Thank you for this excellent piece. These types of conversations about overpopulation have been overlooked in the media for a long time. In the 80’s and 90’s before “climate” became the only environmental issue in common discussion, ecologists and ecocentrists spoke out a lot about the loss of biodiversity, the ecological limits of earth, and overpopulation. These were the years when Earth Day seemed more promising, when environmental issues were in the top 5 of voters issues (and we thought any day we’d get a real climate accord signed).
Every environmental issues could be greatly alleviated if people were even only half as fecund; in 50 years we’d have half the population and no one would have to suffer, boil alive in India or fight in the water wars.
My husband and I made the decision years ago not to contribute to the consumptive class and had no children. I feel very badly for children born today and struggle to imagine how to get people not to have so many.
Voluntary simplicity: Duane Elgin wrote a book on this nearly a half century ago, the majority responded saying it goes against human nature. My sense is, either we choose it or it will be forced on us.
I just read today that $40,000 yearly is considered near the poverty line in the US. Jan and I basically live on about 25K in the Blue Ridge Mountains (not counting our inexpensive condo, which has about 10K more to be paid off - and not counting typical health care costs for folks in their 70s that are not covered by Medicare). We lie in a 1200 sq ft condo, of which we really only need about 750 sq ft - which is the size of the apartment I lived in in NYC for 25 years, and which always felt like a mansion.
With all that is happening here, with the worldwide community available on google met or FaceTime or zoom or whatever, and the extraordinarily wonderful people and beautiful mountains around here, and most of all - not having any material wants beyond what we have, we feel extraordinarily wealthy, living a very simple life. We know the privileges we were born with that make it easier for us to do this - but I read somewhere if everyone on the planet lived comparatively simple lives, it would lead to profound reductions in energy usage, food, transportation, etc.
I still think voluntary simplicity - though perhaps requiring a global inner awakening to the kingdom of heaven within, buddha nature or whatever you want to call it - is a possible and even worthwhile goal.
I live pretty frugally too. One bed flat, no car, don't buy much stuff other than books. I definitely agree that learning to be happy with little is a worthwhile goal in itself. But the fact is that is the average Brit uses about 4 gha to support their lifestyle, while the earth only provides a capacity of about 1.6 gha per person at our current population. If people can live more frugally, that's great, but I think it's unlikely people are going to reduce their consumption by that much any time soon.
Another more personal response to the supposed problems of immigration
I grew up in a NY Suburb which was basically, white (protestant) white (catholic) and white (jewish). There was one chinese family ('the Chens" - always referred to with the "the" preceding the surname, indicating the foreignness of the family) and the first black family moved there in 1969 (The Bookers, parents of future US presidential candidate Cory)
I was ecstatic when I moved out at age 16 to go to high school in NY City. You know one of my favorite things to do?
I would, at rush hour, on evenings I had no deadlines or pressing matters, get on the #7 train at Grand Central Station, and ride it to the end of the line. Often, on a subway car, there were not TWO people of the same ethnicity. You'd look down the car and see:
Mexican
Filipino
Kenyan
Peruvian
Irish
Korean
Argentinian
Polish
Russian
Swedish
South African
Indian
Thai
Lebanese
Israeli
etc etc
I found it miraculous and over the next 33 years, enjoyed the fact that this diversity kept increasing.
As much as I love Asheville, NC, one of the things I miss the most is this kind of ethnic diversity.
I'm 73, but I do notice a huge age difference - it seems that most people I meet under 30 just take this for granted (except MAGA men, which is a whole other thing - wait for the prices to rise enough and they'll all be gone - so much for true believers)
I think as my peers say goodby to this mortal coil, the acceptance of cultural, ethnic, racial diversity will come to be taken for granted.
meh. Population growth falls when economic conditions improve. First world countries tend to level off. It'll be fine. The Malthusians have been proven wrong every time so far.
