The Worldwatch Institute yesterday released its “Vital Signs 2007-2008” report, which generally concluded that the earth is flatlining. Only six of 44 studied environmental trends were declared to be positive (such as the growth of wind power), while 28 were “pronouncedly bad.” Among the bad: meat production hit a record 304 million tons, or 95 pounds per person, in 2006; soybean plantations could displace 54 million acres of forest and savanna over the next 20 years; humans ate three times as much seafood per person in 2004 than in 1950; and the world’s forests lost more wood in 2005 than ever before. How long can the beat go on?
