As many are aware, this morning the US population crossed the 300 million marker.
Insignificant to some, ominous to others.
While watching TV last night, I was reminded of an ongoing joke I have had with folks at my office for the past few years in which I tell everyone to make their kids take Mandarin classes. I say this because I have been closely following the unprecedented industrialization of China and its 1.3 Billion people.
While I build a house, and while many of you look at buying homes in new small communities in Everywhere, America...
China is building cities.
Yes, I said "cities" plural... like 50+ of them. 40% of the worlds construction. Imagine 50 new Washington, DC's in 10 years.
Anyway, as we mark this monumental occasion in which we are celebrating mankind's unchecked population dominion over the world, I am reminded of a conversation I had with a great friend several months ago...
Me: China has to be unrelenting in pursuing sustainable, environmentally sensitive, and energy efficient strategies as they industrialize their nation.
Friend: Oh I see... They really have to be mindful because they are all going to be in dense urban environments and since they have a lot of people moving in from the countryside, they have to be green in their approach or they’ll be kinda screwed with pollution, and energy costs....
Me: No, no, no.... that’s true... but there is more to it.... We have spiked the world’s population in the last 50 years and put a strangle hold on the global immune system... we are all connected now....
If China doesn't industrialize sustainably....
...we are all screwed.