Numerous conservation leaders have spoken out on the need to limit U.S. population growth. Thanks to Don Weeden for this work. To see the Apply the Brakes website and the statements by conservation leaders, visit http://www.applythebrakes.org/.

Thanks to Raymond Reddy for linking me to this Center for Immigration Studies article, which mentions the Apply the Brakes website.

Strategic Negligence: How the Sierra Club’s Distortions on Border and Immigration Policy Are Undermining its Environmental Legacy

Jerry Kammer is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.
“To explore, enjoy, and protect the planet. To practice and promote the responsible use of the Earth’s ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out those objectives.” – Sierra Club mission statement.

For full article, visit:
http://cis.org/sierraclub

Earth reached its human capacity in the 1980s. Our planet is in crisis, and Bill Ryerson is using media to change behaviors that contribute to global overpopulation.

Global warming, food and water crises, even international conflict — you can trace all these societal and environmental problems to overpopulation. Experts believe that Earth reached its population capacity in the 1980s, meaning we now consume natural resources at a rate much higher than they can be replenished. And of course, as we take away natural resources, we’re adding a slew of unnatural, toxic matter into the mix that brings about a host of other problems.

Currently there are just over 6.8 billion people in the world. By mid-century, we’re expected to number 9 billion, roughly the equivalent of one-tenth of all humans who have ever walked the planet. Curbing population growth is a logical goal if the human race wishes to ensure its own sustainability — and that of the other species with whom we share Earth. (Not to mention Earth itself, too.)
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The following article from The Burlington Free Press, features PMC’s electronic game project.
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A student-designed electronic soccer game that will make its debut in two weeks, during the World Cup, is a “Breakaway” in more ways than one.

For starters, that’s the title of the game, more than two years in development at Champlain College’s Emergent Media Center and heavily promoted by the United Nations for its persuasive subtext: preventing violence against women. The target audience: soccer-minded boys age 8-15 throughout the world.

But the game exemplifies its name in other ways: It’s an episodic, tactical Web-based diversion that features not only soccer moves, but also more than a dozen characters and a running narrative that’s based on the Sabido method — a technique for influencing behavior that’s been perfected by the Population Media Center of Shelburne, a key adviser in the project. The method has infused TV serial dramas used to promote public-awareness campaigns in Third World countries around such issues as AIDS and birth control.
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Thanks to Leah Durant for this latest policy brief from Progressives for Immigration Reform, authored by Leon Kolankiewicz. See http://www.progressivesforimmigrationreform.org/2010/03/05/from-big-to-bigger-how-mass-immigration-and-population-growth-have-exacerbated-americas-ecological-footprint/

From Big to Bigger: How Mass Immigration and Population Growth Have Exacerbated America’s Ecological Footprint

Download a pdf copy of this Policy Brief

The policy brief can also be found at http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bxq-A-AsZDhmYTViM2YzYTgtZDJjYi00ZGZiLThlZjMtOTM3M2RhYWZlMGJh&hl=en

Thanks to Gail Abbott for this link to a TV discussion of population in Melbourne. See http://www.themonthly.com

Here’s a description of the program:

According to estimates, Australia’s population will grow to between 36 and 44 million by 2050. The growth will mainly be in urban areas: Melbourne, for example, is estimated to be between seven to eight million by 2050. Many argue this is sustainable, desirable and inevitable – but¬ many disagree.
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Thanks to Jenny Goldie for this OpEd, which was published in the Guardian Weekly.
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While Gary Younge’s article on immigration made many valid points, nevertheless, it failed to address the bigger issue, which is population (An honest debate on immigrants, GW, 30.04.10).

National policy-makers first must determine what size population they want and what level of population growth, if any, they can sustain. Immigration is a mere sub-set of population – the others being fertility and mortality – and so immigration levels should be set in accordance with broader population policy. That is, of course, if their borders are not porous and illegal immigration can be controlled.
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Thanks to Jenny Goldie for this article.
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The Anglican Church wants Australians to have fewer children and has urged the federal government to scrap the baby bonus and cut immigration.

Wading into the population debate, the General Synod of the Anglican Church has warned that current rates of population growth are unsustainable and potentially out of step with church doctrine – including the eighth commandment, ”Thou shall not steal”.

In a significant intervention, the Anglican Public Affairs Commission has warned concerned Christians that remaining silent ”is little different from supporting further overpopulation and ecological degradation”.

For full article, visit:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/thou-shalt-not-breed-anglicans-20100508-ul2f.html

Thanks to Jenny Goldie of Sustainable Population Australia for this article from the Sydney Morning Herald.
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IMMIGRATION levels would be adjusted every year under a Coalition government to ensure population growth remained economically and environmentally sustainable.

In a policy unveiled yesterday by the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, and his immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison, most categories of migrants, including foreign students, would have their numbers trimmed annually if necessary to keep population growth on a sustainable footing.

”At the moment, it’s growing in an out-of-control and unsustainable way,” Mr Abbott said.

Under the policy, the Productivity Commission would be restructured as the Productivity and Sustainability Commission.

For full article,visit:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/coalition-argues-for-sustainable-population-20100429-twmq.html

Thanks to John Coulter for this press release.
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ABS data reveal strong negative impact of population growth on State economies

26 March 2010

‘Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) tables on Australia’s population growth released yesterday show a strong negative relationship between state population growth and economic performance’ comments Dr John Coulter Vice President of Sustainable Population Australia.

‘On a per capita basis the Australian economy went backwards by 1% during 2008-9. Per capita Gross State Product (GSP) fell in all states with high population growth. Queensland did worst with a fall of 2.3% in per capita GSP, followed by WA, then NSW and Victoria. Only Tasmania, the Northern Territory and SA showed positive growth of per capita GSP and in that order.
‘In short population growth overtook growth of GSP making those citizens in the highest population growth states worse off.
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The case for a ‘big Australia’ raises the issue of whether we have the resources to support it, JOHN SUTTON writes

Across Australia there are increasing public concerns about population growth, as more people question just how we can provide the water, homes and infrastructure needed to resource our projected rapid population growth. Population is shaping up to be the sleeper issue of this year’s federal election. The Rudd Government would be wise to pause, take a look around and rethink blindly marching along with the “big Australia” cheer squad.

A broad range of voices across ideological boundaries is growing concerned that our nation does not have the water, the ecology or the infrastructure to pack in tens of millions more people.

For full article, visit:
http://www.cfmeu.net.pdf