Exploring Population Issues in Australia
- NPG
- November 13, 2020
- NPG Commentary
- 1 Comment
November 17, 2020
Exploring Population Issues in Australia
Ignoring Population: The United States and Australia Face Similar Problems
Talking about population growth is important. Discussions must take place for understanding and progress to follow. Yet, mainstream media continues to dodge population issues in favor of practically any other topic. An article, originally published by Australian National University and featured online by The Conversation, quoted politician, medical doctor and environmental activist Dr. Bob Brown, saying: “We are already using more than what the planet can supply and we use more than the living fabric of the planet in supply. That’s why we wake up every day to fewer fisheries, less forests, more extinctions, and so on. The human herd at eight billion is the greatest herd of mammals ever on this planet and it is unsustainable to have that growing.”
Australia is thousands of miles from the U.S. but this call to action rings just as true on this side of the world. Article author Colin D. Butler pinpoints two major contributing factors of population, citing farming and general healthcare as population boosters, noting: “Much of it (population growth) is due to advanced fertilizers and intensive farming practices, leading to higher crop yields that can sustain more people. Health care has improved, and people are living much longer.” Also distinguished in the article, is the descending number of people willing to talk about population growth. In Australia, when two conservation societies were asked about their reluctance to discuss population issues, their reported response was deceptively simple: “the groups said they did not comment on population growth.”
Butler believes there are three main reasons to avoid population issues. He suggests fear of being accused as racist by others, the influence of the Church, and free-market economics all contributing to the silence on the dangers of population growth. He concludes his piece by suggesting access to contraceptives and universal healthcare would empower women and “give couples greater confidence their children will thrive.” Butler highlights the most crucial element of his proposal, saying: “These measures all require increased investment and public attention. The environmental movement, in particular, must awaken to the link between population growth and environmental degradation. ‘Business as usual’ will hinder human development, further oppress women, and magnify many forms of environmental damage.”
NPG agrees with Dr. Bob Brown that something must be said and done in regards to population issues. Journalist, activist, and popular NPG writer, Kathleene Parker recently wrote about population issues in the media (or, lack thereof) in the U.S., saying: “Perhaps most importantly, in our nation today, if it is a topic not in the headlines, it is a topic—like population, Citizen’s United or the 28th Amendment—ignored. Why would media headline problems caused by media deregulation? In contrast, when media, more-or-less in unison, began to focus on bullying, it immediately became a national preoccupation.” Parker’s willingness to call out the media and Butler’s similar critique of coverage in Australia, both point to the concerning disconnect between the general public and its leaders. NPG believes population issues must be talked about and addressed at all levels, from neighbors within their communities to leaders and legislation. We must work together to work towards a smaller, truly sustainable population.
For additional reading on these important topics, we encourage you to review:
Australia Considers a Population Policy: Any Lessons for the U.S. by David Simcox
Why Population Really Disappeared from the News and Became Politically Incorrect, by Kathleene Parker
The True Environmental Disaster – The Silence on Our Growing Overpopulation, which also discusses media silence, by Michael G. Hanauer
To explore other population topics covered in our Forum paper series, click here.
To learn more about population issues in Australia, we encourage you to visit Sustainable Population Australia.
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Daniel Cring
The very social consequence of overpopulation- competition- is preventing recognition and possible mitigation of this problem.