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Monday, October 31, 2011

This Birthday Is Nothing To Celebrate

The world's 7 billionth person is likely to be born today (Monday).

However, this birthday isn't something to celebrate.

Since the global population passed 6 billion only in late 1999, we've added more than 80 million people each year on average. And the environmental footprint of those people is expanding rapidly as emerging market populations modernize.

The planet may be able to accommodate these extra people and their consumption - but then again, it may not.

And if it can't, the drain on our planet's resources could harm us all.

So we'd better find a way to reduce population growth - fast.

Of course, if you think I'm about to propose something along the lines of China's one-child policy, you couldn't be more wrong.

We have economic means of population control that are neither coercive nor costly. And the sooner we implement them, the better.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

we need to kill all poor people! they are the ones that never contribute and continue to have kids they cannot afford! if you are poor and working, we will allow you to simply get a vasectomy or your tubes tied as an option.

Anonymous said...

When I graduated in 1970 the world population was no more than 1/2 of what it is now.If you want a real mind blower look up the total # of people who have ever been born.

Anonymous said...

And the sad thing is,those people who are least equipped or fit to reproduce are the ones multiplying like rabbits.