How to Save the World
Years ago in my ecology class in college there was a debate on ways to help save the planet, reduce green house gases/waste, bring people out of poverty, save the rainforest, etc.
I forget the details of many peoples arguments, but I believe it boils down to one simple truth. Population control.
This is a very touchy subject because it is the basis to many a conspiracy theory and a huge human right. The right to bear children, in some cultures and religions is a highly held ideal and to take that away from people could cause widespread pandemonium. But who would you take this right away from? You couldn't take it away immediately all at once everywhere, because the population could plummet and then the human race could be in real trouble. The only way I can see it would be to limit the number of children a couple could have. The problem with this, is how it would be controlled. Most people would frown upon even the idea of this.
This brings forth a series of ramifications depending on the country. In a third world country, for example, it is a good thing to have more children, because the work there is more labor oriented (I would assume) and the more hands you have, say, as a farmer, the easier life would be for the family. If you only had a kid and the father passed away, there would be no way a mother could be caretaker for a child, and work a field all by herself. As highly an idealized situation I just presented, it's just an easy example of how the idea must be fitted per situation, thus it is almost not even a possibility.
I know in many first world countries, our population is declining because of we are aware of things like global warming and the impact we are having on the world. It's not that people in other parts of the world are unaware either, but they probably can't help their situation and need more children. The only reasonable option is to educate everyone. That, I think, we are in the middle of, as we slowly turn into a global society.
So why do I think that overpopulation is the biggest problem? Because it affects every other problem. Fewer people means less need for food. We would slow razing the sea for food, preserving aquatic diversity. The rain forests wouldn't be chopped down for land (poor land, by the way), the hardwoods there wouldn't be used for furniture here, we would preserve the most diverse ecosystem. There are so many things in the rain forest that we don't know about that could or could have saved us from cancer or any other of the myriad of disease for which we have no cure. We would need less space for livestock, less food for livestock. This of the effects of that! Less fertilizers, less need to impregnate our livestock with enzymes and chemicals to speed up their production. I think 10-15% of the world's water is fresh water, most of which is contained in the great lakes of the USA, we would greatly reduce the need for fresh water (think how many people shower everyday, some more than once). Fewer people equal fewer cars, less greenhouse gas emissions, less fuel consumption. I could go on all day with the pluses.
The drawbacks include a possible weaker economy. With less people, there wouldn't be as much money. However, if our money is backed by hard currency, such as silver, gold, etc. then technically, it could only increase in value, as there is only so much precious metal in the world. If a chaotic disease ravaged the remaining population, that could be an issue. However, the good thing about the drawbacks, is you could always deregulate the population control. People are always willing to have sex, let's be honest.
I think I'm a socialist at heart, but I do bear in mind that my idea of socialism is highly idealized. I don't have enough faith in humanity that if the entire world was socialist, there wouldn't be freeloaders:
Rod: Daddy, what do taxes pay for?
Ned: Oh, why, everything! Policemen, trees, sunshine. And let's not forget the folks who just don't feel like working, God bless 'em!
Capitalism just breeds greed, or at least that's what I see, although, at its core, it works very well. Perhaps a new social system is in order? Any ideas?
I forget the details of many peoples arguments, but I believe it boils down to one simple truth. Population control.
This is a very touchy subject because it is the basis to many a conspiracy theory and a huge human right. The right to bear children, in some cultures and religions is a highly held ideal and to take that away from people could cause widespread pandemonium. But who would you take this right away from? You couldn't take it away immediately all at once everywhere, because the population could plummet and then the human race could be in real trouble. The only way I can see it would be to limit the number of children a couple could have. The problem with this, is how it would be controlled. Most people would frown upon even the idea of this.
This brings forth a series of ramifications depending on the country. In a third world country, for example, it is a good thing to have more children, because the work there is more labor oriented (I would assume) and the more hands you have, say, as a farmer, the easier life would be for the family. If you only had a kid and the father passed away, there would be no way a mother could be caretaker for a child, and work a field all by herself. As highly an idealized situation I just presented, it's just an easy example of how the idea must be fitted per situation, thus it is almost not even a possibility.
I know in many first world countries, our population is declining because of we are aware of things like global warming and the impact we are having on the world. It's not that people in other parts of the world are unaware either, but they probably can't help their situation and need more children. The only reasonable option is to educate everyone. That, I think, we are in the middle of, as we slowly turn into a global society.
So why do I think that overpopulation is the biggest problem? Because it affects every other problem. Fewer people means less need for food. We would slow razing the sea for food, preserving aquatic diversity. The rain forests wouldn't be chopped down for land (poor land, by the way), the hardwoods there wouldn't be used for furniture here, we would preserve the most diverse ecosystem. There are so many things in the rain forest that we don't know about that could or could have saved us from cancer or any other of the myriad of disease for which we have no cure. We would need less space for livestock, less food for livestock. This of the effects of that! Less fertilizers, less need to impregnate our livestock with enzymes and chemicals to speed up their production. I think 10-15% of the world's water is fresh water, most of which is contained in the great lakes of the USA, we would greatly reduce the need for fresh water (think how many people shower everyday, some more than once). Fewer people equal fewer cars, less greenhouse gas emissions, less fuel consumption. I could go on all day with the pluses.
The drawbacks include a possible weaker economy. With less people, there wouldn't be as much money. However, if our money is backed by hard currency, such as silver, gold, etc. then technically, it could only increase in value, as there is only so much precious metal in the world. If a chaotic disease ravaged the remaining population, that could be an issue. However, the good thing about the drawbacks, is you could always deregulate the population control. People are always willing to have sex, let's be honest.
I think I'm a socialist at heart, but I do bear in mind that my idea of socialism is highly idealized. I don't have enough faith in humanity that if the entire world was socialist, there wouldn't be freeloaders:
Rod: Daddy, what do taxes pay for?
Ned: Oh, why, everything! Policemen, trees, sunshine. And let's not forget the folks who just don't feel like working, God bless 'em!
Capitalism just breeds greed, or at least that's what I see, although, at its core, it works very well. Perhaps a new social system is in order? Any ideas?
Labels: Overpopulation
posted by P-Wagz at 7:30 AM
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