Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.94.961007103130.5239C-100000@acy1.digex.net> Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 10:59:21 -0400 From: Tu and Bob Myers <mailto:tuandbob@ACY.DIGEX.NET> Subject: Re: Sustainability To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
On Mon, 7 Oct 1996, Grant Ballard-Tremeer wrote, in part:> Environmental pressure = welfare x population x technology
>
> If we look at fuelwood scarcity, for example, we can see problems with
> practices which have continued unchanged for thousands of years in less
> developed countries. These are caused purely as a result of population
> pressure. Population growth in these areas are not merely a result of
> western medicine, I think.
Mr. Ballard-Tremeer,
A correct and cogent, but perhaps unpopular idea.
An additional point to be made is that solar cookers and more efficient stoves, both of which are "technology", are not given credit as technology being "good" for reducing the need for fuel.
A more far fetched idea, but equally as "logical", is to consider "peace" "bad".
Not having war to control population (combat related deaths, less fathers, infant deaths from malnutrition and stress) the population increases. Increased population harms the environment.
Q.E.D., "peace" is "bad" because it results in harm to the environment .
-Is this a case of the "herd" being to large because of a loss of "natural predators"? -Should the "herd" be culled for it's own good? It would "save" the environment.
Bob