Should we humans feel guilty for overpopulating this planet?
~~By Frosty Wooldridge~~
(Hear Frosty discuss this and his other latest columns on current events on AM650 KGAB and online radio www.kgab.com during The Morning Zone 7-til8AM MST today.)
Recently, one of my ardent readers said, “Humans should not feel guilty about living on Earth.…” He defended humanity’s overpopulation running roughshod over the planet and the oceans. He defended that humans own the right to reproduce themselves forever. He argued that we can add another 20, 30 and 40 billion people to the planet without consequences. He felt that our causing the extinction of over 100 species daily cannot be our concern. He advocates for unlimited population growth. In other words: he lacks the intellectual horsepower to understand his own dilemma.
A recent commentary in the Wall Street Journal by Jonathan Last advocated for more babies along with other writers like Joel Kotkin5, Megan McArdle6 and Justin Green. They enjoy major front page advocacy for population growth. All the while, our planet reels, staggers and lurches with humanity’s siege of the biosphere from accelerating carbon footprint, ecological footprint, acidified oceans, climate destabilization, horrendous species extinctions at 100 daily, Great Pacific Garbage Patch and 20,000 square mile dead zones at the mouths of rivers worldwide.
A hundred years ago, Alfred Whitehead in his “Adventures of Ideas”, made a statement that spelled out a logical path for the advancement of the human race: "The foundation of all understanding...is that no static maintenance of perfection is possible. This axiom is rooted in the nature of life. Advance or decay are the only choices offered humanity. The pure conservative is fighting against the essence of the universe."
Whitehead said that we must change our thinking to fit new realities. We must take Galileo’s new understandings that the Earth no longer enjoys the universe revolving around it, but in fact, our planet remains a speck in the black void of eternity. This planet remains finite with a finite carrying capacity. Humans, to be sure, need to get a clue that they are not God’s gift to the world. In fact, Shim Schimmel, the renowned artist said, “With creatures like human beings, even the stars aren’t safe.”
With more intelligent Americans surveyed recently, they were asked the question: Do Americans think stabilizing population will help protect the environment? Fifty-four percent believe stabilization will.
My friend Steve Kurtz said, “Nothing on Earth happens in a vacuum. It’s a closed system that begins to buckle under the sheer weight of human demands. Scientists are increasingly linking population growth and overconsumption to our environmental challenges.”
With my six continents of bicycle travel, I unequivocally understand and have seen firsthand that human overpopulation accelerates as the single greatest and most dangerous issue facing humanity and all life on this planet in the 21st century.
In just the past few months’ scientists have found in America:
• The Colorado River system is under assault by a growing population, and there are serious doubts it can meet the West’s demand for water in the coming decades.
• Florida’s aquifer, the water supply for 19 million people, is experiencing saltwater intrusion because of over-pumping.
• The United States will lose 36 million acres of forest to urban sprawl by 2050.
• Sixty-six species of coral should be classified as endangered because population and consumption of resources are a driving factor in the threats they face.
• The Gunnison sage grouse merits endangered-species protection in part because the human population has doubled in its habitat and will double again in the next 20 years.
• Florida panthers experienced the second year in a row of record-breaking road kills deaths due to increased traffic and development in panther habitat.
- According to the Department of Interior, because of human encroachment, we lose 2,500 plants and animals to extinction in North America every decade. That number will accelerate as we race toward an added 138 million by 2050 and 625 million by the end of the century.
“Upwards of two hundred species.. .mostly of the large, slow-breeding variety.. are becoming extinct here every day because more and more of the earth's carrying capacity is systematically being converted into human carrying capacity. These species are being burnt out, starved out, and squeezed out of existence.. .thanks to technologies that most people, I'm afraid, think of as technologies of peace. I hope it will not be too long before the technologies that support our population explosion begin to be perceived as no less hazardous to the future of life on this planet than the endless production of radioactive wastes.” Daniel Quinn
What’s going on with our oceans defies and frightens even the “hardest” mentality: 100 million sharks killed annually for the past 20 years. Species extinction rates blowing off the charts. Acidification of the oceans so many life forms will go extinct including our reefs. Plastic devastation like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch killing millions of marine and avian creatures annually. Over 20,000 square mile dead zones at the mouths of rivers around the world running raw sewage laden with chemicals 24/7. The list multiplies as we multiply.
