The world population reached 6 billion in 1999 and is on track to reach 7 billion by 2012, according to new estimates from the Census Bureau.

The Statistics Department within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has just launched a new internet-based data service for the global user community. The service brings UN statistical databases within easy reach of users through a single entry point. Users can search and down load a variety of statistical resources of the UN system. Click here for more information and access to the service.

Penn State has been able to purchase a one year subscription to Latinobarometro Latinobarometro is an annual public opinion survey that involves some 19,000 interviews in 18 Latin American countries, representing more than 400 million inhabitants. Penn State researchers interested in the survey can Click here for more information and access the survey.

A growing world population is not a problem, but increasing consumption as people in developing countries strive for a first-world lifestyle is, argues Jared Diamond, professor of geography at UCLA, in a New York Times opinion piece.

Just as it is certain that within most of our lifetimes we’ll be consuming less than we do now, it is also certain that per capita consumption rates in many developing countries will one day be more nearly equal to ours. These are desirable trends, not horrible prospects. In fact, we already know how to encourage the trends; the main thing lacking has been political will. … I am cautiously optimistic. The world has serious consumption problems, but we can solve them if we choose to do so.

The Chronicle of Higher Education summarizes Diamond’s argument and some responses to it.

Note: The Chronicle article is available online to subscribers. PRI affiliates can read the Chronicle in the PRI Library or request online access from library@pop.psu.edu.