[LINK] the weather makers

[Jan Whitaker]

At 12:30 PM 8/04/2007, Stewart Fist wrote:
>5. Personally, I think we should be paying much more attention to the way we
>have overloaded the planet with hominids.  Clearly, the world could do with
>having half the number.
>
>And so if you want to cut back on global-warming effects, then free
>distribution of the pill and condoms around the world might be the most
>effective way to spend the money.  Just think what a billion dollars could
>do.

I like this idea, Stewart. Demand side control (reduced dependence on 
the energy sources that fuel (no pun in tended, but I'll let it 
stand) at least part of the increase in rate of global warming 
(assuming it exists as a result of human activity)).

Probably 15 years ago now, I brought a thing called The World Game to 
Arizona after seeing it at a conference. It's still going. Huge map 
of the globe on the floor -- I mean HUGE. The idea is to mimic the 
effect of population on energy and other natural resources, food, 
etc. by moving people around on the map to represent their use or 
just plain numbers of people. Very effective. This was at the time 
when the catchcry was population 'control', the rhetorical 'global 
warming' of its time.

But now we have more people, who want to be consumers like Americans 
and Australians and Europeans? (China/India), putting even more 
pressure on the Earth. I guess the trick will be trying to put that 
genie back in its bottle. Fat chance.

Jan


Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
personal: http://www.janwhitaker.com/personal/
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'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed, 
there is no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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