[Sezbet]

This seems to be an unpopular subject, but I do believe it's central to our species living in a sustainable way.

There are simply too many of us, 6.6 billion at the last count....well, I'm sure you all know the figures....which of course means that heaviness of our own footsteps on the earth have to get lighter and lighter with each extra person.

The problem is that the answers are difficult ones. The horrible, vile truth is that we need so many people to die from poverty, disease and natural disasters right now. We don't like the idea of limiting the number of children a woman is allowed to have (which is basically what happens in China, the number of children is not really counted by couples, a man can leave his wife and father another child in a new relationship), abortion is an emotive word.... what on earth is the answer???

One woman (the leader of my local FOE) suggested one idea. Part of the drive to have many children is so that parents are cared for in their old age, she suggested better state care for the elderly in developing countries as a part of the strategy. Along with better medical care, naturally better education for women (since this has been proven to have a direct effect on how many children a woman has), land reform....

....which is, of course, all very well if only we could actually effect this change in other sovereign nations.

Any ideas?