inkbluesky

No one is willing to address the accelerating growth in the world’s population

In the time it takes you to get to the end of this sentence, seven people have been added to the population of the world. At this rate, the United Nations estimates the number of people on the planet will nearly double by the middle of this century. Even with significant reductions in birth rates, the population is expected to increase from 6.7 billion now to 9.2 billion by 2050.

[  ]…The biggest obstacle to debate is the matter of possible solutions. Propositions such as ignoring disease or limiting life-saving medical treatment can be ruled out as unacceptable, and birth control is objectionable to many on moral, religious and libertarian grounds. It is not surprising that green groups and politicians, worried about offending supporters, stay silent.

There remains a fourth barrier to raising the population issue: even when people acknowledge the problem and brave the debate, it seems too big to solve.

One of the reasons that liberals have shied away from the population debate in the U.S. is that they were burned by Alvin Toffler and his work The Population Bomb and while he is still alive and active his ghost still haunts the conversation – at least across the internet. Making predictions, especially as sweeping and dire as Toffler’s is a tricky business. While the human race is alive, if not well we are over 6 billion and growing. The major regions of population growth are going to be in the countries that are least able to deal with all the basic necessities and infrastructure to deal with the increase. The dogmatic tell us to stand back and let people have as many children as they want  – which of course dooms those children they care so much about to a harsh or even cruel struggle for existence rather then a real life – obviously forced family planning is and should be off the table. Still there is simple basic sex education and family planning information that would  at least nudge people toward considering the consequences of their actions – and studies indicate would make a real difference.  While I have doubts about making it until 2050 those that will be around might want to start the dialogue before it becomes more of an emergency then it already is.

the weekend kiss 

Regardless of how many of us there are in forty years it looks as though we’ll be ruled by women if current trends continue. Men had their chance and adding up all the pluses and minuses one can’t help but wonder if women couldn’t do better. I don’t think they could do worse, Pow! Take that, lowly man! 

Take last year’s A-level results: girls outperformed boys in every subject except foreign languages, with a higher percentage getting A grades — their best performance in which, for the first time, more than a quarter of girls were awarded top grades.

The government’s plans for half of young people to go to university have been scuppered only by boys’ underachievement. By August of last year, according to data published by the University and College Admissions Service, 30,000 more girls than boys had gained university places. The difference is such that the proportion of women aged 18 to 30 attending university, which at present stands at 47%, is likely to hit the government’s target of 50% by the end of the decade. Boys, however, languish at 37% and show little sign of improving.

Working-class boys are particularly affected; working-class girls, on the other hand, are grabbing further education opportunities with both hands. In absolute numbers, more women than men take first-class degrees; and while the pay gap remains a reality for older women, girls aged between 22 and 29 earn 0.1% more on average than men. Granted, it’s not much. But it’s practically revolutionary compared with past figures.

Slowly all the old stereotypes have been turned on their heads. Take women drivers — long the butt of tiresome jokes. Last month it turned out that men get five times as many road convictions as women — and that rises to 22 times for dangerous driving, according to the Home Office.

Men are seven times more likely to drive while drunk; they are four times more likely to be careless drivers; they are five times more likely to have an accident, and three times more likely to speed.