- "People who take issue with population control do
not understand that if it is not done in a graceful way [birth control
and family planning], nature will do it in a brutal fashion." -Henry
Kendell
-
- If you visit websites like <http://www.worldhealthorganization.com>www.worldhealthorganization.com ,
you will see that Kendell's quote holds true as 18 million human beings
die of starvation or starvation related diseases annually. Those prove
HUGE numbers, but world leaders don't blink. As those numbers grow, none
of us can continue our blithe ignoring them.
-
- In his book, Too Many People, Lindsey Grant addresses
such things as our destruction of earth's operating systems and much more.
You may find his book at www.sevenlockspress.com and www.amazon.com .
Grant is a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Environment
and Population Affairs.
-
- "If we look forward to a world less divided between
the very rich and the starving, we must expect a dramatic increase in GNP
per capita, worldwide," said Grant. "If world population grows
as expected, total economic growth must rise tenfold to achieve such a
goal, even in the best assumptions. That growth will be particularly malignant
as the new industrialized countries put their heavy industry in place,
probably without much regard to environmental concerns."
-
- Our great predicament, as a species stems from our 'cultural'
growth paradigm in a limited world. When you see politicians speak, they
always call for more 'growth', and the citizens applaud it as if growth
will solve their problems. When in fact, 'growth' causes all their problems
at this stage in human development on this planet. Why? They suffer a
limited and myopic world view and they simply do not understand the implications
that you understand from reading this series. Our impact, on this planet's
support systems, accelerates with our numbers.
-
- It's not linear either; but it multiplies into negative
feedback systems in multiple areas. In other words, we don't just 'affect'
one specific area. Air pollution 'just' doesn't dirty the air: it causes
acid rain, it poisons the soil, it damages woodlands, it acidifies the
oceans, it causes birth defects in the creatures that feed on poisoned
food chains and much more.
-
- "Put aside the endless speculation about how large
populations will grow, and when," said Grant. "The nation and
the world are already substantially overpopulated as we pursue the life
style which the developed countries now enjoy and which developing countries
would like to have."
-
- QUANTIFYING REVERSE GROWTH
-
- Grant attempts to call for a maximum of 1.0 billion humans
as a sustainable world population. He predicted that 10 years ago. He might
modify that number in 2010. One of his peers, Dr. Jack Alpert, www.skil.org ,
calls for a 100 million total human population on the planet if it expects
to survive the 21st century. See Alpert's video on his quest for one
child per woman from here on out! Various other experts weigh in on a
sustainable number. They profess between 1.0 and 2.0 billion. As Alpert
provides scientific proof, 100 million will be our only choice.
-
- "A satisfactory worldwide GNP per capita points
toward a population of her perhaps one billion," said Grant. "Any
population reduction in arid zones would help to bring human needs into
better balance with water supplies and would lessen the endemic overgrazing;
populations one-third the present size would seem a wonderful relief, indeed.
The uncertainties associated with climate change, and with chemicals and
their impacts, suggest the need for a margin of safety beyond the calculations
we can presently quantify."
-
- As we move through Grant's book, I hope your mind extrapolates
our dilemma. And, I hope you take action with the websites provided. It's
not like we enjoy decades to change this around. Not when you understand
another 77 million humans add to the planet annually!
-
- "We are already at war with the biosphere that supports
us," said Grant. "More than any other proposed solution, a solution
on the demand side-population-offers an effective way to end or ameliorate
the problems I have described. It works across all those sectors, and,
remarkably enough, it will save money rather than demanding more investments."
-
- In the remainder of his book, Grant addresses models
that work for the 21st century. As I receive hundreds of emails responding
to this series, most understand and agree with the realities presented
by Grant. Some don't possess a clue and would argue for their own misery
and extinction by adding more human numbers. Few understand the depth
of our environmental destruction and long term ramifications. For example,
for over 20 years, humans slaughtered and continue slaughtering 100 million
sharks annually. I'm sorry, but that's not normal and not sustainable.
We humans cannot continue causing the extinction of 100 species daily!
-
- All for what? More humans! You must be kidding me!
-
- Is there a point to our expansion?
-
- Tell me what you think it is, please!
-
- _____
-
- Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents
- from the Arctic to the South Pole - as well as six times across the USA,
coast to coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic
Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece. He presents "The Coming Population
Crisis in America: and what you can do about it" to civic clubs, church
groups, high schools and colleges. He works to bring about sensible world
population balance at www.frostywooldridge.com He is the author
of: America on the Brink: The Next Added 100 Million Americans. Copies
available: 1 888 280 7715
|
