Pregnant Pause?

Our latest meeting saw the first birthday of Bedford Skeptics In the Pub. Something to be celebrated, no doubt. Skeptically, of course.

And births, or rather several billion of them, and the consequences of such procreation was the subject of our latest talk when John Davies of the charity Population Matters spoke to us.

Population Matters are convinced that unless we all address the issue of population growth then any other measures taken to alleviate environmental problems and global poverty will flounder.  John cited a 2011 YouGov poll which found that 80% of the public believed that both the global and UK population was too high.

Yet time and again, according to Population Matters, the discussion of what might be done to limit population is sidelined by a political elite not interested or too scared to confront the issue. Even when the matter does get raised within the debate on the future of the planet the subject of population is not given equal space on the agenda.  Subjects such as global warming dominate the conversation when, according to Population Matters, the amounts of greenhouses gases created by the vast human population are central to the problem in the first place.

John referred to statistics that showed £4-£6 invested in family planning can abate a tonne of carbon emissions.  According to this data this is almost four times more cost effective than tree planting, five times more than solar power and six times more than hybrid technology. Population Matters calls for a series of actions ranging from balanced migration flows (that is, no more in that out) to the end of state subsidies for large families (except in cases of proven need).  You can read all their goals HERE.

After the usual half time emptying of bladders and re-filling of glasses we screened a TED talk by Hans Rosling on whether some religions have a higher birth rate than others.  It's an excellent and enlightening talk and well worth 13 minutes of your time.

The discussion session after the film was a lively, some might say, sparky affair.  Many in the audience felt that population growth had slowed and that the scientific consensus pointed to a levelling off of human numbers. Furthermore, that population growth in developing countries is a symptom of poverty and inequality rather than its cause.  The debate seemed to return to the central idea that without a fairer distribution of wealth and resources the problems of population numbers will remain.

Whilst it wasn't mentioned overtly on the night was the idea of 'Contraction & Convergence' (see video above) which could provide a scientific formula for both reducing greenhouse gases to a sustainable level and lead to greater financial equality between nations.  A levelling out of global inequality would seem to offer the best route to solve so many of the interlinked issues of climate change, poverty and localised over population.  

To many the practical application of the 'Contraction & Convergence' approach is unacceptable and unworkable in the current social and political climate. But, in the end, we may have to make this choice whilst the choice is still ours to make.


NEXT MONTH: After an unavoidable postponement BBC Journalist John Sweeney will be explaining to us why he believes that Scientology is, in fact, a Church of Fear - 7pm Thursday November 21st at The White Horse. You are advised to get there early to nab a seat if the turn out for Robert Llewellyn was anything to go by.  Full details HERE