Last weeks SNJ had a 'blistering attack' on me from the husband of a Tory District councillor for my suggestion that we should consider stopping at two children (see previous entries on 5th and 12th Feb in my blog)...Photo: View across to Folley Farm
...I don't mind the attack but I do take offence to the fact that he distorted what I said - I hope this was accidental rather than political. Indeed he put words into my mouth that I never said like a quote on China - but no worries my reply is below - probably wont make this weeks SNJ - that is assuming they will allow a reply...
Anyhow bearing all that in mind it was interesting to read the article in Saturdays Guardian by George Monbiots partner on the dilemas of parenting in the age of eco crisis. She writes: "Eco activists spend their lives agonising over the planet's future - but that doesn't stop them having children." See the article here. Alot of what is said in this article was also apparently covered in the Friday night Coffee House discussion on "What should we tell the kids about the enviroment?" I hope a write up of that will come soon on the Coffee House section of the website as by all accounts it was a great discussion. Anyhow here was my reply to the SNJ letter:
David Binns disappointingly misrepresented my views regarding families considering stopping at two children to relieve the world's resources (20/02/08). To suggest that I see children as "possessions" or "commodities" is preposterous. I have also never "admired" China's one-child policy, indeed it has significant problems. Many developing countries have, without coercion, reduced their fertility rate by better schooling and contraception.
Grain prices are rocketing. How will another 3 billion be fed and housed? It is surely common sense that stabilising or reducing population would ameliorate almost all environmental impacts? This is a sensitive issue and population reduction is only a part of the answer: we need to also eat less meat, travel less, insulate our homes and all the other things Greens have been banging on about for years!
In the UK, immigration is the main driver for population growth, but David Binns is mistaken that abortion law has caused this. It is Government economic policies which result in for example the NHS and agriculture relying on migrants. I welcome these migrants contributions, but we need policies to reduce the causes of migration: not just today, but also the forecast mass migration caused by environmental degradation from our CO2 emissions.
However where David Binns talks of reducing consumption he is spot on. Yet the three main parties plan ever more economic growth driven by ever more consumption. What we need instead is to create an economy that gives access to things we all need, like warm homes, healthy food and creative rewarding work without the ever increasing overuse of resources. An economy that meets human need and not the greed of a few.
Philip Booth
See another reply to David Binns letter here.
3 comments:
Well done Philip. We've got to keep trying to introduce some rationality into this debate.
Some of these pro-overcrowding people are absolute maniacs. There was someone called Austin Williams on Radio 4 PM today ranting and raving in a way that was purely abusive to that lovely man Oliver Tickell from the Optimum Population Trust.
Mr Tickell put forward a well argued case for population planning in the short time available. Then Williams just spluttered on about "the vile consequences of environmentalism" blah blah. He had not a single rational point to make.
"Blow Mother Nature" he went. "We are above nature and can control it".
Unbelievable.
BTW The Green Party population policy leaves a whole lot to be desired, imo. Jim Jay has a post on the subject, don't know if you've seen it.
Keep talking the good sense Philip! Don't be intimidated. Population and consumption are *the* two key issues.
You are right - even though Greens are one of the only parties to raise population their current policy needs urgently updating - I was relieved to see at our conference earlier this month in Reading that we voted for a policy review that looks set to produce some more significant policies around this issue.
David Cameron, has also suggested Britain needs a “coherent strategy” on population growth.
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