IPFS
CONNECTING THE DOTS
Frosty Wooldridge
More About: EnvironmentPart 3: Series on overpopulation in America—No species can get away with this
Part 3: Quotes that make impact on America and around the
world, species expansion, carrying capacity, exponential growth
"Unlimited population
growth cannot be sustained; you cannot sustain growth in the rates of
consumption of resources. No species can overrun the carrying capacity of a
finite land mass. This Law cannot be repealed and is not negotiable.” Dr. Albert Bartlett, www.albartlett.org , University of Colorado, USA.
Dr. Bartlett speaks around the
world with his brilliant presentation: “Arithmetic, population and
energy.” You may access his YouTube presentation or visit his
website to view the entire presentation.
In his lecture, both humorous and
sobering at the same time, Bartlett presents audiences with irrefutable science
as to the end result of “exponential growth.” We humans, thinking we
enjoy some kind of dispensation from reality or the Pope for that matter,
continue adding 80 million of ourselves annually, net gain. Again, we
pro-create another one billion of ourselves onto this finite planet every 12
years. Already at an unsustainable 7.1 billion, we expect to reach 10
billion by mid century—a mere 37 years from now.
Each year, the United States adds
3.1 million people, net gain, to its current 315.5 million population. In
1963, America featured a manageable 194 million people. American women averaged
2.03 children each. We citizens chose to stabilize our population based
on our water, energy, resources, quality of life and standard of living
needs. Our population would have leveled out at 255 million by
1990. However, our U.S. Congress decided to import over 100 million
immigrants and their subsequent children from 1965 to 2007. Currently, we
gallop along the path to add another 100 million by 2035 and 138 million to
reach 438 million by 2050.
In 2013, cities like Chicago, Los
Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, New York, Houston and many more feature horrific
traffic congestion, toxic air pollution, crippling environmental problems and
loss of quality of life. Infrastructure crumbles, massive unemployment
prevails, poverty swells and no one can figure out how to solve our enormous
problems.
(Do you think the United States,
Canada, UK, Europe, Australia or any country can solve their traffic gridlock
by adding greater population via endless immigration? Will those
countries be able to solve their toxic brown cloud air pollution? What is
the obvious answer?) Photo by, www.123rf.com , free stock photography
Nonetheless, Congress imports
another 100,000 immigrants every 30 days. They arrive from already
overloaded countries around the world. Note: they come from the 80 million
added people annually around the globe. They, in turn, birth 900,000
babies annually. (Source: Dr. Steven Camorata, www.cis.org) Thus, the United States adds, from
population momentum, immigration and birthrates—3.1 million annually. (Source:
US Population Projections by Fogel/Martin, PEW Research Center)
Unlimited population growth
cannot be sustained
What did Dr. Bartlett mean by the statement: “Unlimited
population growth cannot be sustained”? What does he mean by
“exponential growth”?
Exponential growth means that some quantity grows by a fixed
percentage rate from one year to the next. A handy formula for calculating the
doubling time for exponential growth: a survey of Boulder, Colorado residents
about the optimal size for growth returned a result that most residents thought
that a growth in population at the rate of 10% per year was desirable.
Ten percent year may not seem innocuous but let's see how
these numbers would add up:
Year 1 60,000
Year 2 66,000
year 3 72,600
Year 4 79860
Year 5 87846
Year 6 96630
year 7 106294
Year 8 116923
So in seven years, the population doubles and by then 10,000
new residents per year move to Boulder. (or any city) Exponential growth,
in general, is not understood by the public. If exponential use of a resource
is not accounted for in planning - disaster will happen, i.e. water shortages,
energy depletion and resource exhaustion. The difference between linear growth
and exponential growth is astonishing.
(Eventually, even Boulder, Colorado will sport traffic like
this with exponential growth. Pretty stupid wouldn’t you say?) Photo by, www.123rf.com , free stock photography
The residents of Easter Island, after they pursued
exponential growth for decades, collapsed and caused the extinction of their
entire civilization. In other words, they ate themselves out of house and
home. Every civilization faces the same fate if it continues exponential
growth.
Unfortunately, in 2013, the United States heads down the
exact same path as Easter Island. Grow, grow, grow! No Plan A, no Plan B,
no reasonable understanding of its predicament! A small percentage of
power elites that lead our country lack any conceptual understanding of
“exponential growth.” Thus, they encourage ever greater population
growth. Millions of American citizens ride in the same boat and espouse
endless population growth—as if the problems we already face can be solved by
such arrogance and stupidity.
Dr. Bartlett also said, ““Can you think of any problem in
any area of human endeavor on any scale, from microscopic to global, whose
long-term solution is in any demonstrable way aided, assisted, or advanced by
further increases of population, locally, nationally, or globally?”
Can you? Can anyone? Answer: no! We cannot clear
up the toxic brown clouds hovering above our cities by adding more people, more
cars and more exhaust chimneys to those cities. We cannot solve the acid
rain or acidification of our oceans by adding more people, homes and
cars. We cannot create more fresh water for the seven states now
experiencing droughts and low water supplies by doubling their populations.
Georgia and Florida already suffer water shortages, but expect to double their
populations by mid century. We cannot grow more food when every added
American destroys 25.4 acres of arable land, which grows our food, to support
that person once they arrive in this country—called “ecological
footprint.” (Source: www.allspecies.org)
(Why are we humans doing this to ourselves? Why do we
pursue “exponential growth” with a vengeance? When will our citizens
speak up and force our leaders to address human overpopulation in America and
around the world? Contacts for you at the end of this column.) Photo by, www.123rf.com
, free stock photography
Dr. Bartlett said, “No species
can overrun the carrying capacity of a finite land mass. This Law cannot be repealed
and is not negotiable.”
