Bustin’ at the Seams: Let’s Talk Population

I envisioned horror stories of birth limits and Chinese style one-child policies in the US and abroad and could not stomach the idea of government interference into my natural right to parent. But, that is not how it has to be.

I had my “Aha” moment last night, while reading the 1992 Al Gore work, Earth in Balance. While reading, the dots started to connect and I gained clarity about what we can and should do about this obese population. According to Gore, there are three critical elements proven to slow population surges and limit growth. First, and probably best known, are high education and literacy levels, especially for women. Second (and this one I had not considered before) were low infant mortality rates, which give parents confidence that their children will grow into maturity. Third, and of great significance, is the ubiquitous access to a variety of birth control methods.

Of course, Gore wrote those words almost twenty years ago, but we grow larger still. Getting a little despondent, I wondered what average citizens could do, what average government can do. How we can slow this train down before we go off the rail? Well, as always, there is hope. There are things to do and learn.

The steady state movement is alive and well, focusing not only on population minimization but a transition of focus from economic “bigness” to economic depth. And, there are other forces out there, ready to be joined. Always on the forefront, the Sierra Club is leading in education and initiatives and few deliver better information than United Nations Population Fund. Those are just a few of a host of examples: sources for education, tips and inspiration.

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