27, 
     2001, to be World Population Awareness Week in Idaho and urge 
     all citizens of our state to take cognizance of this event 
     and to participate appropriately in its observance.

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