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Re: E-M:/ global warming/population
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Enviro-Mich message from "Chris Reader" <xopher@tigerburningbright.net>
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Clearly, we can't continue to expand infinitely, and our population is
exceeding local carrying capacity in many areas on the planet. We may
be nearing, or past, global carrying capacity.
The question is, how do you address this on a global basis? The
ability to breed is, I think, seen as basic freedom. Restricting it
outright would be draconian and likely counter productive.
In many westernized countries, birth rates are below replacement
levels, which is great. This is probably due to many things, some of
which probably include access to reproductive information,
contraceptives, and to the cost of raising a child in a western
culture.
It seems to me then that the best way to address global population
problems is to address poverty. This doesn't mean bringing everyone up
to a western standard of living, in my opinion, but helping people
provide for their basic needs as appropriate. I think this includes
food, heat, cooking energy, shelter, clean water, medical care, and
education. Many of these solutions, also, should help the environment.
I think that projects like design for the other 90%
(http://other90.cooperhewitt.org/about/) are the kinds of things we
should be starting with, and they should be part of our national
environmental effort.
Imagine if we had a world wide "Marshall Plan" or "Apollo Program" for
the environment, and this was one part of it.
Best Regards,
Christopher Reader
On 2/7/08, Larry Nooden <ldnum@umich.edu> wrote:
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> Enviro-Mich message from Larry Nooden <ldnum@umich.edu>
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>
> I have waited deliberately to make an additional comment about this
> problem.
>
> Care should be taken not to allow the human population problem or
> discussions of this problem to be obfuscated with racial
> politics/anxieties or highjacked for racial agendas on either side.
>
> There is a genuine environmental problem here, and it needs to be addressed.
>
> --On Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:25 AM -0500 Larry Nooden
> <ldnum@umich.edu> wrote:
>
> > Just a reminder- If anyone out there still thinks that the current human
> > population increases and transmigrations are sustainable, have a look at
> > this population graph from a major college biology text.
> >
> > <http://www-personal.umich.edu/~ldnum/HumPoplnGr.10,000yrs.jpg>
> >
> > You would not believe how scientists have been attacked for even daring
> > to mention this issue.
> >
>
>
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