If Only Humans Could "Stop At Two"

I constantly think about this all the time: If only humans had the sense to "stop at two children," many of the nightmares we are facing or are about to face could be avoided.

As an environmentalist specializing in population, one of my hobbies is to link our various world problems back to population growth. I believe that nearly all of our current environmental and social ills can be traced to our exploding global population. Yet, most people still don't get it -- they want to have a large family for various reasons, with zero regard for how their decision impacts the Planet and our future. This disconnect has become the great puzzlement of my life.

I have read several articles that link overpopulation to terrorism, but in today's newspaper I read a new connection. Yes, it startled me.

"The spread of nuclear technology is expected to accelerate as nations redouble their reliance on atomic power to cope with growing populations, dwindling oil supplies, and fears that the combustion of fossil fuels is warming the planet."

And there's more:

"Development of civilian projects will give more countries the ability to make reactor fuel, or with the same equipment and a little more effort, bomb fuel."

Okay, let's think about this:

• Massive population growth is helping to quickly dry up the world's oil supplies.
  
  
• Nations must now find new ways to provide power for their exploding populations.
  
  
• When nations learn to develop nuclear power for peaceful energy needs, they are only a few steps away from the ability to make nuclear fuel for bombs.
  

I would like to add one point to the newspaper quote:

Increased world population will result in more competition over resources, such as the remaining oil supplies, water, land, etc... With more countries having nukes, or the ability to produce them, the liklihood is increased that sooner or later someone will use one.

Welcome to the second nuclear arms race. By ignoring the horrible problem of human overpopulation, you are, in effect, putting your five children in harm's way. You helped to create this problem. Yes, I know, the Bible says that this is the end of the world and that this is all part of God's plan. Well, I think it's a sucky plan, and we shall see.

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/15/06, Section A: "Many Nations May Have Nuclear Arms Capability."

Exploitation and Violence Against Women

On top of all the other things that trouble me, I am getting more and more concerned about the violence and exploitation against women. It seems that there are just more whacko males willing to murder innocent females. There has been a whole string of crimes like this. First there was the sexual assault and murder of a women on the bike trail near my house. And now the brutal murder of the Amish girls by a deranged man. Why all this violence? Can it all be traced to some sexual issue? Are men just more prone to act out their mental problems through violence?

Then there is the case of all the exploitation of women. I have heard stories of how women are lured into, trapped, and exploited in the pornography industry. The best way to stop this multi-billion dollar business is to boycott. It's just that simple.

And then I hear stories of boys luring girls to have sex with them, and then dumping them. They seize on girls who are naive, maybe lonely, and just want a boyfriend. But what these girls get is just a milder version of a sexual predator.

It's all really sick. Women should be treated with respect. Men need to get over their endless obsession with sex. I think the sex craze comes with all the free time and less harder labor. In the old days, after working 10 hours on the farm, men were too kaput to engage in such folly.

I know these problems I am raising have probably been going on for hundreds of years, but that doesn't make it right. Men need to get a grip and keep it in their pants. The selfishness and immaturity I see with the male gender is pathetic.

I don't say these things just because I have daughters. I am saying them because the mistreatment of women is wrong. And it is also wrong to treat them anything less than 100% equals -- no exceptions. This is a conviction I've had since age 13 (I'm 46 now). It has always bothered me.

If we started showing the respect that the 51% of the world's population deserves, maybe our species would not be so dysfunctional. And, yes, all religions must give women 100% equality as well -- I demand it. This stuff about a woman can't hold a senior leadership in a church is a bunch of crap, yet a lot of churches disrespect women in this way, and other churches, denominations, and religions do far worse.

And a note to you women -- you do not have to take any of this crap. Don't buy into this lie about "it's my role to be submissive." The word "submissive" is simply a euphemism for "exploited." You do not have to take it. Do not take any crap from any man or organization that doesn't offer you 100% respect. Now that doesn't mean you have to be an over-sensitive militant feminist. I try to be thick skinned and you should be too. You know what is innocent and ignorant, and what is intentional. So, you be the judge.

In regards to the tragedy of the Amish girls, it reminds me of a passage I once wrote in one of my short stories:

"I started crying for everything that was wrong in this world, and I cried and cried. Then I started to laugh because I knew it was impossible to cry for all the pain and suffering in this world."

I guess that's why I try to make jokes, and that's why I try to cheer up my fellow activists. I don't know. Right now I just think the world is nuts, more than ever.

Perpetual Anger

I often think about those folks in the Mideast who suffer from permanent rage -- it must be horrible for their blood pressure. I pretty much stay angry all the time too; it's just that I don't let it out by beheading people and destroy other people's property. I don't believe in that. I always try to funnel my anger into action, or righteous indignation.

So, these last few days I've been thinking about what makes me the angriest. It came to me last night as I was watching yet another frightening documentary on global warming.

What makes me the angriest are this huge group of fundamentalist Christians who will never do anything about global warming. Instead of driving less or planting trees, they will frame this pending disaster into their religious dogma. All the symptoms of global climate change will be "signs" that the Lord is coming soon. All the bad things that happen will be "punishment" for allowing gay marriages, or whatever. As the waters rise over south Florida, they will say it is because of their SINS!

Even more moderate Christians tell me that global issues are in the hands of God, that it is "all part of God's plan."

So, that's what makes me angry. On Sunday morning millions of people will be sitting in churches as some preachers screams at them about saving more souls ... because the world is coming to an end. Then, they will hop in their gas guzzling autos and well, help the world come to an end.

It's freakin' crazy. This whole world is crazy. The daily newspaper absolutely depresses me. If I didn't need it for my volunteer work, I would not open the paper. It is actually more fun to live in lala land, or to be like church people who somehow think that singing off key or participating in church socials somehow makes God happy. Yeah, right. I think what makes God happy are people dedicated to service, who are not afraid to take responsibility for the Planet, and are out on the front lines making this world better, instead of in some little building playing church.

I am doing what I can to reduce my carbon emissions, but I know there is a lot more that I can do. To the church people, I urge you to join me to help reduce all the carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere. I know you think your purpose in life is to "save souls" by getting people to say a three sentence prayer. While that makes absolutely no sense, I know that you think it's right, so that's okay. But it's going to be hard to save people who are sick, hungry, dying, or dead. And global warming is going to cause a lot of that, I believe. Not to mention the human population explosion, the mass slaughter of our Planet's greenspace, and the fouling of our water. So, go ahead, put on your little suit and tie, sit in the back of your little church, and enjoy your 40 minutes of piety, as the preacher up front lambasts you for not attending the Wednesday and Sunday night services, and for not putting enough in the plate.

Give me a break. I've really had enough. I just wish more people would start doing things that really make a difference instead of playing games. I'm 46 years old and I've watched the game playing all my life. There is only one game I know, and that is called Reality. I wish more people would play it.

The Goose