Climate Memo Mondays #36

 

36.  Climate Memo Mondays, August 16, 2021
Overpopulation
8 Billion Angels Film
Tom Flynn.  “Will World Population Drop Far Enough, Fast Enough?”
Carl Safina.  “Avoiding a ‘Ghastly Future’: Hard Truths on the State of the Planet”

 

POPULATION GROWTH, OVERPOPULATION

POPULATION CONNECTION PRESENTS 8 BILLION ANGELS View Recording  POPULATION CONNECTION PRESENTS 8 BILLION ANGELS by Terry Spahr. About POPULATION CONNECTION Presents: 8 BILLION ANGELS (54 Minutes) Exclusive On-Demand Access for this documentary is available from: JULY 29 through AUGUST 3. When your viewing period begins, the movie will appear above. REGISTRATION IS FREE, brought to you by Population Connection. Your registration allows you to view the film twice during the screening period. For technical support during the viewing period, please email: engage@populationconnection.org 8 Billion Angels weaves together stories of people around the world as they confront the growing impact of overpopulation on their lives and the planet.  The film unflinchingly shows how our skyrocketing numbers are affecting our rivers, oceans, land and air. With passion, humility, and honesty, experts explain the indisputable connection between our environmental catastrophes, unsustainable population and increasing consumption. In spite of the daunting challenges presented, this ultimately uplifting documentary offers proven, practical and positive solutions that can not only address unsustainable population growth and its dire environmental consequences but improve the lives and well-being of people around the world. WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER https://www.8billionangels.org View Recording Looking forward to seeing you, Terry Spahr info@earthovershoot.org

 

Two Articles in Free Inquiry (August/September 2021) confront the future with Overpopulation Alerts .

Tom Flynn.  “Will World Population Drop Far Enough, Fast Enough?”
Global population is nearing eight billion, which is “already far in excess of what the planet can sustain long term.”  Estimates of the world’s optimum population range from “a few hundred million” to “2.5 billion.”  Flynn cites an estimate for US optimum population of 150 million, but he would severely limit US growth, especially immigrants, because of its unsustainable lifestyle and economic system.   “Though it’s not the whole solution, one fine way to have fewer greenhouse gas emissions is to have fewer human beings emitting them,” particularly in countries of high per capita emissions.

Carl Safina.  “Avoiding a ‘Ghastly Future’: Hard Truths on the State of the Planet”
This article is a summary of a report by 17 leading ecologists he summarizes as “a stark warning about the snowballing crisis caused by climate change, population growth, and unchecked development”: “Underestimating the Challenges of Avoiding a Ghastly Future.”  “Ecologists understand that building an ever-larger human enterprise has resulted in putting more of the world through a macerator at the expense of the rest of life on earth and generations unborn. , , ,The most fundamental driver of putting more material into our enterprise, human population growth, is on track to continue.”