Yet another interesting yet foreboding set of
predictions from scientists at a recent conference,
this one deals with the proliferation of infectious
diseases that coincide with global warming;
http://unisci.com/stories/20001/0221002.htm
David Pimentel said global warming will create a
favorable climate for disease-causing organisms and
food-plant pests -- but a much more challenging planet
for humans struggling to survive.
"Most of the increase in disease is due to numerous
environmental factors -- including infectious
microbes, pollution by chemicals and biological
wastes, and shortages of food and nutrients -- and
global warming will only make matters worse."
* A population increase to 12 billion in the next 50
years (based on current growth rates) will exacerbate
the spread of disease globally, the Cornell ecologist
said. Densely crowded urban environments, especially
those without adequate sanitation and nutrition,
should be of great public-health concern because they
are sources of disease epidemics. Dengue fever, spread
by the "Aedes aegypti "mosquito breeding in old tires
and other water-holding containers, is expanding
rapidly in crowded tropical cities. With global
warming, this mosquito and others will spread north,
transporting dengue and other diseases from the
tropics.
* Waterborne diseases -- already accounting for nine
out of 10 deaths from infectious disease in developing
countries -- will become more prevalent in a warmer,
more polluted and crowded planet. For example, only
eight of India's 3,120 towns and cities have full
wastewater treatment facilities. Hundreds of millions
of people in India and other developing countries are
forced to use untreated water for drinking, bathing
and cooking.
-------------------------
Recently I heard a couple of scientists on the radio
arguing that global warming was SUPPOSED to happen,
never mind that the increases coincide so well with
the industrial age and rash of so many new births
every year. Anything to blame something other than
smog and pollution and over-population.
That's why energy and transportation from
non-combustible sources is so important to abate and
rescind pollution. Not to mention cheap, readily
available cures for a myriad of diseases. A bit here
and a bit there, never seems like enough....
=====
=================================
Please respond to jdecker@keelynet.com
as I am writing from my work email of
jwdatwork@yahoo.com.........thanks!
=================================
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
To leave this list, email <listserver@keelynet.com>
with the body text: leave Interact
list archives and on line subscription forms are at
http://keelynet.com/interact/
-------------------------------------------------------------