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6
THE 80's
appear to be levelíng off, not skyrocket–
ing ahead as needed.
Clearly the world is on a collision
course. According to former U. S. Am–
bassador to India Chester Bowles, the
approaching world famine threatens to
be "the most colossal catastrophe in his–
tory."
Global Pollution
The past decade witnessed the emer–
gence of the new "chemical man."
Today we and our children have
Strontium
90
in our bones. Our body
fat ís laced with DDT and similar pesti–
cides. Lead circulates in our blood,
largely as the result of the combustion
of leaded gasoline. We are subjected to
a vast array of chemicals and gases in
our air, water and food.
The problem is greatly compounded
in the technologically oriented Western
world. Sorne 70 percent of Americaos
live in urban areas, subject to the in–
creasingly complex, and seemingly in–
soluble, urban morass.
What are we doing to our environ–
ment - a11 in the name of progress?
The National Wildlife Federation is–
sued a report caed on the condition of
the American environment a few
months ago:
Air:
Very bad.
Water:
Bad.
SoiJ, for–
ests, u;i/dJife:
Fair.
No report card was issued on the
state of the oceans. But other experts
tell us that they too are, at best, in only
fair condition. Man foolishly thought
the oceans would be the miracle solvent
for all of his wanton pollution. The last
dumping ground. But it hasn't worked
that way. DDT has entered every leve!
of the aquatic food chain. Says one
expert on the plight of the oceans,
"The handwriting on the wall could
hardly be written in larger script."
Ecologists, biologists, other scientists,
even well-known and knowledgeable
celebrities in other fields, are on the anti–
pollution bandwagon as never befare.
The
PLAIN TRUTH
There was no such concerted movement
in the late 50's or early 60's.
The message of these experts is un–
mistakable. Either man controls his ex–
ploding population, his crowding into
cities, his ecologically damaging agricul–
tura! practices and his virtually uncon–
trolled industrial activities, or he faces
global disaster through total extinction
of our planetary environment!
Clearly it is time to act on pollution,
not merely talk. But the Seventies do
not look optimistic in this regard at this
point. Educating and arousing a largely
apatheti.c public is difficult. Getting
política! leaders to jump aboard the
anti-pollution bandwagon is not easy.
Powerful self-interest groups and Job–
bies stand in the
way:
Humanity stands at the brink. The
big question for the Seventies is: Will
our world be rescued from total destruc–
tion? Will the pollution crisis be
solved before it's too late?
A United Europe?
The greatest thrust toward European
unity began with the 1957 signing
of the Treaty of Rome, which estab–
lished the European Economic Commu–
nity. Its members: France, West Ger–
many, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium
and Luxembourg.
Today the EEC, or Common Market,
is the world's No.
1
trading power.
During its first 10 years, 1958-1967, it
doubled its trade with the rest of the
world and increased trade among mem–
ber nations 250 percent, from $6.8 bil·
lion to $24 billion. The Community's
annual exports are now running around
$25 billion higher than United States'
exports.
A momentous goal, with the achieve–
ment of a full customs union within the
EEC, was reached July 1, 1968. Tariffs
were abolished on manufactured prod–
ucts traded among EEC members.
Now that De Gaulle is out of the way
there is more optimism on the Common
Market's future, including expansion
plans. Negotiations on the applications
of Britain, Denmark, Norway and Ire–
land into the Community are again
under way.
Other nations, too, are seen by sorne
experts as possible candidates for mem–
bership: Spain, Australia, perhaps even
Portugal and Yugoslavia.
There is a growing feeling among
leading European politicians that a
united Europe is a positive must, so that
the Continent can once again exert its
influence in world affairs. The Seventies
could very likely see the fulfillment of
Europe's dream - a giant third power
force of tremendous economic strength,
possessing its own nuclear defense
capability.
West Germany
"Germany will never rise again
!"
So
thought maoy in 1945 as Hitler's Reich
lay prostrate. But from the dust and
ashes of World War II, West Germany
rose to her feet in the Fifties via the
lr/irtschaftsuwnder
-
Economic Mira–
ele - and in the Sixties solidified her
position as the number-one economic
powerhouse of Europe.
During the Sixties, the Deutsche
Mark became one of the world's hard–
est currencies. The German economy