"On the technical side there is no limit to population," said a scholar after talking about solving world hunger. "We just need more efficient systems, and for the rich to eat less." This may be true, BUT the greater question (in my opinion) is: Do we want more people living “simply” in a crowded place, or less people living lives of luxury?
"The population of the poor isn't the problem," so the idealists (like I used to be) say… "We actually need less white people.”
Given the
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Jul 26, 2010 | Categories: Peace | Tags: Ecology, India, overpopulation, population | Leave A Comment »
I used to think we could all be less greedy - that if we wanted less "stuff" we would be happier, and some of that wealth would be shared with the poor. Apparently this simple shift has the power to end world hunger - the rich do with less, so the poor can have more. More recently I have realised that when I contemplate greed I have been wondering if it is actually a human problem that we have the ability to change? Or is greed simple a part of all life's struggle to survive?
In a universe that
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Jul 22, 2010 | Categories: Peace | Tags: Ecology, greed, India, population, taoism | Leave A Comment »
Walking up in the mountains outside Kathmandu I contemplated the connection between the world’s inequalities today, the actions of one’s ancestors, and the idea of karma and reincarnation that I had been reading about in some books on the Eastern Religions.
Be they the ancestors who split from the group to discover new worlds fifty thousand years ago, or be they the innovators of new technologies that won them last century’s battles, the connection is pretty clear... and I wondered, is this
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Jul 05, 2010 | Categories: Adventure, Truth | Tags: Big History, capitalism, Ecology, God, India, India/Nepal, karma, reincarnation, religion, Travel | Leave A Comment »
I knew I would leave India with a new perspective of life – but the upturning of my worldview has happened in a far different way than I expected. I thought I would arrive home more passionate about social justice, more inspired to make a difference to the lives of “poor” people. Instead I am leaving India with a hardened heart, more humility, and an increased concern for the future of humanity as a whole. Why? Because the population problem, the elephant in the room, is far too big a problem
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Jun 28, 2010 | Categories: Peace | Tags: Ecology, elephant in the room, India, over-population, peace, Politics, population, world population | 6 Comments »
There seems to be a great reverence for Gandhi throughout India. His face features on every rupee note, and his philosophy and practice of non violence gained a mention in almost every Indian speaker’s presentation at the conference. "Truth is God", said Gandhi, dedicating his life to it. “You will not have peace, unless you love the truth," said one of the speakers.
While I was relieved my presentation was over, I did take away a number of fantastic messages from the conference. My favourite
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May 27, 2010 | Categories: Adventure | Tags: India, population, poverty, Travel | 1 Comment »
Next Thursday I am going to India and I have a feeling I will be making up for the failure of my February detox.
My sister tells me coffee in India sucks, so that's a start. I wonder if they have chocolate? ... Suppose I'll need a little mayhem after presenting my paper at a Peace and Education conference in Mumbai, but I'll for sure make up for that at a 7-days Ayurvedayoga retreat. Following yoga, hot baths, massages and healthy foods, I'll be doing it rough and tough with 10-days on trains
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May 07, 2010 | Categories: Beauty, Random Life Stuff | Tags: Health, India, Travel, Yoga | 2 Comments »
