Do we need more or fewer people in our world? Why or why not? More importantly HOW do we support more people on this finite planet or HOW do we reduce the world's population without a catastrophic collapse of civilizations as we know them?
Recently the news reported that China was modifying its one-child policy. It was going to allow or encourage couples to have additional children. Today's New York Times reported on sex education in Denmark a modification of the curriculum. It the past the emphasis was on how to prevent pregancy and now they are teaching how to increase pregnancies. More people are needed in these and other countries for the future economic viability of these countries as they consider of death and disappearance of cultures and nations.
Fifty years ago we heard about Zero Population Growth. There was and may still be an organization by that name. Today we hear about climate change and global warming and how much of the cause is due to human activities. In some parts of the world there is often famine and death. California is in the middle of a major draught which demonstrates the limits on how many people can be supported by the water resources in the state.
Population growth is outstripping the generally available resources of The World. By generally available I mean easily available or naturally available. Take the example of water. Rain and snow and ground water and runnoff into reservoirs is rather natural and even water conservation may be rather easy. Desalinization is a hard, unnatural, and costly alternative which seems unlimitted. Global warming can be reduced by changing from a carbon-based energy system to a solar and wind and other such sources of energy. Reducing the world population can also be helpful.
The difficult question is now can we reduce world population so that economies do not collapse and cultures are not lost?
I offer that question without knowing a clear positive answer. A positive answer would be, I think, some systematic and planned changes to how things are done in our world which would be implimented gradually and peacefully. Yes - PEACEFULLY. Change can come by way of evolution or by way of revolution. I hope we can consciously evolve and change and survive and thrive.
A way forward would have all people working towards goals such as the four freedoms which are freedom of speech, freedom from want, freedom from fear, freedom of religion. More to my point people need to be free from many things such as concerns about enough food, appropriate shelter, and clothing. Freedom from "wants" can be achieved today if we distribute goods and services well. It has been scandalous in a world where people go hungry to hear about the destruction of fruits and vegetables because they can't shipped and sold. The distribution of goods and services to all on the basis of basic needs can be done on the basis of religious righteousness, Judeo-Christian goodness or political expediency, socialism/communism. There are probably other means of redistributing wealth and the question will we find the will and the way by fair and democratic means or will the question be anwered by catatrophes such as wars, disease, or dictatorships.
Growing the world's population seems to be a way towards the future which is understood by many because it does answer the question of the future of economies in the short term, i.e. the next 50 to 100 years. This will likely result in many people surviving for a while and some people thriving for a while. OR we can use the time to help many people thrive. Everyone needs to do what is needed, I think, and that includes creating new wealth and relinquishing old wealth. Instead of growing the world's population grow the amount of goods and services that each individual has ready access to. SHARE! Share resources and energy and information and sweat and money. Everyone give up somethings for the good of everyone. Quality instead of quantity. The best instead of the most. Solid homes and distribution systems! Good lives for the number of people who can live in a sustainable world. Not too few people and not too many people. Some number - just right - for a good future!
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