Dear Evo,

I couldn't agree with you more. Thanks to you for
your comments, and,Thanks to everyone else
for their comments, as well.

I must admit that I admire Tor Hundloe's
view enormously. He tells us that -

Our planet can't sustain the continued
human population growth.

It means little
for a few to live well,
when the majority live in poverty.

We need to recognise that once the human
population peaks, the sooner we reduce
the total numbers, (via sensible birth
control), the less environmental damage
we will need to repair.

We can do this. World leaders need to start
taking notice of the vast army of experts
who are willing and able to guide us through
the coming difficult years.

As Tor Hundloe points out, a better world is
possible. It will take effort. It will be
difficult, but it will be worth it.

He says that "One quarter of the world's
mammal species are threatened by extinction."

and

"Temperatures will increase by 1.4 degrees C to
5.8 degrees C voer the next 100 years."

"...the rich are rich enough, and the poor must
become better off so that they are not forced to
degrade nature simply to feed their children.

...Conservation takes a long view. We today should
have a lower standard of living so that people
tomorrow will be able to have a standard of living
at all.

We can replace material goods with a range of pleasures
that do no harm to the environment. In this sense
we will be richer with less. Man's war with the earth
is becoming dangerous to both.

It is time for a truce."

The view that we have over populated our planet is true, surely no one could mount a defense?
But we must address some very real problems in addressing this problem.
We humans are different from country to country, some would without doubt except birth control, some never would.
Right now birth rates world wide differer from group to group.
I true think while we fight about religions, global warming and a lot more we do not yet have the will or means to control our planets birth rate.
Groups we would need to use to do this, like the United Nations can not even end wars and mass murder.
Can not stop millions dieing dreadful deaths ,starvation.
China has power far more than the west to control birth rates, just maybe we would need dictatorships to get results like that.
Natural events may kill millions but starvation and lack of water will do it if we do not control numbers.
Making laws is easy, policing them near impossible if we are talking world wide.

In reality, the pipe dreams is all they are. wishful thinking. Tor Hundloe on the other hand, his work is worth a read.

I see three things that will stop us in our tracks!

NATURE

WAR

OR DISEASE

EVO

Dear Belly,

Good points.
And good questions raised.
I don't have the answers.

But...

All the evidence suggests that we should aim for
a much smaller population than we have today.

There are highly developed European countries where-
regardless of religion - the population is declining.

Yet, politicians in the US, Canada, Australia, and New
Zealand are still promoting population growth.
I think they're wrong.

Whereas, the South Koreans, Singaporeans,
Japanese and Chinese - all with minimal births
per woman, are suddenly becoming concerned
about declining birth rates.
They shouldn't be.

Australian pollies like Peter Costello, should
be condemned for encouraging large families.

Paul Ehrlich, a biologist, published, "The
Population Bomb," back in the late sixties.
His central argument was that the world
is not large enough to nurture unlimited
number of humans.

The world's population at that time was three
billion. Today it is six and a half billion
and growing.

Belly, as you pointed out, how to control it
is the question. I don't know.
But I do know that we can't keep ignoring
the problem.

Dear Foxy

the quote from Imran Khan was noteworthy.

<"You can't fight an idea with
guns. In order to defeat terrorism, you must
win over the hearts and minds of the people involved.">

True, but you don't fight ideas with guns, you fight enemies.

But that kind of statement needs very VERY serious analysis.

Many people can only be 'won over' when they get what they want.
The reason they go down the terrorist path is because they are denied what they want.
So.. the important point in this is 'WHAT' do they want?

AFGHANISTAN. How are we to allow tribal people to grow poppy at the expense of supplying heroin to the world and destroying our own people?
Nope.. I don't care how much they want to grow poppy for heroin production I'd give them 2 choices. 'Stop it and change to a different crop or..we will declare absolute and unending war against you."

That war would involve fair warning...an ultimatum...then the obliteration of the crops..then..if they persisted..of the people.

South Thailand Muslims (and Southern Philippines Muslims) want independance. Do we (Thai and Philippine governments) just give it to them? If we did, then we would quite likely see those areas becoming hot beds of Wahabi guided radicalism and training grounds for world Jihad, and especially for the 'Pan South Asian Caliphate' which is their dream and is said to include some of Australia.

So...winning 'hearts and minds' is a very good soundbite, but the reality is far more complex.

Ultimately, we have to look after our own and our own interests, and to my mind, we need to ensure that our interests are based on fairness and justice in our eyes. (we will never meet all peoples expections on these matters)

Dear Polycarp,

Imran Khan was not speaking about global
terrorism. He was referring to the Taliban
and Al Quaeda in Afganistan - Pakistan
areas. About people that he knows, and is
familiar with their tribal customs.

According to his reasoning the way the West
could win these tribes over is by giving
them aid and in return asking them to bring
in the offending
elements, instead of bombing and killing their
villagers.

According to Khan there's only about
800 - 900 of the Taliban and insurgents, and
thousands of tribal people who would willingly
help if they weren't being constantly bobmed.

There would be no need for the military invasion
and waste of billions of dollars currently in
practice. According to Khan it only drives the
tribal people into the arms of the Taliban and
Al Quaeda.