>From Jake -
>To separate these issues [sociologists and environmentalists] as you
suggest seems, to me, an anthropomorphism.
>To say that human issues (i.e. "human population processes") are separate
>from environmental issues is to reify the patriarchal tendency to separate
>humans from nature. This is the same sort of value dualism that separates
>male from female, a hierarchical value dualism which opens up the [etc.]
and in reply, thank you...I stand corrected. I said this because I am so
sensitive to wildlife scientists applying their science to human behavior.
Examples of the bad science that has resulted is the supposed adaptive
value of rape for humans, the supposed heretibility of IQ, etc. etc. The
'population bomb' is another example of this bad science. I suppose I
cannot call for a complete split-- wildlife biologists have the right to
add their opinions to the debate over human population growth-- but then
these must be viewed as opinions and not science. Or -- there probably
needs to be a change in the way wildlife science is done, so that it
wouldn't result in such nauseating conclusions when applied to people.
Here's another example of science inappropriately applied to the population
issue, from Melanie (please, no offense, Melanie, we basically agree):
> As many population ecologists know, when the carrying
>capacity is met by the size of the population, there is a population
>crash.
As this population ecologist knows, carrying capacity is a
variable...changing as much as any other variable such as population size
or growth. Thus my earlier comments about food exports from
famine-stricken nations.
Chris, Judith, and Maureen are right, I believe...we need a synthesis, an
end to all oppression: oppression of women, of nature, of races. Women
have the right to birth control if they want it-- I'm certainly thankful
for it. Women have the right to education. Women also have the right not
be be stuck working in sweatshops and plantations providing products for
the western appetite. Only through justice will peace and true
environmental conservation prevail.
So-- that's my opinion. Someday it may be my science; right now I restrict
my science to wildlife. (red-cockaded woodpeckers, that is-- an endangered
species endemic to the SE US. Anyone interested in population dynamcs or
behavior of that species?)
Sue
