[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20628]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             RECOGNITION OF WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

 Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I would like to take this time to 
recognize the week of October 21-28 as ``World Population Awareness 
Week.''
  Rapid population growth and urbanization have become catalysts for 
many serious environmental problems. They are applying substantial 
pressures on infrastructure, manifested especially in pollution, 
transportation, health, sanitation, and public safety problems. These 
all make urbanization an issue we cannot afford to ignore. Cities and 
urban areas today occupy only two percent of the earth's land, but 
contain half of the world's population and consume 75 percent of its 
resources.
  Therefore, it is important for us to recognize the problems 
associated with rapid population growth and urbanization. Governor 
Lincoln Almond has proclaimed the week of October 21-28 as ``World 
Population Awareness Week'' in Rhode Island. I ask that Governor 
Almond's proclamation be printed in the Record.
  The material follows:

    State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations--Gubernatorial 
                              Proclamation

       Whereas, 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 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, World Population Awareness Week was proclaimed 
     last year by Governors of 32 states, as well as Mayors of 
     more than 315 United State cities, and co-sponsored by 231 
     organizations in 63 countries; and,
       Whereas, the theme of World Population Awareness Week in 
     2001 is ``Population and the Urban Future''; now,
       Therefore, I, Lincoln Almond, Governor of the State of 
     Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, do hereby proclaim, 
     October 21-28, 2001, as World Population Awareness 
     Week.

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