Human Numbers Up, Bird Numbers Down: Not Just a Coincidence Fewer flocks and feathers grace our skies, forests, coasts, grasslands, and deserts these days. A team of scientists writing in the journal Science reports that the number of birds in North America has dwindled by about 30 percent since 1970, or nearly three billion individual … Continued
In today’s polarized America, there are certain “third rail” or “hot potato” issues one just can’t touch without an explosive reaction. They’re too hot to touch, and so most politicians ignore them rather than risk getting burned. Emotionalism, knee-jerk responses, heaping scorn, and scoring cheap political points trump rational deliberation, discussion, and debate. Right and … Continued
The Trump administration recently finalized new rules that it insists will “modernize” the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Unsurprisingly, environmental groups and their media allies are expressing alarm, while extractive industries aligned with Trump reassure the public that the new rules represent an improvement for everyone, not least threatened and endangered species. Yet neither the Trump … Continued
By Jeremy Beck
We lose a football field worth of nature every 30 seconds in the United States. We add an NFL football stadium worth of people every ten days. You don’t have to be an environmental scientist or demographer to see the connection. Even with our efforts to reduce our individual footprints, our collective feet are stomping … Continued
By Christy Shaw
Add Ecuador to a growing list of South American countries beginning to close or significantly restrict mass migration spilling over their borders, a tragic consequence of the chaos and corruption that has plunged over 90% of Venezuela’s population into poverty. It is estimated that by the end of this year, over 5 million Venezuelens will … Continued
If you were to poll average Americans as to what the most important natural resource is that sustains contemporary civilization, you’d probably get responses such as oil, soil, or water. And each of these would be good answers. For each of these substances is absolutely crucial in sustaining not just our standard of living but … Continued
By Rob Harding
July 29 was Earth Overshoot Day, the day which marks when we have used more from nature than the planet can renew for the entire year. Our demand for Earth’s resources far exceeds what Earth can generate in a year. In the 1970s Earth Overshoot Day fell in December and November. In the 1990s it … Continued
By Roy Beck
If you are finding your Fourth of July weekend diminished by over-packed highways, over-crowded parks, and ill-maintained infrastructures unable to keep up with the people growth, blame the Members of Congress. Since the year 2000, nearly 50 million people have been added to our sprawling cities. And Congress’ immigration policies caused most of it, according … Continued
By Christy Shaw
It was my first year joining the NumbersUSA team at Fair Park in Dallas, TX for the annual EarthX event! In general, it was fun and rewarding to be able to share important information with our booth visitors about the impacts of urban sprawl and population growth, both locally and nationally. Most passersby agreed that … Continued
