On a planet with around 6.8 billion people, we're likely to see 5 billion cell phone subscriptions this year. {C}

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Excessive consumption has spread to developing countries and could wipe out efforts to slow climate change, Worldwatch Institute says. The average American consumes more than his or her weight in products each day, fuelling a global culture of excess that is emerging as the biggest threat to the planet, according to a report published today.