I agree that consuption behavior should & could change. Necessity was the mother of invention in dense Europe with fuel shortages in most countries (N.Sea oil excluded) When surveyed about why they had zero or 1 child, Italian women replied that it was so they could enjoy the finer things in life (both material & non) So, voluntary simplicity was not the driver. And Europe is perhaps as self sufficient (as a continent) as the US. Density is relevant only as to ecological footprint fulfillment & health.
Experience shows that when contraception devices are freely available (for free in poor areas) and womens empowerment is the case, fertility drops drastically and almost immediately. Therefore it makes sense to work at BOTH reductions pop & per capita consumption. Green technology is a given, as it will yield profits as oil, gas & coal dwindle and the air & water become too toxic for most humans. Good day folks, I've out for the evening. Steve -- http://magma.ca/~gpco/ http://www.scientists4pr.org/ Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.--Kenneth Boulding