Thank you for this excellent piece. These types of conversations about overpopulation have been overlooked in the media for a long time. In the 80’s and 90’s before “climate” became the only environmental issue in common discussion, ecologists and ecocentrists spoke out a lot about the loss of biodiversity, the ecological limits of earth, and overpopulation. These were the years when Earth Day seemed more promising, when environmental issues were in the top 5 of voters issues (and we thought any day we’d get a real climate accord signed).
Every environmental issues could be greatly alleviated if people were even only half as fecund; in 50 years we’d have half the population and no one would have to suffer, boil alive in India or fight in the water wars.
My husband and I made the decision years ago not to contribute to the consumptive class and had no children. I feel very badly for children born today and struggle to imagine how to get people not to have so many.
Over population; absolutely a serious problem
Voluntary simplicity: Duane Elgin wrote a book on this nearly a half century ago, the majority responded saying it goes against human nature. My sense is, either we choose it or it will be forced on us.
I just read today that $40,000 yearly is considered near the poverty line in the US. Jan and I basically live on about 25K in the Blue Ridge Mountains (not counting our inexpensive condo, which has about 10K more to be paid off - and not counting typical health care costs for folks in their 70s that are not covered by Medicare). We lie in a 1200 sq ft condo, of which we really only need about 750 sq ft - which is the size of the apartment I lived in in NYC for 25 years, and which always felt like a mansion.
With all that is happening here, with the worldwide community available on google met or FaceTime or zoom or whatever, and the extraordinarily wonderful people and beautiful mountains around here, and most of all - not having any material wants beyond what we have, we feel extraordinarily wealthy, living a very simple life. We know the privileges we were born with that make it easier for us to do this - but I read somewhere if everyone on the planet lived comparatively simple lives, it would lead to profound reductions in energy usage, food, transportation, etc.
I still think voluntary simplicity - though perhaps requiring a global inner awakening to the kingdom of heaven within, buddha nature or whatever you want to call it - is a possible and even worthwhile goal.
I live pretty frugally too. One bed flat, no car, don't buy much stuff other than books. I definitely agree that learning to be happy with little is a worthwhile goal in itself. But the fact is that is the average Brit uses about 4 gha to support their lifestyle, while the earth only provides a capacity of about 1.6 gha per person at our current population. If people can live more frugally, that's great, but I think it's unlikely people are going to reduce their consumption by that much any time soon.
Yes, I fully agree with your last point. It’s a tough one. Personally, I think worldwide immersion in contemplative vision is the key.
And will that happen before the year 4000!!!???
Another more personal response to the supposed problems of immigration
I grew up in a NY Suburb which was basically, white (protestant) white (catholic) and white (jewish). There was one chinese family ('the Chens" - always referred to with the "the" preceding the surname, indicating the foreignness of the family) and the first black family moved there in 1969 (The Bookers, parents of future US presidential candidate Cory)
I was ecstatic when I moved out at age 16 to go to high school in NY City. You know one of my favorite things to do?
I would, at rush hour, on evenings I had no deadlines or pressing matters, get on the #7 train at Grand Central Station, and ride it to the end of the line. Often, on a subway car, there were not TWO people of the same ethnicity. You'd look down the car and see:
Mexican
Filipino
Kenyan
Peruvian
Irish
Korean
Argentinian
Polish
Russian
Swedish
South African
Indian
Thai
Lebanese
Israeli
etc etc
I found it miraculous and over the next 33 years, enjoyed the fact that this diversity kept increasing.
As much as I love Asheville, NC, one of the things I miss the most is this kind of ethnic diversity.
I'm 73, but I do notice a huge age difference - it seems that most people I meet under 30 just take this for granted (except MAGA men, which is a whole other thing - wait for the prices to rise enough and they'll all be gone - so much for true believers)
I think as my peers say goodby to this mortal coil, the acceptance of cultural, ethnic, racial diversity will come to be taken for granted.
Wow. Just wow.
meh. Population growth falls when economic conditions improve. First world countries tend to level off. It'll be fine. The Malthusians have been proven wrong every time so far.