Overpopulation, Peace, GNP... - orig. 08/19/05
I read years ago in the newspaper that the consensus of the world’s scientific community was that overpopulation was the number one issue facing the world. This does not let us off the hook however in regards to over consumption The US population is only 290 million (lol) people, but the US is still the number one consumer in the world. It is not something that should fill us with pride. It means that as a nation we are responsible for the majority of the global ecological disaster of which we are in the midst.
It is interesting that one our most basic drives (procreation) could lead to our extinction.
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I just finished watching “Cloud Over Bhopal” - “A look at the devastating effects of a toxic-gas leak from a U.S. pesticide factory in 1984 that killed tens of thousands and injured hundreds of thousands more in Bhopal, India. Included: interviews with journalists, activists and doctors.” on PBS. It was pretty heavy. The caption doesn’t mention that a whole district has serious health issues (understatement) that will continue for at least 2 to 3 generations of children.
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I participated in my first vigil yesterday. It turns out it was for Cindy Sheeham. I didn’t realize it at the time. I just happened to stumble across some people with peace signs and candles standing quietly on the corner by the library. It was very beautiful and I joined them. There were about 65 people total.
I also signed up to receive email notifications of future events.
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Is it good to pollute the water with chemicals that are toxic to all life and cannot be reabsorbed by the biosphere? Is it good to pollute the air? Is it good to pollute the ground? The only justification I can see for continuing to consume in a manner that is destructive to life is ignorance. But once a person becomes aware of the connection between a consumptive lifestyle and ecological disaster it becomes a moral imperative to do whatever is possible to not only change one’s lifestyle, but also to affect a change in society as a whole.
Some waste reduction and lifestyle changes may require preplanning. This is to be expected.
How can a person be truly happy in their life, without making changes, once they become fully aware that it is immoral to live their life in an overly consumptive manner.
I have heard the argument that certain ideas are not practical or realistic. These are merely excuses to allow one to continue to live in a destructive manner. A person can live in a less consumptive manner. One can make the sacrifices.
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I can’t remember if I mentioned that barbecues and campfires emit gases that contribute to global warming.
Oh yeah, and coal burning power plants.
-----
Life on the large scale is more important than personal luxuries and conveniences. The path our culture has chosen is not inevitable. It is going to require a lot of people to agree that it’s time for a change on a large scale. The changes are going to need to be more dramatic, I think, than many people are currently aware.
I am talking about a change in values. My value system is such that I believe the future of life on this planet has more value than my personal conveniences. If you value life consume less.
-----
Population can be controlled on either the front-end or the back-end. On the front-end one can use birth control which can be promoted through education or regulation. On the back-end you have war, famine, plague, natural disasters, man-made disasters (including a toxic environment). Neither front or back-end measures have yet been wholly effective in stemming the growth of human population, but which seems more acceptable?
-----
The ultimate aim of any institution is to maintain it’s own existence. This is true of governments as well as companies. In order for governments to remain in power they must keep their citizens happy. In order for companies to maintain their existence they must keep their consumers and shareholders (mutual funds and pension blocks currently have the most sway of any shareholders over corporations [this information comes from “Corporation Nation,” by Charles Derber.]) happy.
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I am interested in doing work that has as little negative ecological impact as possible. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
-----
I am tired of recording my purchase online, but if you have been following you get the idea. I am trying to consume as little waste as possible and only purchase organic foods. I will record the next time I need to take out the garbage. I haven’t needed to take it out since July 29th and since it has no organic matter there is no smell. (The tall kitchen garbage can is maybe a little less than half full.)
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The economists have convinced us that a high GNP is a requirement. Our government buys into it. A higher GNP supposedly means more jobs and greater incomes. People who don’t have employment have a tendency to want employment. I think there may be a link between population and the GNP. A lower population means fewer consumers and a lower GNP. It seems like a loop. Growth in the consumer base equals growth in the GNP which provides more jobs and wealth and keeps people happy. But, as I mentioned in an earlier entry, there is no model for perpetual growth in nature. There are models however of the results of overpopulation in animal communities.
