OK, if overpopulation is the root cause of most environmental problems, how do we go about halting population growth?
Paul and Ann Ehrlich, America's most prestigious population experts offer many suggestions in their excellent new book, "Population Explosion". [The Population Explosion, Paul & Anne Ehrlich, Simon and Schuster,1990] Here are a few:
1. Write your elected officials. Tell them that overpopulation is a serious problem. Mention specific population related problems found in your area - air quality, traffic, crime, lack of health services, etc.
2. Talk about the overpopulation issue with friends, family, co-workers, members of your church group. This topic may not be easy to discuss at first, since population growth is closely linked to long-held religious, cultural, and sexual beliefs.
3. Support efforts in developing countries to improve the education and social status of women.
4. Join a group working to solve the population problem.
5. Stop at two! Have no more than two children, and urge your children to do the same.
"The population/resource/environment predicament was created by human actions, and it can be solved by human actions. All that is required is the political and societal will. The good news is that, when the time is ripe, society can change its attitudes and behavior rapidly."