Americans get it and our leaders need to get it and we all need to understand that we cannot stand around with our noses stuck to a TV set. We need to participate in our future and the future of our children.
The poll asked: if mass extinctions of plants and animals were unavoidable due to population growth, do we have a moral responsibility to address the problem? Sixty percent said “Yes!”
Join these organizations to empower you to stop mass immigration: www.CapsWeb.org ; www.NumbersUSA.org ; www.TheSocialContract.com ; www.Fairus.org ; www.Alipacus.com
Join me with Dave Chaffin, host of the Morning Zone at 650 AM, www.KGAB.com , Cheyenne, Wyoming every Monday 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., as we discuss my latest commentaries on immigration-environment. You may stream the show on your computer. You may call in at: 1-888-503-6500.
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In a five minute astoundingly simple yet brilliant video, “Immigration, Poverty, and Gum Balls”, Roy Beck, director of www.numbersusa.ORG, graphically illustrates the impact of overpopulation. Take five minutes to see for yourself:
“Immigration by the numbers—off the chart” by Roy Beck
This 10 minute demonstration shows Americans the results of unending mass immigration on the quality of life and sustainability for future generations: in a few words, “Mind boggling!” www.NumbersUSA.org
This is the best website to start: www.numbersusa.org ; watch Roy Beck’s “Immigration by the Numbers” at 14 minutes. Bi-partisan and very effective. Become a faxer of pre-written letters to your reps to make positive change.
Visit www.TheSocialContract.com for the best information on what we face as a civilization as to overpopulation, energy, immigration and much more.
Canada www.immigrationwatchcanada.org ; in Australia www.population.org.au andPublicPopForum@yahoogroups.com; in Great Britain www.populationmatters.org ; and dozens of other sites accessed at www.frostywooldridge.com. In Florida, www.flimen.org .
Must see DVD: "Blind Spot" www.snagfilms.com/films/title/blind_spot/ , This movie illustrates America's future without oil, water and other resources to keep this civilization functioning. It's a brilliant educational movie! www.blindspotdoc.com
Must see: Rapid Population Decline, seven minute video by Dr. Jack Alpert-
Dave Gardner, President, Citizen-Powered Media ; Producing the Documentary, GROWTH BUSTERS; presents Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity, Join the cause at www.growthbusters.org ;760 Wycliffe Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 USA; +1 719-576-5565
Trailer to his latest movie on overpopulation: http://youtu.be/KLWxWOcUrVc
Check out this link with Wooldridge on bicycle and Lester Brown and panel discussion:
Tomorrow's Americaproject on www.youtube.com/contemporarylearning.
Producer: GEORGE A. COLBURNwww.tomorrowsamerica.com
DC: 202-258-4887
Email: gac@starbrightmc.com
Link to www.tomorrowsamerica.com for more discussions on America's predicament.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Alexandra Paul talks about human overpopulation and saving our world by all women having 1 child only:
One planet, one child:
This film will rock you: MOTHER: CARING FOR 7 BILLION
Dr. Jack Alpert , www.skil.org
Too Many People Video series How Much Degrowth is Enough? "NEW" Sept. 2012 |
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Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents - from the Arctic to the South Pole - as well as eight times across the USA, coast to coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece. In 2012, he bicycled coast to coast across America. He presents “The Coming Population Crisis facing America: what to do about it.” www.frostywooldridge.com . His latest book is: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World by Frosty Wooldridge, copies at 1 888 280 7715/ Motivational program: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World by Frosty Wooldridge, click: www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
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