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Enough already.
It is interesting that one our most basic drives (procreation) could lead to our extinction.
-----
I just finished watching “Cloud Over Bhopal” - “A look at the devastating effects of a toxic-gas leak from a U.S. pesticide factory in 1984 that killed tens of thousands and injured hundreds of thousands more in Bhopal, India. Included: interviews with journalists, activists and doctors.” on PBS. It was pretty heavy. The caption doesn’t mention that a whole district has serious health issues (understatement) that will continue for at least 2 to 3 generations of children.
-----
I participated in my first vigil yesterday. It turns out it was for Cindy Sheeham. I didn’t realize it at the time. I just happened to stumble across some people with peace signs and candles standing quietly on the corner by the library. It was very beautiful and I joined them. There were about 65 people total.
I also signed up to receive email notifications of future events.
-----
Is it good to pollute the water with chemicals that are toxic to all life and cannot be reabsorbed by the biosphere? Is it good to pollute the air? Is it good to pollute the ground? The only justification I can see for continuing to consume in a manner that is destructive to life is ignorance. But once a person becomes aware of the connection between a consumptive lifestyle and ecological disaster it becomes a moral imperative to do whatever is possible to not only change one’s lifestyle, but also to affect a change in society as a whole.
Some waste reduction and lifestyle changes may require preplanning. This is to be expected.
How can a person be truly happy in their life, without making changes, once they become fully aware that it is immoral to live their life in an overly consumptive manner.
I have heard the argument that certain ideas are not practical or realistic. These are merely excuses to allow one to continue to live in a destructive manner. A person can live in a less consumptive manner. One can make the sacrifices.
-----
I can’t remember if I mentioned that barbecues and campfires emit gases that contribute to global warming.
Oh yeah, and coal burning power plants.
-----
Life on the large scale is more important than personal luxuries and conveniences. The path our culture has chosen is not inevitable. It is going to require a lot of people to agree that it’s time for a change on a large scale. The changes are going to need to be more dramatic, I think, than many people are currently aware.
I am talking about a change in values. My value system is such that I believe the future of life on this planet has more value than my personal conveniences. If you value life consume less.
-----
Population can be controlled on either the front-end or the back-end. On the front-end one can use birth control which can be promoted through education or regulation. On the back-end you have war, famine, plague, natural disasters, man-made disasters (including a toxic environment). Neither front or back-end measures have yet been wholly effective in stemming the growth of human population, but which seems more acceptable?
-----
The ultimate aim of any institution is to maintain it’s own existence. This is true of governments as well as companies. In order for governments to remain in power they must keep their citizens happy. In order for companies to maintain their existence they must keep their consumers and shareholders (mutual funds and pension blocks currently have the most sway of any shareholders over corporations [this information comes from “Corporation Nation,” by Charles Derber.]) happy.
-----
I am interested in doing work that has as little negative ecological impact as possible. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
-----
I am tired of recording my purchase online, but if you have been following you get the idea. I am trying to consume as little waste as possible and only purchase organic foods. I will record the next time I need to take out the garbage. I haven’t needed to take it out since July 29th and since it has no organic matter there is no smell. (The tall kitchen garbage can is maybe a little less than half full.)
-----
The economists have convinced us that a high GNP is a requirement. Our government buys into it. A higher GNP supposedly means more jobs and greater incomes. People who don’t have employment have a tendency to want employment. I think there may be a link between population and the GNP. A lower population means fewer consumers and a lower GNP. It seems like a loop. Growth in the consumer base equals growth in the GNP which provides more jobs and wealth and keeps people happy. But, as I mentioned in an earlier entry, there is no model for perpetual growth in nature. There are models however of the results of overpopulation in animal communities.
-----
Enough already.
posted by T-Bone_Jones at 6:47 PM
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