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Preferred State:
Sustainable environmental systems for 100% of humanity;
a complete ozone layer over the entire planet
Problem State:
6 million square mile hole in ozone layer over Antarctica;
5% reduction over northern latitudes
Strategy 12: Stopping CFC Production
The ozone layer that covers the Earth functions as a shield
against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Exposure to ultraviolet
radiation causes damage to crops, plankton and fish larvae
and causes sunburn, eye cataracts and skin cancer in humans.
Hospitals in northern Europe have recorded a doubling in skin
cancer cases in recent years, and Australian researchers report
that a 1% decrease in ozone protection may be linked to a
3% increase in skin cancer cases. Ozone depletion in the upper
atmosphere is caused by chloroflurocarbons' (CFCs) interaction
with the ozone. CFCs are used as propellants in aerosol spray
cans, as refrigerant gases, solvent cleaners and in the manufacture
of foam-blown plastics. By banning the production of CFCs,
subsidizing the conversion from these chemicals to environmentally
safe substitutes, and providing incentives/penalties for the
reclaiming of existing stocks of CFCs that are currently in
use, the world can stop the decrease of ozone in the upper
atmosphere.(114)
Costs/Benefits
Such a program of phasing in substitutes for CFCs, tax incentives
and further research and development would cost $5 billion
per year for ten years. This is 0.64% of the world's total
military expenditures, or about what the German government
provides in subsides to its coal industry each year,(115)
or about 3.7% of what the US provides in tax breaks and subsidies
to its energy, timber, financial services, construction and
advertising industries.(116)
Benefits include a reduction in skin cancer, other skin problems
and eye cataracts in humans as well as grazing animals, primarily
in the southern hemisphere, but increasingly in the northern
regions too. Fish catches and crop yields would no longer
be in jeopardy from this cause and a more stable food system
and global environment would result.
Next Strategy >
What the World Wants Chart >
Eighteen Strategies...
...for tackling the major problems confronting humanity:
1. Eliminate Starvation and Malnourishment >
2. Provide Health Care & AIDS Control >
3. Provide Shelter >
4. Provide Clean Safe Water >
5. Eliminate Illiteracy >
6. Provide Clean, Safe Energy: Efficiency >
7. Provide Clean, Safe Energy: Renewables >
8. Retire Developing Nations Debt >
9. Stabilize Population >
10. Prevent Soil Erosion >
11. Stop Deforestation >
12. Stop Ozone Depletion (current page)
13. Prevent Acid Rain >
14. Prevent Global Warming >
15. Remove Landmines >
16. Refugee Relief >
17. Eliminating Nuclear Weapons >
18. Build Democracy >
*Sources:
The What the World Wants Project
is by Medard Gabel and the research staff of the World Game
Institute. The material in this section of Media Hell is quoted
directly from that research. Credits, Major References & Footnotes > |
