Thought for the Day (Oct 13)

Subject: Thought for the Day (Oct 13)
From: Peter T.
Date: 13 Oct 99 - 09:35 AM

Nothing is quite so fascinating as human beings talking themselves into a good mood. Yesterday the world population hit 6 billion, from 2 billion at the turn of this century. Thanks to economic growth, a sprinkling of democracy, and a trickle of money to women's education, the rate of increase (the rate of increase!) has slowed down to the point where the doubling time to 12 billion has been put off a few years. So maybe we will peak at 10 billion. What does all the media talk about? Isn't it great that the rate of increase has slowed down! We can relax now. And maybe there will even be a population bust, bringing global population back down to a measely 6 billion after all!

Meanwhile the rest of the planet is kicked out of its remaining space to accommodate Homo sapiens in the manner to which North Americans have grown accustomed. Oh hell, didn't mean to fill this space with enviro rhetoric; but it is amusing, in a grisly sort of way. (p.t.)

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Oct 13)
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 99 - 09:58 AM

Yea, Peter....five new babies born every second.

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Oct 13)
From: Neil Lowe
Date: 13 Oct 99 - 10:14 AM

No way is that kind of growth sustainable for any length of time. What new plague lurks in the shadows, silently waiting its opportunity to decimate our numbers? Nature has its own ways of curbing reckless growth when the species involved doesn't have the wherewithal to do it themselves.

Neil

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Oct 13)
From: Allan C.
Date: 13 Oct 99 - 10:15 AM

And I, for one, am glad that back when it was four per second that you, Peter and I and many of the rest of us were among them!

Subject: RE: Thought for the Day (Oct 13)
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 99 - 12:22 PM

Neil, that's the point, at least for me, the species DOES have the wherewithal; there are just those among the species, most notably the US Congress, who would deny the means to a great many, either through lack of education, funding, and/or religious beliefs.

Kind of a sore point for me. I mean no offense to any members of religions which advocate many children, but my cousin's wife just died of a faulty replaced and repaired heart valve, in her late 50's, after having 9 children, ages 11-29. I cannot help but think that, but for her and my cousin's religious beliefs on procreation, she might still be here.

Also, having worked in hospital, and taken care of a woman whose uterus fell out, during the 7th month, of her umpteenth pregnancy, because her religion told her and her husband they were not to use birth control, really sickened me. Her body and she were both worn out. The uterus had no elasticity left, thus no capability to retain the fetus until end of gestation. This was as a direct result of constant pregnancy.

I know people get tired of the so-called feminist agenda, but it is imperative that women be empowered, throughout the world, in order to effect a change for the entire planet's peoples and environment. As far as I am concerned, that is not a feminist stance, it is a human rights stance, i.e. good for us all and the planet!

Okay, somebody else may have the soapbox.

kat

kat