When asked on an exam to choose the single most effective solution to global environmental problems, only 22% of students in my basic ecology class here picked "to achieve zero population growth quickly". The rest favored solutions such as reduction of greenhouse gases and of tropical deforestation. However laudable these goals are, what most students (and policy-makers) miss is that the population is growing exponentially. This means it is doubling every 35-40 years. To keep up with this growth requires that we double all resources (fossil fuel, food, water, etc.) and halve each individual's environmental impact by 2030, double and halve them again by 2070, and so on. This is impossible to achieve on our finite planet. If we try, we are destined to lose ground eventually. The result will be a rise in the death rate (with attendant suffering) until it matches the birthrate. But we have an alternative to this dismal scenario: We can voluntarily reduce our birthrate. It is time to demand that our leaders overcome their reluctance to discuss these issues and develop a national population policy.
| MARY V. PRICE NICKOLAS M. WASER Professors of Biology/UCR |
CONSERVATION UPDATE
The REALLY big news of course is the passing of the Desert Protection Act through the House on Nov. 26 (a landslide vote of 297-136). It will now go to the Senate when congress reconvenes this month. Senator Seymour has requested senate field hearings on the bill.
If you favor this bill, please write a note to Senator Seymour urging him to support this act in the Senate. (Senator Seymour, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510.)
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Still no news on the proposed Ward Valley dump. This project is still hung up on a land usage transfer. (If you would like to speak out or comment on this issue: Gov. Pete Wilson, State Capital, Sacramento, CA 95814.)
As a side note, Dean and I drove out to visit the Ward Valley site a few weekends ago. Among the many pleasant memories of this area are a beautiful panoramic view (including a view of Old Woman Mountain), petroglyphs, a pair of soaring golden eagles and many tracks of the desert tortoise.
| -- Pat Acheson |