Deserts Advancing at an Increasing Pace
A report by the U.S. Embassy in China entitled "Desert Mergers and Acquisitions" describes satellite images showing the two deserts in Mongolia and Gansu provinces China expanding and merging to form a single, larger desert. To the west in Xinjiang Province, two even larger deserts, the Taklimakan and Kumtag, are also expanding toward each other. To the east, the Gobi Desert is now withing 150 miles of Bejing.
The deserts are expanding at an increasing rate; up from 600 square miles a year between 1950 and 1975 to nearly 1,400 square miles by 2000.
Over the last half-century some 24,000 Chinese villages have been abandoned or depopulated by advancing deserts.
In Afghanistan, a U.N Environment Program team has been tracking the advance of the Registan Desert. Up to 100 villages have been submerged by sand and roads have been blocked by 60 foot sand dunes.
In Iran, sand storms have buried 124 villages in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan, and covered grazing areas.
Nigeria is losing 1,355 square miles of rangeland and cropland. In Mexico, the degredation of cropland forces 700,000 Mexicans off the land each year, many coming to the U.S. searching for jobs. Even tropical Brazil is experiencing advancing deserts.
With 70 million more people in the world each year, the growth of human and livestock populations continue to degrade the land and hasten desertification.
posted by Tim @ 22:07
2 comments
2 Comments:
SAVING PARADISE!!
I live in Quito, Ecuador, which is as close to paradise one might get. In fact all of Ecuador is unique. There is probably no other country like it in the world. The climate is great, the people are wonderful, and there are four very distinct climatic areas in the country. It is one of the few travel secrets left in the world.
Unfortunately this paradise is slowly being destroyed by a few multinational companies who have absolutely no regard for this fragile environment.
Several years ago companies such as COCA-COLA, PEPSI-COLA, INBEV (BECK’S BEER, BASS, BUDWIESER)
SAB-MILLER (MILLER BEER, CASTLE BEER, AMSTED LAGER), started introducing most of their beverages in non-returnable containers. The soft drink manufacturers now produce a wide range of non-returnable plastic containers of all their products.
The beer manufacturers also are now producing non-returnable drinks in bottles and cans.
These products include soft drinks, bottled water, beer, fruit juice drinks and energy drinks.
Unfortunately no where in Ecuador is there a refund law requiring these multinational companies to accept responsibility for their irresponsible marketing strategies.
Because of this total disregard for the environment and only their concern for high profits, the country is literally becoming choked by the non-returnable containers.
The garbage generated by these products is becoming a very serious problem.
ALL THESE COMPANIES are doing NOTHING!
These are not the only companies selling these non-returnable containers. Included in this list are whiskey manufacturers such as Johnny Walker, Cutty Sark, Chivas Regal, most of the California wine companies, Chilean wine companies, Heineken Beer, Budweiser. etc.
All these companies are not allowed to carry on these type of irresponsible marketing practices in North America or Europe, but because there is a lack of laws in countries such as Ecuador, they do whatever they want and feel no obligation to correct these criminal practices.
If you go to the web pages of these soft drink companies or liquor companies, they all talk about their social responsibilities. Believe me this is only a farce. Not only do they pollute the country side with their products, they illegally sell to establishments that do not have permits to sell liquor, they sell their products close to local high schools and churches.
They also openly sponsor amateur and professional sports teams. Again, in North America and in Europe this would not be permitted. What kind of message are they sending to the youth that it is alright to mix alcohol with sports?
I am asking your support to put pressure on these companies. I would like you to first start a worldwide boycott of products manufactures by AMBEV, SAB-MILLER, COCA-COLA, PEPSI-COLA, JOHNNY WALKER WHISKEY, CUTTY SARK; CHIVAS-REGAL.
I would like you to start an email campaign sending a clear message to all these companies that they cannot carry on with unacceptable marketing practices such as they do in Ecuador.
The people and the country of Ecuador are no different than the people of North America and Europe. We deserve to be treated with the same respect and dignity.
This country cannot be used as a personal dumping ground for these types of multinational companies. If their marketing and sales practices are unacceptable in North America and Europe, why should they be allowed to do as they please in a small country such as Ecuador?
Finally, I would ask that you send this letter around the world to all environmental groups, politicians, news media, and anyone who can pressure these types of companies into permanently stopping these types of environmentally destructive practices.
Thank you;
Zoltan S. Strigan
zoltan_strigan@yahoo.com
Zoltan -
These companies engage in the same practices in the United States. They don't care about the environment, only profits. A boycott would influence them, but you may have better luck with your local politicians, and shut the borders to this filth.
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