Alternative Voice: Article

Planetary Transitioning

by Alternative Voice Staff

• In a recent BBC World Service global opinion poll, a large majority within the twenty one countries surveyed are of the opinion that the president of the USA has made the world more dangerous. Even amongst tradition allies and close geographical neighbors the feelings are predominantly negative, according to the poll.¹

• Recently the USA's dollar has hit a record low against the Euro, and according to many analysts, they predict the plunge to continue, not only in relation to the Euro, but to many currencies worldwide. According to former Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker, he predicts a "currency crisis" within 5 years.²

• According to the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), Finland leads the world in environmentally friendly policies, followed by Norway and Uruguay.

• The UN has declared 2005 to be the International Year of Microcredit. Microcredit is a new movement worldwide which is based on providing small loans to poor peoples unable to get them from the banks. The movement has assisted many formerly stuck in the cycle of poverty to gain empowerment.

• The rainforest disaster in Brazil continues, as nearly 8,000 square miles more were destroyed in 2004. The Amazon rainforest produces about 20% of the world's oxygen. According to James Alcock, professor of environmental sciences at Penn State, the entire forest could be gone within 40–50 years.³

• The Israeli authorities are determined to crush Mordechai Vanunu. The former nuclear technician for the Israeli government, who recently emerged from 18 years (11 and a half in solitary confinement) of prison for "whistle-blowing" on their secret nuclear programs, is being tried for 22 counts of violating restrictions imposed on him. Since his release he has been an outspoken worldwide voice for the perils of nuclear disaster.

• Imagine leaving your bathroom light on for 30 years. That's the amount of energy you'd waste in a year if you traded in an average car for a 13 mpg SUV.

• The USA Number 1? How about 49th in the world in literacy.⁴ "The International Adult Literacy Survey…found that Americans with less than nine years of education 'score worse than virtually all of the other countries.'"⁵ The World Health Organization "ranked the countries in terms of overall health performance, and the U.S. [was]…37th." In fairness of health care, we're 54th. The U.S. and South Africa are the only two developed countries that do not provide health care for all their citizens.⁶

• The USA has lost 1.3 million jobs to China in the last decade…⁷

• …while eliminating 1 million jobs in 2004.⁸

• 43% of Americans [U.S.] think torture is sometimes justified, according to a poll by the PEW organization.⁹

• Leading hurricane expert William Gray, a professor at Colorado State University, predicts more than 600 hurricanes on the way this season. "We're in an era for major storms," he told the crowd at the 27th Annual National Hurricane Conference. "I think we're going to have a growing problem." ¹⁰

• Number of U.S. terrorism trials brought before a jury since September 11, 2001: 1.¹¹

• Revenue generated by Halliburton under CEO Dick Cheney from business deals with Iraq under Saddam Hussein: $30,000,000.¹²

• Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security, holds stock in seven companies that have a contract with the Department of Homeland Security.¹³

• At least 35 countries had a greater capacity than Iraq to produce nuclear weapons at the time of the U.S. invasion.¹⁴

• The use by the USA military of depleted and nondepleted uranium in ammunitions, in Iraq, creates a radioactive dust that easily enters the body and damages DNA. USA troops and civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan have been testing high for radiation that causes cancer and birth defects.¹⁵

On a more postive note...

• In March, the City Council of Scottsdale, Arizona unanimously approved a green building resolution, becoming the country's first city to adopt such a high environmental standard for new city buildings and remodels. "I think we'll be a model across the nation. This is a movement for more sustainable development, and it's spreading across the nation. The advantages and benefits of this project are long term, which is what sustainability is all about," said Mayor Mary Manross.

¹Search "global+poll" in the BBC website: "http://www.BBC.co.uk"
²Silvercrest Asset Management Group (N.Y.C.)
³From an article off the net "Brazil: Profit and Poverty Fuel Amazon Deforestation", by John Levine, January 15, 2005.
⁴The New York Times, December 12, 2004.
⁵From Jeremy Rifkin's The European Dream: How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream.
⁶Ibid
⁷CNN, January 12, 2005
⁸The Week, January 14, 2005
⁹Associated Press. August 19, 2004
¹⁰The Arizona Republic, March 26, 2005
¹¹U.S. Department of Justice.
¹²Colum Lynch, Washington Post (N.Y.C.)
¹³U.S. Department of Homeland Security
¹⁴International Atomic Energy Agency (Vienna)
¹⁵From Censored 2005: The Top 25 Censored Stories (Seven Stories Press, 2004)