Re: Population - a new synthesis

[Ed Kothiringer/Maureen Press-Merkur]

Hi all --

Just wanted to kick in my 2 cents worth on this one - - - 

Population in the underdeveloped countries can (and has) dropped
dramatically when women are given access to education.   This can be seen in
a number of small, rural villages in India.  (One of my anthro professors
put her money where her beliefs are, and sends children from one village to
school each year).

The second point to consider is that women in these same countries are
having many children often due to economic considerations.  As the
environment worsens, women have to walk farther to collect water, wood, and
other necesseties. This means they need more hands (quite literally) at home
to perform chores they themselves would otherwise be engaged in.  

A vicious circle, chasing its own tail. . . 

Small experiments have taken place (again, in rural villages in India).
With a combination of education for both boys and girls, work to
rehabilitate the environment and put into place truly sustainable practices,
along with working towards village self-sufficiency (and un-tying itself
from the World Bank and IMF), birth rates fall, and quality of life rises
(and fewer female infants die).

A synthesis is indeed what is needed.

Maureen