The Bell Tolls
  by Janet Brazill

July 11, the date designated by the United Nations as World Population Day, holds special significance for Americans as our nation's population reaches the 300 Million mark this year. We should all take time on this day to stop and consider the relevance of these words written in 1624 by John Donne:

"No man is an Iland, intire of it selfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse…; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee." *

This Medieval poet understood clearly that humankind is connected. Our actions affect others, as theirs do us. Just as the village bell tolling someone's death should have meaning for each one hearing it, so should the population crisis overtaking the world be sounding alarms for all of us.

Consider the rate of population growth: It took all of human history until 1830 for world population to reach one billion. The second billion was achieved in 100 years, the third billion in 30 years, the fourth billion in 15 years and the fifth billion in only 12 years. Today, the world population of approximately 6.5 billion grows by nearly 80 million people each year, increasing by 2.6 people every second. Our U.S. population grows by 2.8 million per year, increasing by one every 13 seconds.

Over the past 50 years, human activity has altered ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet fast growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel. We lose one or more entire species of animal or plant life every 20 minutes - some 27,000 species a year.

We need to achieve a world population in balance with its environmental resources if we are to stop the bell from tolling our demise. The National Intelligence Council (NIC) report, "Global Trends 2015," tells us the world will be rife with conflict and increased terrorism unless rapid population growth can be curbed. As the demand for limited resources increases, hostilities will erupt. The NIC report cites future water shortages as flashpoints for conflict. It also predicts the potential for famine in some parts of the world. It is no wonder that there will be global unrest when such suffering affects so many people.

Relate this to what you hear on the news each night - famines, wars, genocides, religious disputes. Consider that nearly half of the world's population - more than 3 billion people - is under the age of 25. Of those, one billion are entering their reproductive years. Can you hear the bell?

We are involved in Mankind, meaning that what happens elsewhere affects us. Excessive births in other countries lead to high immigration here at home. This creates economic problems, and high traffic across our borders increases the threat of terrorism on our soil. Overpopulation intensifies global warming, affecting climate in all nations.

Yes, the bell tolls. To see how loudly, check out the frightening facts at population sites on your computer. A few are: www.populationconnection.org/, www.populationinstitute.org/, www.overpopulation.org/, and http://www.unfpa.org/.


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