Gerry Hawkes wrote: > > The unchecked growth of human population coupled with increasing > consumption and pollution will override our best attempts at forest > management. This is already painfully obvious in many parts of the world. > > Foresters should treat population growth as seriously as they would a > forest fire that threatens to destroy all that they have worked for. We > can advocate sustainable population policies and still have a great love > and admiration for people and their accomplishments. In fact working for > a healthy, happy, sustainable future is the most compassionate, > intelligent thing we can do. > > - Gerry Hawkes - ghawkes@sover.net - Woodstock, Vermont I am extremely delighted by the tone of the recent dialog regarding population problems. Myself and many of the colleagues (scientists) that I speak with mention population as the root cause of most of our envrionmental, social, and political problems (nationally and globally). And this population problem is not just one of excess (too many people), but also one of imbalance. The planet's resources are inequitably available and consumed by different nations and cultures. These imbalances create social and political stresses that exaccerbate the stresses produced by over-consumption. Maybe it's time that organizations like SAF express their concerns regarding over-population and recommend strong policy changes to bring human population and resource consumption more in line with the planet's capabilities. If policy-makers and politician get this sort of input from many and from diverse organizations, maybe then they will realize that it is time that something be done. Funny...you don't hear a single U.S. Presidential candidate mention this issue, even though it is the most serious one facing our nation, as well as all others. I've been wondering if it's just been the population paranoia of myself and my small circle of colleagues, or if there is a substantial group of similarly (and justifiably) concerned people out there. I'm relieved that it's the latter. Now I can tell my therapist to take a hike. DAN -- ======================== schmoldt@vt.edu ============================= Daniel L. Schmoldt Brooks Forest Products Center USDA Forest Service Virginia Tech (540)231-4674 (FAX 8868) Blacksburg VA 24061-0503
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