In his April 5, 2009 New York Times column, Nicholas Kristof talks about the increasing need for more effective family planning activities in developing nations -- his example is a woman from Haiti. I'm posting the link because we should remember that an ever growing global population is as dire a challenge as any we have ever faced.
I also think this issue serves as a great model for understanding sustainability. A great deal of the column addresses the promise and challenge of effective contraception and counseling; it isn't until the end that we learn that the sustainable solution is economic stability and growth, or as Kristof put it "There’s abundant evidence that when parents are confident that their children will live, they will have fewer and invest more in each of them."
"...are confident that their children will live..." How's that for a little cold water in the face.
Effective contraception can put a little pause in population growth for a bit, but it will take the forming of a solid economy for a real change in trends. Similarly, there are lots of things we can do to minimize the damage we cause now, like recycling or driving a more fuel efficient car and driving much less, but it will take a new economy to start resembling sustainability.
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3 comments:
Mark I am not sure that contraception will help the environment just because there are less people doesn't necessarily mean that fewer people will take care of the environment I think education on how to save our environment what impact we have on the environment and how our actions impact it would be more beneficial this should be taught in schools, parks, and the media needs to get on the ban wagon
Woo Hoo -- a comment!! Thanks Melissa.
I suppose it is a stretch to say contraception will help the environment. And I agree that education and getting the word out -- including through the media -- is the only real solution.
Still, more people will equal more impact. Ceteris Paribus
I also want to underscore that the sustainable economic development is the answer. Contraception is just a temporary band-aid on the problem -- how's that for an unsettling metaphor?
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