Earth Day Notes

Somewhat late in the day and not even Lenin's birthday Earth Day anymore where I am, but nevertheless... Jim Glass (via Chronicle of the Conspiracy):

1965 to 2005:

* US per capita GDP, up 126%.

*US per capita consumption of 32 most-consumed minerals, down 40%

* US total gross consumption of 32 most-consumed minerals, down 9% -- that's a 9% decline in absolute terms even as GDP rose 244% and the population increased by 53%.

Full details about all this and more (including how the amount of trash NYC produces per capita has declined by more than 50% since 1940)...

Reality doesn't stack up well with the slogans that call for a reduction in your environmental footprint (Lifehacker) populating the web and news today. Of course, post-Bush who supposedly was anti-science, some environmentalists are proving the point that their dislike for the former Bush Administration wasn't about the science at all (Reason via Instapundit).

On the other hand, fortunately there's ample evidence that most consumers just don't care irrespective of what they might say (Amazon via Instapundit) - which ironically, may be good for both the environment and the economy.