I am not going to dissect a fanatical religious rant. If that is your
cup of tea, then I cannot communicate with you. Even if I DID as you
request, you would verbally find a way to deny every point. You believe
that human nature can be significantly different from what it is. That
is like most religious beliefs: hope and pray for something better,
usually relying on a greater power.
What I CAN do is quote from African and other developing country leaders
(excerpted from my 10 pg paper of 2000). This was webcast to several
continents and has been on the internet for a decade. There have been
zero rebuttals to date. Please be my guest! :-)
http://www.peakoilandhumanity.com/kurtz_folder/feedback_disequilibrium.htm
in German if you prefer:
http://www.peakoilandhumanity.com/De_Further_reading_folder/feedback_disequilibrium_de.htm
excerpted quotes:
Zhang Zhirong is
Deputy Director of China Population Welfare Foundation in Beijing. He
wrote a
report to the Third Conference of the International Consortium for the
Study
of Environmental Security from which I quote:
/"China is caught in a vicious cycle of swelling population and diminishing
resources...Economic growth is the goal of China's industrial policy.
However
rapid population growth allays the economic growth that occurs."/
(Zhirong, 1994)
------------------------------------------------
/"In general, we would choose a population size that maximizes very broad
environmental and social options for individuals." /(Daily, et al., 1994)
For a different perspective, let's turn again to Zhang Zhirong on China's
population: "According to The China Academy of Sciences, and based on
estimated land resources, the optimum population in China is 950 million
now,
and 1.16 billion by 2000." (Zhirong, 1994). Zhirong then states that
China's
carrying capacity, also based on "land resources" is no more than 1.6
billion.
He believes that serious environmental and social problems exist and will
worsen as China's population first exceeds the optimum level, and then the
carrying capacity level. Maybe China expected to add some land resources
between 1994 and 2000. What other variables could cause it's optimum
population to go up by 7% in six years? No answer is given in the report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The environment and social justice are issues, which have growing support
among those able to think about more than their immediate material needs.
Advocates seem certain that their own issue is the most important one, but
many fail to question its sufficiency. A typical response to the
introduction
of the overpopulation factor is that the rich should reduce their
consumption
and waste production instead of chiding the poor people of the planet. This
demonstrates a lack of knowledge that the poor have been clamoring for
our aid
in population matters, and that they have banded together to help
themselves.
Provision of such aid is not a substitute for encouraging conservation and
cleaner economies at home. There is no either/or involved. Both are
desirable.
In 1989, as verified by The UN Population Fund, the following countries
signed
a statement urging early stabilization of human population. Austria,
Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Botswana, Cape Verde, China, Columbia,
Cyprus,
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti,
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Jordon, Kenya, Rep. of Korea,
Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines,
Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts-Nevis, St.
Lucia,
St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia, Vanuatu, and
Zimbabwe.
Note the absence of most wealthy nations. It is ridiculous to claim that
the
rich are trying to coerce the poor nations to reduce population. In
fact, they
are not responding to the affirmed needs of the poor.
The following countries are part of either the South Commission or
Partners in
Population and Development: Zimbabwe, Kenya, Mexico, Colombia, Thailand,
Indonesia, Bangladesh, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, China, India, Pakistan,
Uganda, Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Guyana, Ivory Ciast, Jamaica,
Kuwait, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka,
Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia (former), and Western Samoa. The "Partners"
share expertise with each other in reproductive health, appropriate
technologies, and population policy. The Challenge to the South: Report
of the
South Commission, included this unequivocal statement:
/" In the long run the problem of overpopulation of the countries of the
South
can be fully resolved only through their development. But action to contain
//the rise of population cannot be postponed."/ (Nyerere, 1990)
(Nyerere, was Chairman of The South Commission:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Nyerere
=========================================
So, Chris, you can look for blame wherever you like. The facts speak for
themselves. People are NOT equal. People will on average do worse in
every way the more of us there are. And I will make longbets for charity
(Int'l Planned Parenthood is my charity) on future outcomes. You can
propose a wager if you like.
Steve
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