3 posts tagged “r”
The research on the reasons for population growth shows that human populations under conditions of regional limits of sustainability have the ability to limit breeding rates. Thus there are potential conditions for limiting the biological breeding rates through governmental rules.
There is however in the long view a deficiency in the limiting process, presumably due to cognitive deficiencies and societal factors influenced thereby. Indications therefore are:
- delay in accommodating the rules of the society to the real development of the society
- maintaining the intraspecific competition, e.g. between different “nations”
- comprehensive, at least latent refusal in the society of family planning by contraception
- enduring development for solving population growth/limits of sustainability by extending the limits of sustainability, instead of attacking global population growth.
Helmut M Knoflacher in Bevölkerungswachstum (Population Growth) – zwischen Erbe und Erkenntnis (German), in Rupert Riedl et al (Ed.): Die Ursachen des Wachstums (The Reasons for Growth) 1996.
Conflicts between nations, tribes, classes, interest groups and ideologies will no doubt produce solutions which are quite different from our suggestions. But the most urgent cause at present is to make as many people as possible realize the gravity of the situation. Provoking discussion may be the best way of finding coherent and valid solutions. The problem is that of world development; it is too vast and complex, we repeat, to be solved by charity. Food aid without birth control will aggravate future difficulties; and support for corrupt, privileged minorities may strengthen the obstacles to development.
The new generation will find itself faced with difficulties such as the human race has never known before. We want to help to solve them but are not satisfied with the contribution we have made. The reader is, therefore, invited to take part in a constructive discussion.
In conclusion, I should like to acknowledge that widespread famine and terrible poverty do seem difficult to avoid. This should make us all the more determined to reduce their magnitude, since we are collectively responsible for our common destiny.
René Dumont and Bernhard Rosier in The Hungry Future (1969)
I am a novelist. I have no theory, no system nor ideology to propose or to defend. It just seems to me that we are facing a unique alternative: either learn the resigned courage of being poor or find again the inflexible courage to be rich. In both cases, so-called Christian charity will prove itself powerless. The times will be cruel.
Jean Raspail in Le Camp de Saints, 1973 (preface 1985)
