The world’s population had been expected to stabilize a little above 9 billion about the middle of the century, but the United Nations now predicts that the world’s population might rise to 10.1 billion by the year 2100. In one way this is good news--the increase results in part because of falling infant mortality rates.
The bad news is that the world cannot support this many people at the level at which they would like to live. Gandhi said there would be enough resources if people weren’t greedy. Yeah, and if frogs could fly, they wouldn’t bump their butts.
People don’t want to live on dirt floors in houses without air conditioning. They want cars, swimming pools, flat screen televisions, bananas from Costa Rica and chocolates from Belgium. To live at that level will require resources we do not have. An aggressive policy to curb population growth would be good; a long range plan to reduce it would be better. And we all owe a debt of gratitude to China for its one child per couple policy.
A note:
My friend George and I were driving up Trachsville Hill Road tonight when we were slowed by a National Guard truck. I said, “that’s odd--I wonder where they are going?” George replied, “They’re probably looking for a place to stay tonight.” (If you don’t get it, read yesterday’s posting. By the way, the demonstration on behalf of the 3rd Amendment will be from 2 to 2:30 p.m. in the Lehighton Borough Park. So far, three people have signed up.)
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