s 1,2

ecosophy

current issues

Population Control

December 7, 1995

Q: The geometric rise in human population, along with increased consumption of material amenities, has put much pressure on the environmental fabric. In the interests of protecting the integrity of ecological systems, might it sometimes be necessary to adopt strong population control policies?

I do not believe in artificial controls on population unless, under certain unnatural circumstances, population has grown and the balancing factors cannot be introduced. Then, for a short time, there may be population controls. But population is best regulated by natural forces. You see, when human society develops, there is often the tendency to expand and grow when there are large tracts of land and a need for more human population. When the population becomes a bit dense, then unless there is some factor maintaining this population growth, it will naturally subside, or forces will come which will reduce population. It is a fact that when education is increased and people given a better standard of living, where they feel secure and that their future is secured, population naturally wanes and you will find that if a society is brought to a state of balance, prama. There will be no need for population control because it will be naturally stabilized. People who are happy and secure do not need to have more and more children to secure their future. They may enjoy their children, but they will also enjoy their intellectual and scientific pursuits, their leisure time and their meditation. So you will find that people are not desiring to have excess children.

Excess population growth is developed where there is some natural or artificial situation causing people to feel that their survival is threatened unless they produce more and more children. Then you will find large numbers of children and high population growth. In very impoverished countries this occurs because people feel that their only security lies in their sons. If they have sons to care for them in their old age then they will have security. They are very frightened for their destiny if they have no children to care for them. So this creates an artificial condition in the society which causes an overproduction of population. Also, in a time when the people are few in number and the world is very unpopulated and wild, large families are produced with many children, because there is a need to secure the tribe or the people against the forces of nature by increasing the number, and also many die young. So in those circumstances, you will find also that there is extensive population growth. But in societies that are well developed, well cultured, and the people's minimum necessities are guaranteed -- they are not struggling, afraid for their future -- there is no such difficulty with the population. So the best means of regulating excess population growth is to ensure the welfare of all the members of society so that they need not feel frightened and insecure regarding their future. Then they will not feel the need to have excess children, and the population will naturally be regulated.