3 ms·
This is likely true to some definition of best (which is not exactly most effective).
by rory 5y ago
This is likely true to some definition of best (which is not exactly most effective).
- adrianN 5y agoFor some definitions of best nuclear war is the best way of reducing the population. I think improving education and empowering women is the (or one of the) ethically most defensible ways of reducing population growth.
- rory 5y agoYes, it's likely one of the most effective methods that basically no one (in the west) would have a moral objection to. But there is some middle ground between that and nuclear annihilation. Making free, widespread birth control and sterilization available in areas with high population growth is one option that would likely be more immediately effective than education, but less morally objectionable than bombs.
- adrianN 5y agoI believe I remember that free birth control is not as effective as one would like because it's often women who don't want to have so many children, but men who decide whether or not to use birth control. Empowering women helps with that problem.
- rory 5y ago> it's often women who don't want to have so many children, but men who decide whether or not to use birth control This is a meme based on a study from one small state in Nigeria, and hasn't been shown to apply more generally across the developing world.
- adrianN 5y agoInteresting. Thanks for that information.
- rory 5y agoOf course! I guess my point is-- we should be doing any and all of these things, and the west should be investing as much as it takes, because the long-term payoff is worth it ten times over.
- baxtr 5y agoYes absolutely. But then again any kind of these comments gets downvoted immediately here as well. The perception of this topic is: "Nothing to worry about, growth is decreasing anyway. Also, don't blame other people, just start reducing your own CO2 footprint. Which is sad."