[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20869-20870]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    WORLD POPULATION AWARENESS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JAMES C. GREENWOOD

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 29, 2001

  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, rapid population growth and urbanization 
have become catalysts for many serious environmental problems and are 
applying substantial pressures on infrastructure, manifested in 
pollution, transportation, health, sanitation and public safety 
problems. This situation makes urbanization an issue that we 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

[[Page 20870]]

growth and urbanization. Governor Ridge has proclaimed the week of 
October 21-27, 2001 as World Population Awareness Week in the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I would like to support the Governor 
in this effort by entering his proclamation into the Congressional 
Record.

 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor's Office, Proclamation, World 
             Population Awareness Week, October 21-27, 2001

       Whereas, the 21st Century offers enormous environmental and 
     societal challenges for governments at all levels; and
       Whereas, these challenges call for innovative leadership to 
     ensure resource conservation, protection of open space, waste 
     prevention, sanitation management to provide quality of life. 
     These challenges are inextricably linked to patterns of 
     considerable demographic change; and
       Whereas, world population is projected to increase by 
     almost 80 million per year with 98 percent of population 
     growth predicted to occur in the least developed countries of 
     the world. This growth can lead to disease, hunger and 
     starvation; and
       Whereas, demographic problems are not limited to the under 
     developed nations. These problems are also a reality in the 
     United States in other industrialized nations.
       Therefore, I, Tom Ridge, Governor of the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim October 21-27, 2001, as 
     World Population Awareness Week in Pennsylvania. I encourage 
     all citizens to reflect upon these challenges and seek 
     rational, humanitarian and community-based solutions.
       Given under my hand and the Seal of the Government, at the 
     City of Harrisburg on this eleventh day of July in the year 
     of our Lord two thousand and one of the Commonwealth the two 
     hundred and twenty-sixth.
       Tom Ridge, Governor.

       

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