It’s refreshing to see a popular commentator like Gwynne Dyer (link here) addressing the politically incorrect topic of population growth.
Although growth rates are slowing in many parts of the world, Africa still has worrying high birth rates. As Dyer points out:
"Nine out of the 10 countries in the world with the highest birth rates are African (the other is Afghanistan) and it seemed uncomfortably like pointing the finger at the victim. But runaway population growth is a big factor in making so many Africans victims, and it doesn’t help to stay silent about it."
Dyer goes on to state:
“Sierra Leone, Liberia, Uganda, Somalia, Congo, Angola and Burundi have all been devastated by chronic, many sided civil wars, and all seven appear in the top 10 birth rate list.”
According to Dyer, Uganda is the worst culprit, population wise:
“Uganda’s birth-rate is seven children per woman, little change from 30 years ago. Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, believes that his country is under-populated, and told parliament last July: “I am not one of those worried about he population explosion. It is a great resource.”
Unfortunately, with today’s liberal immigration policies Africa’s problems may well become the West’s problems. That’s why I don’t really agree with conservatives who dismiss overpopulation as a thing of the past. It’s not just that western countries are having too few children, its that many poor countries are still having way too many.
The only way to put pressure on Africa to become more “demography responsible” it to make aid and debt relief dependent on declining birth rates.
Conservative environmentalist Garett Hardin has been suggesting for some time now that countries must be responsible for their own demographic problems if the world is to avoid a "tragedy of the commons" situation. Unfortunately, conservative realism is not very fashional in international aid circles and Hardin is likely to remain a voice in the wilderness for some time to come.
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All Christchurch is encouraged to make the time to attend the Public March To Protest Anti-Smacking Bill.
When? Wednesday 28 March 12pm
Where? Victoria Square (close to Cathedral Square
Speakers: Simon Barnett and Gary McCormick from MoreFM's show Si&Gary, Ali Jones from NewsTalk ZB.
www.politik.co.nz has all the information plus a map of where to meet.
This is quite likely the most significant protest march you will ever attend - do not miss it. We must show the Government - who have been ignoring the public - exactly what us Kiwis do think on this crucial issue.
Good parents will be criminalised if Bradford's bill becomes Law.
Make sure that it doesn't by supporting the march!
There will be marches also in Wellington, Nelson and Fielding. www.politik.co.nz has all the information on these marches, plus news updates, polls to vote in, petition forms and info on how to email the MPs.
I fail to see this article or Dyer address the four letter word, AIDs. Nigeria's president is right, the country is woefuelly underpopulated. The women have seven children in hopes that at least one will survive. The life expectancy is about 35 and that makes the analogy to Dyer's own family quite moot because it is rare in Uganda to have a healthy child, two healthy parents and grandparents. All civilizations slow childbirth as the quality of life imroves and it is well documented in the field of population dynamics. The most offensive part of this article is the insinuation that the people of war-torn Uganda are somehow too backwards to know when to stop reproducing. Perhaps the lack of these crucial details is why I ask myself, "Am I liberal or just well educated?"
Being Liberal and being educated are two completely different things. Most of the uneducated population are Liberal.
Africa is, in fact, one of the most OVERpopulated countries in the world. The life expectany is so low because of the overpopulated cities that affect health and sanitation levels. Maybe relief that is usually provided to them should only be given on the condition of lower birth rates. It's time third world countries took a step forward into the future.
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