2006 Series 3 Number 7 Page 17
A Strategy for a National and International Population Policy.
CACOR member Anthony Cassils wrote this ten-page article, which Andy Clarke (Proceedings editor at the time) felt was profound. The paper was developed in cooperation with Ted Mosquin, Ian Whyte, Mike Nickerson, Martin Collacott, Jon Legg, and Madeline Weld, and was used by the Green Party of Canada.
In 2004, the human population was 6.4 billion. [In 2024, it had surpassed 8.2 billion. Ed.]
In 2001, the population of Canada had reached 31 million and was expected to reach 36 million in 2025,, though Mr. Cassils thought floods of refugees might take that number much higher and that the country was ill-prepared. [In 2025, the population of Canada surpassed 40 million. Ed.]
Mr. Cassils presented five recommendations for Canada and a comprehensive proposal for international cooperation for an effective global approach to overpopulation, keeping in mind that the optimal number of people does not mean the maximum number of people.
Suffice to say the author concluded as follows:
“The greatest challenge faced by humanity is to come to terms with the huge ecological burdens caused by human numbers and their demands…While we humans may have more consciousness than other life forms, collectively, we may not have enough to counteract the basic impulses to expand our numbers and demands as long as we are able, even though we understand that we may undermine the living Earth that sustains all life…Do we humans have the will and the understanding to act? If not, it may be that we are little more than rabbits with attitude.”
A short biography of Mr. Cassils was included after the article title.
Link to | A Strategy for a National and International Population Policy.
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