The Nature Of The Catastrophe
James Veldon's original question was,
"Is there a problem with over population?" That's my starting point. I'm not and have not been offering solutions. There's no agreement on the extent of the problem. I believe overpopulation is a problem
now, not in a future near, or far.
Fallen Angel said:
If you can identify the specifics, other than climate issues, that are causing these famines, and explain to me in clear terms what I personally am supposed to do, I will do it. But my personal complicity in these famines is escaping me at the moment. However, your posts read that I'm somehow either supposed to personally do something about these issues or I have somehow been at cause.
I get most of my info. from the
BBC World Service. The
BBC NEWS website is a valuable source of articles and info:
Story: UN Reports Famine Africa to Last Until 2004
BBC News: In Depth Report, Famine In Africa
More recent
UN reports suggest that the worst consequences of the famines in
Ethiopia and
Southern Africa may have been averted, for the moment.
Anome was also right about the terrifying toll of disease epidemics in Africa. A recent
UN report estimated some
11 million 'AIDs' orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa at the present time and countries where 1 in 3 is a carrier.
Article on George Bush pledging Billion to fight AIDs in AFrica (and Caribbean).
With regards to the looming disaster in Iraq, I made no mention of the US, British, or any other govs., or forces. The civil collapse in Iraq has been under way a long time. At least since the Iran/Iraq War.
Article on human cost of war in Iraq
And for good measure here's a background article on N. Korea and the real state of things there:
Country Profile North Korea
I'm not having a go at the US, or anybody else on this one. The North Korean Gov. got themselves into that mess.
2 to 3 million dead due to famine and natural disaster in the last decade, or so?. No, here I'm more interested in the human cost on the civilian population of these two sorry countries. Are these issues connected to Global overpopulation? I think so, though it would take another thread to explore that one.
Overpopulation is
now having an effect on everything, from disease, famine and death to exhaustion of resources and conflicts that might result to pollution and the
greenhouse effect. These all have a reciprocal effect on each other.
Okay, if you are of the opinion that litter should just sit on the beaches rather than being cleaned up, fine. I just hope you never whinge about the trash on the shore when you go to the beach. Me, I have a sense of personal responsibility to do what I can. I think an statement like "Hobby Work" needs some sort of back up. What is it exactly, that you personally do, Androman, to make the world a better place? If the answer is 'nothing' then this appears to be "the pot calling the kettle black"
This would be a good question on anther thread. I have not been offering solutions. I originally took exception to the interjection of one of the dread,
Right Wing Bullshit phrases,
"There's no such thing as a free lunch! what a brutal stifler of debate and wild conjecture that was meant to be.
Forteanism demands free lunches and insists that they exist!
What I do in my private life not really relevant. However, I have had enough jobs, both paid and voluntary to be able to tell when a job is work as work and work as therapy. I was not offering airy solutions, or rhetoric, either. I was quite purposely being as pessimistic as possible. If musing on the possiblity of a world where my lunch does
not have to be stolen out of someone else's mouth, is rank "arsey faddle" idealism, then the world really is in as bad a way as I think.
Androman, I really do feel strongly about people who talk about how to fix the world and never actually do anything. If you are one of those people then perhaps you should feel insulted, and if not, then why in the world would you take my remarks personally? If the shoe fits, wear it. But if it doesn't fit, then why go to such lengths to comment on it being an ugly shoe?
Yes, there are horrible problems in this world. Yes, many or most of them are not fixable, on the level that you and I can influence or effect. But some can. And when it's pollution, or the environment, then one person at a time, the world can get changed. One person taking action. Not one person talking.
I was not talking at all, nor was I was offering airey fairey solutions. Perhaps you mistook me for someone else?
James Veldon's original question a good one and it's given me considerable pause for thought. The ramifications of overpopulation extend way beyond Africa and the Middle and Far East. It's the sheer weight of numbers and the frequency of disasters, natural, or manmade, that pull me up short and leave me numb. Before you can offer solutions to a problem, first you have to know what the problem really is and I'm still thinking that one over. I don't even know if there can be a solution. I'm fed up with can do optimism I need to have a good look into the abyss, occasionally, even if it hurts.
Pessimism is an important Scottish cultural trait.