It is more important now than ever to talk about population. What will we do if we continue to grow at exponential rates? What are ethical, viable strategies to decrease population?
This is a blog in the MAHB Let’s Talk About Population Blog Series.
Rich white people love to hold meetings to discuss the “population problem,” which always end up focusing on the very real demographic difficulties of those with darker skin tones, especially people who live in Africa and Latin America. But isn’t it really time for the poor people of the world, especially those not in need of tanning beds, to extend a helping hand to the major villains of the destruction of humanity’s life-support systems? Could they not hold an educational conference in Washington D.C. to explain why civilization is going down the drain to the per-capita most environmentally destructive giant nation on the planet? Leaders from the “south” could both organize the event and supply experts to educate the wealthy and middle class on their ethical responsibilities and ways to meet them. We envision learning sessions on topics such as:
Avoiding the second child.
The population problem beyond numbers: inequality and waste of talent.
Are borders ethical?
Population shrinkage for politicians.
GDP shrinkage for economists.
Do Trump and his colleagues prove that the lighter your skin, the lighter your brain?
Citizens United: It’s time for euthanasia for corporations.
Redistribution and survival.
Disbanding “Murder Incorporated”: Gun manufacturers and big pharma.
How to end plastic production.
The historical contributions of the global south to the food enjoyed by the north.
How biodiversity loss is accompanied by the loss of human cultural diversity
We know our populations are growing too fast; how to help us help ourselves.
Why anti-abortion laws kill poor women.
You can doubtless think of others; the possibilities are endless. We would expect strong support from all environmental NGOs and foundations, since no NGO or foundation could call itself “environmental” unless it had a strong interest in the humane reduction in the numbers of people, reduction of overconsumption, and reduction of inequity of all kinds. See you in Washington.
Anne Ehrlich and Paul Ehrlich
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