What is the connection between religion and population growth? The answer might surprise you: absolutely nothing. Well, according to Hans Rosling.
In his April 2012 TED-Talk, Rosling graphs the relationship between religion, income and children between zero and fifteen years olds. He shows that there is no connection between religion and babies, and that there is a much closer connection between:
1 - mortality rates and babies born ie the more likely a baby is to die, the more babies a mother Read more [...]
Posts tagged population
Does religion affect population growth?
What is the connection between religion and population growth? The answer might surprise you: absolutely nothing. Well, according to Hans Rosling.
In his April 2012 TED-Talk, Rosling graphs the relationship between religion, income and children between zero and fifteen years olds. He shows that there is no connection between religion and babies, and that there is a much closer connection between:
1 - mortality rates and babies born ie the more likely a baby is to die, the more babies a mother Read more [...]
Getting real: promising population stats & pending challenges
Hans Rosling gives an illuminating TedTalks presentation on one of my greatest ecological concerns: over-population.
Let each box = 1 billion people.
In 1960 it was relatively accurate to divide the world into the "First World" and "Third World", the "rich" and the "poor", the "developed world" and "developing world" or the Centre and Periphery.
In 1960 we were 3 billion people. The blue was the 1 billion at the top of the pyramid, dreaming of buying a car and a dishwasher. The green Read more [...]
Population Vs. luxury… QUALITY OR QUANTITY?
"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 Read more [...]
Greed: the JOY of having more than you need… Taoism and more about that frickin elephant.
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 Read more [...]
Can Buddha help us deal with the elephant?
I am starting to understand what Buddha meant when he said all life is suffering. No matter which financial situation you are born into, we always want more. It is very rare we reach a stage where we happily say “enough”. The more chocolate I have, the more chocolate I want. The more countries I go to, the more countries I want to go to. The more money I have the bigger apartment I can get, the better the car, the more vintage the scooter, the more designer the clothes, the better quality Read more [...]
Coming to grips with the elephant in the room
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 Read more [...]
Chapter 2 – One Country, Many Worlds
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 Read more [...]
Living too long and popping too many babies
Today I'm doing a little report for my Dad's business which is in the Aged Care sector. And I tell you what - I'm learning some VERY interesting (and frightening) facts along the way...
"Around two million Australians are aged 70 years or older. That's 9 percent of our population. Four per cent of the population are over 80 years of age. The proportion of Australia's population aged over 70 is expected to rise to 13 per cent by 2021 and to 20 percent (around 5.7 million people) by 2051." (Australian Read more [...]
