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Worth a read, I enjoyed the discussions about: - still a high birth rate in sub-saharan Africa. Lowering birth rates are correlated with more education and in

Worth a read, I enjoyed the discussions about: - still a high birth rate in sub-saharan Africa. Lowering birth rates are correlated with more education and income. - how little we know about the causes of premature births - the lack of detailed economic data about women in poverty - 5 top sectors of greenhouse gas emissions. How are we going to reduce emissions from steel and concrete production without cratering the economy? Definitely important causes for the Gates' to put money and effort towards.

Pristina 8y ago
> Lowering birth rates are correlated with more education and income. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/09/22/africas-high-birth-rate-is-keeping-the-continent-poor https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/09/22/... the effect is much less for Africans. also how can people consider high birth rate to be bad while not being an anti-natalist. Why the cognitive dissonance?
- lotsofpulp 8y ago
  Why assume cognitive dissonance? It’s possible that there exists a birth rate at which population increases too much or too quickly for the environment to handle (peacefully at least). It’s possible to want your own tribe to expand, but not others’.
shaki-dora 8y ago
To stay with your example, they are simply trying to reframe this narrative. People think Africa is a famined shithole that never gets better, and therefore does not warrant investment or even charity. Think toddlers with those big, pathological, bellies. Yet that view is mostly wrong. Many, possibly most, Africans now live in busy metropolises. Yes, they are polluted and have a garbage problem and corruption may be rampant. But it’s a lot closer to similar cities in SE Asia than to the 50 year old stereotype that people have of Africa. Saying „Africa is young“, and obviously the details that follow, tries to shift this to a narrative of possibilities. You can call that propaganda, or marketing, or just clever copywriting. I think it depends on the agenda, but I can’t find fault with their intentions.
dotancohen 8y ago
> Lowering birth rates are correlated with more education and income. Attempting to lower a populations's birth rate is a crime according to the Geneva conventions.
- dotancohen 8y ago
  Why the downvotes? This is a legitimate concern for any body considering using this technique to increase quality of life.
  - kristianp 8y ago
    Because the birth rate is lowered voluntarily, by the people themselves. I'm talking about people being given education about birth control, and free condoms. Also the Gatesnotes blog has mentioned before that lowering the child mortality rate goes hand in hand with needing to produce less children, as more reach adulthood.

Pristina 8y ago

> Lowering birth rates are correlated with more education and income. https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/09/22/africas-high-birth-rate-is-keeping-the-continent-poor https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/09/22/... the effect is much less for Africans. also how can people consider high birth rate to be bad while not being an anti-natalist. Why the cognitive dissonance?

lotsofpulp 8y ago
Why assume cognitive dissonance? It’s possible that there exists a birth rate at which population increases too much or too quickly for the environment to handle (peacefully at least). It’s possible to want your own tribe to expand, but not others’.

shaki-dora 8y ago

To stay with your example, they are simply trying to reframe this narrative. People think Africa is a famined shithole that never gets better, and therefore does not warrant investment or even charity. Think toddlers with those big, pathological, bellies. Yet that view is mostly wrong. Many, possibly most, Africans now live in busy metropolises. Yes, they are polluted and have a garbage problem and corruption may be rampant. But it’s a lot closer to similar cities in SE Asia than to the 50 year old stereotype that people have of Africa. Saying „Africa is young“, and obviously the details that follow, tries to shift this to a narrative of possibilities. You can call that propaganda, or marketing, or just clever copywriting. I think it depends on the agenda, but I can’t find fault with their intentions.

dotancohen 8y ago

> Lowering birth rates are correlated with more education and income. Attempting to lower a populations's birth rate is a crime according to the Geneva conventions.

dotancohen 8y ago
Why the downvotes? This is a legitimate concern for any body considering using this technique to increase quality of life.
- kristianp 8y ago
  Because the birth rate is lowered voluntarily, by the people themselves. I'm talking about people being given education about birth control, and free condoms. Also the Gatesnotes blog has mentioned before that lowering the child mortality rate goes hand in hand with needing to produce less children, as more reach adulthood.