Comments on: Monbiot on Population

By: Lucy Skywalker

Lucy Skywalker — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:24:02 +0000

Totally agree with Graham. And how. It all fuels the urgency to create a "vital education" crash course available to everyone, to "ratchet up" basic awareness into ALL the essential and interconnected factors that are threatening life on this precious earth. Permaculture Plus. Laws are needed, but politicians follow electors, so awareness comes first. Our level of overshoot is so serious that facing possibilities of death with awareness and a clear conscience is also part of the education-for-sustainability needed - IMHO. I think that this life-death frontier is the stumbling-block, why so many don't like to talk about the p-word. I however want to know that even if I die I've done all I can to lay the groundwork for transition to true healthy sustainability.

By: Casey

Casey — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:57:54 +0000

I couldn’t disagree more with the basic premises of the article. The underlying problems that we face are all brought about by greed, pure and simple. It is the greed of the empowered few and the special interests that they represent that keep us mired in environmental degradation and poverty of the masses. There are so many innovative technologies that are dying on the vine that could easily help us to address the issues of peak oil and increased consumerism. Houses that are 75% more energy efficient than what are currently being built, methods of extracting oil and steam energy, solar energy, wind energy and harnessing the power of the oceans, all of these technologies are already available and viable except that they are suppressed by those who control the dominant industries in place right now ie: coal fired power plants, oil as the dominant energy source and on and on. We have renewables available to us right now such as hemp that are suppressed because they compete with synthetic alternatives. By empowering innovation we can increase the standard of living for the world and do it in an environmentally conscious way. At least that’s the way I see it…

By: WINSTON SMITH, MINISTER OF TRUTH

WINSTON SMITH, MINISTER OF TRUTH — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:40:12 +0000

Great Stuff– Nothing cute about a new born he-she is your competitor for all. Stupid Parents !! IF the subject isnt about Overpopulation not worth discussing. Contunue to Contaminate your Bed and some night you will Die in Your own Waste. Chief Seattle to President Pierce 1858. We did it. The end of living and the beginning of Survival. SITUATION HOPELESS.

By: Alex Szczech

Alex Szczech — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:52:40 +0000

Excellent response to Monbiot’s peice. You should send it to the Guardian. Hopefully they’d see fit to print it in order to provide a counterbalance to Monbiot’s view.

By: Trinifar

Trinifar — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:20:43 +0000

BTW, got here from a comment at http://growthmadness.org/2008/01/30/watch-for-this-error/

By: Trinifar

Trinifar — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 08:14:05 +0000

I agree, the two issues are tightly bound together. Still, in a world that doesn’t yet get even the consumption problem it’s hard to push both consumption and population reduction at the same time when writing for a general audience. Monbiot is not perfect but is there anyone else with his visibility doing a better job? That doesn’t mean don’t criticize him, only that I’m thrilled to see someone with his general attitude getting space in the mainstream media.

By: John Feeney

John Feeney — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:41:53 +0000

Excellent critique. I wish I’d written it. I did write a brief response to one problem with the article, but you’ve touched on many key points with an understanding of the population issue I rarely see in the blogosphere. Good work.

And nice blog!

By: judyofthewoods

judyofthewoods — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:51:39 +0000

Excellent post, Graham, well presented arguments, which should be essential reading. Indeed, it is not an either/or situation. There is nothing I can add.