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." *
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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.
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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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Phone: 719-594-4506
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