So what are we doing to ourselves as a species? At
present, we race along making a pact with the “devil” in what we call a
Faustian Bargain or, we keep adding people and burning up our resources for the
luxury of the moment; as if tomorrow will never come. When tomorrow
eventually arrives, we shall face a Hobson’s Choice. You won’t like his
choice! We will have exacerbated our situation to the point that only two
choices remain available: we get to choose Door A which, when we step
through it, we plummet over a cliff. Door B allows us to fall into
quicksand with no lifeguards. In other words, our civilization faces
collapse and we’re all screwed with no choices.
(Aren’t cities like this getting to be beyond
ridiculous? At what point do we stop growing cities past 36 million
concrete entombed human souls? When do we grab our humanity back?) Photo by, www.123rf.com
, free stock photography
As Dr. Bartlett said, “The law cannot be repealed and is not
negotiable.” The Law of Gravity gives you an idea of what it’s like to
fall over a cliff with no parachute. At some point, the United States
faces the inevitable consequences of Dr. Bartlett’s rendition of “exponential
growth.” Too damned bad we weren’t listening.
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If you would like to make a difference, please join these
organizations for the most effective collective action you can take: www.CapsWeb.org ; www.NumbersUSA.org ; www.TheSocialContract.com
; www.Fairus.org
Join me, Frosty Wooldridge, with Dave Chaffin, host of the
Morning Zone at 650 AM, www.KGAB.com,
Cheyenne, Wyoming every Monday 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., as we discuss my latest
commentaries about issues facing America. You may stream the show on your
computer. You may call in at: 1-888-503-6500.
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In a five minute astoundingly simple yet brilliant video, “Immigration, Poverty, and Gum Balls”,
Roy Beck, director of www.numbersusa.ORG,
graphically illustrates the impact of overpopulation. Take five minutes
to see for yourself:
“Immigration by the
numbers—off the chart” by Roy
Beck
This 10 minute demonstration shows Americans the results of
unending mass immigration on the quality of life and sustainability for future
generations: in a few words, “Mind boggling!” www.NumbersUSA.org
This is the best website to start: www.numbersusa.org ; watch
Roy Beck’s “Immigration by the Numbers” at 14 minutes. Bi-partisan and very
effective. Become a faxer of pre-written letters to your reps to make
positive change.
Visit www.TheSocialContract.com for the best information on what
we face as a civilization as to overpopulation, energy, immigration and much
more.
Canada www.immigrationwatchcanada.org ; in Australia www.population.org.au
andPublicPopForum@yahoogroups.com;
in Great Britain www.populationmatters.org
; and dozens of other sites accessed at www.frostywooldridge.com.
In Florida, www.flimen.org
.
Must see DVD: "Blind Spot" www.snagfilms.com/films/title/blind_spot/
, This movie illustrates America's future without oil, water and other
resources to keep this civilization functioning. It's a brilliant educational
movie! www.blindspotdoc.com
Must see: Rapid Population Decline, seven minute video by
Dr. Jack Alpert-
Dave Gardner, President, Citizen-Powered Media ; Producing
the Documentary, GROWTH BUSTERS; presents Hooked on Growth: Our
Misguided Quest for Prosperity, Join the cause at www.growthbusters.org ;
Trailer to his latest movie on overpopulation: http://youtu.be/KLWxWOcUrVc
Check out this link with Wooldridge on bicycle and Lester
Brown and panel discussion:
Tomorrow's Americaproject on www.youtube.com/contemporarylearning.
Producer: GEORGE A. COLBURNwww.tomorrowsamerica.com
DC: 202-258-4887
Email: gac@starbrightmc.com
Link to www.tomorrowsamerica.com for more discussions on America's
predicament.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Alexandra Paul talks about human overpopulation and saving
our world by all women having 1 child only:
One planet, one child:
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We must come to terms with birth control and stabilizing
human population. This three minute video brings the terror of India’s predicament
up close and personal by Paul Winn of Australia:
This film will rock you: MOTHER: CARING FOR 7 BILLION
Dr. Jack Alpert , www.skil.org
Too Many People Video
series
How Much
Degrowth is Enough? "NEW" Sept. 2012
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Important books to
read and educate yourself:
Life
on the Brink: Environmentalists Confront Overpopulation, edited by
Philip Cafaro and Eileen Crist, 2012
The
World Without Us,
Alan Weisman 2007 A scholarly research on how the Earth will fare
after Homo sapiens are gone.
Man
Swarm, and the Killing of Wildlife, Dave Foreman 2011 Mankind as
locusts.
Take
Conservation Back, Dave Foreman, 2013
The
Long Emergency
by James Howard Kunstler, what America faces when oil runs out.
Overshoot by William
Catton
Collapse:
How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
Peak
Everything: Facing a century of Declines by Richard Heinberg
Plan
B, 4.0, Saving Civilization by Lester Brown
The
Population Fix
by Edward C. Hartman
America
on the Brink: The Next Added 100 Million Americans by Frosty
Wooldridge
##
Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents - from
the Arctic to the South Pole - as well as eight times across the USA, coast to
coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle, Norway
to Athens, Greece. In 2012, he bicycled coast to coast across America. He
presents “The Coming Population Crisis facing America: what to do about
it.” www.frostywooldridge.com
. His latest book is: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of
Exploring the World by Frosty Wooldridge, copies at 1 888 280 7715/
Motivational program: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring
the World by Frosty Wooldridge, click: www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com
Live well, laugh often, celebrate daily and enjoy the ride,
Frosty Wooldridge
Golden, Colorado
6 Continent world bicycle traveler
Order these unique cards today: http://www.howtolivealifeofadventure.com/
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