Mother Nature is fighting back
Acomment recently by our irrepressibly optimistic Prime Minister had me stunned, to say the least. According to the leading light of the ‘sunny days’ faction, the Liberal’s immigration policy, if implemented, is such that Canada can look forward to a population of 100 million within the next forty or fifty years.
In sheer numbers we would eclipse those reproductive laggards such as Britain, Germany, France and even Russia and increase our global influence accordingly; at least our influence in what would remain of our struggling globe.
Apparently, the PM and his many advisors have given no thought to recent studies that point out the present population of the earth is a little over 8 billion, as of 2022, and is predicted to level off at about 10.9 billion by 2100, if we’re still here.
As much as I believe that Canada has an important role to play in easing the struggle faced by the millions of immigrants around the globe who face poverty, violence, flooding and famine, it has become increasingly clear that there are just too damn many of us.
Since the first humans walked out of a dried out rift valley somewhere in Africa we have been spreading, multiplying and conquering everything in our path. What we needed we took, often with little or no thought to the future. Along the way we have managed to wipe out hundreds of existing species and put many more on our ‘endangered’ list. Elephants, whales, tigers. great apes, caribou herds they’re all on the list.
As far as the earth itself goes, we’ve worked through too many nonrenewable resources to mention. We’ve created smog and air pollution. We invented deforestation and traffic jams and fouled up much of the oceans. Well, the fun’s over.
It is increasingly apparent that Mother Nature has had it with us and is fighting back; and the big guns are on her side. Unlike humankind who have managed through science to virtually eradicate things like smallpox and polio and to control, if not eliminate, countless other viruses, the lady who runs the world has clout.
We’ve upset the balance and we have to pay. Massive forest fires, hurricanes by the dozen, twisters, heat waves, five-day blizzards, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis; you name it she’s got it. If we don’t reduce the population and cut back on our endless consumption, she’ll do it for us.
Is there a way out? I’m not sure. Governments get together and solemnly promise to deal with climate change. Individual countries agree to set goals for the reduction of carbon emissions which no one seems to ever meet. Then they get together again to solemnly promise to deal with climate change. Meanwhile the sea is rising and the glaciers are melting.
One thing is for certain. Helping those affected by any disaster, economic, military or natural is important but planning to double or triple our population isn’t the solution.
As much as I believe that Canada has an important
role to play in easing the struggle faced by the millions of immigrants around the globe who face poverty, violence, flooding and famine, it has become increasingly clear that there are just too damn
many of us.