Fri, 18 Nov 2022 04:44:52 -0800WeeblyMon, 27 Feb 2012 06:46:17 GMThttp://www.earthcitizencenter.org/blog/global-warming-analogyFirst the USSR and then the USA have put men in space.  After men in space, we, along with other countries around the globe, have put satellites in space: telecommunications, scientific measurements, military and non-military, spy / observation satellites, and others.
 
If in the last 60 years, had we just put 5 satellites up there, who cares?  However, we keep sending more and more satellites up to space into orbit for as long as we can possibly keep them up there.  Satellites are expensive, so we want them in orbit for as long as we can.   At this rate, if we kept putting satellites up into orbit for the next 10 bazillion years, the sky would darken.  Less sunlight would end up reaching the planet's surface.  How much sunlight would reach Earth?  What's important is: the whole process is fraught with danger.

As Robert Fulghum stated in his book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten,  “..  kids in kindergarten learn to clean up after themselves….”.  We don’t always know the ramifications of the things we do.  But we do know that if we make a mess and then multiply that mess by 7 thousand, or 7 million, or 7 billion, then things get worse, sometimes past our understanding to know what will happen because of large system complexities.

As our population keeps doubling, we have a much larger human impact on the land, air, and water around us. Our Earth is finite.  Yes, it matters how bad things will get, and it matters whether we need to be in emergency mode or not.  But the system of making a mess, and not cleaning it up is dangerous, especially when that mess is multiplied by the 7 billion and growing people on this Earth.

]]>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:31:17 GMThttp://www.earthcitizencenter.org/blog/first-postAs of 2010, China has more than 1.3 billion people, but the Chinese are taking action to slow down their growth rate.  China has dramatically reduced their population's birth rate from a high of about 42 births per 1,000 people in 1964 to about 12 births per 1,000 in 2003.  The Chinese government has accomplished this reduction through an enforced "One Child" policy.  This policy is moving in the right direction.   A "Well Done" to the Chinese government. 

However, adjustments to the law can help increase the effectivenss of this policy.  First, an adjustment could be made to reduce the hardship on rural farming families who have traditionally relied on their sons to help run the farm.  Also, there are loopholes to exempt families who can pay fines or fees. And some areas in China have unequal enforcement.  Second, a voluntary cultural shift in social practices might not be as effective in quickly reducing the birth rate, but it might be better received and embraced by all.]]>