With the current global financial crisis, there has been much talk about the dot.com bubble, the housing bubble, and the stock market bubble. Unfortunately, we have another already huge and growing bubble that is being ignored... the global population bubble. Currently, there are 6.5 billion people, and that is projected to increase to 9 billion by 2050. Already, humans are causing widespread global devastation, which will only increase as the population increases. Genocide, famine, and wars will only increase as the population increases and resources become more scare.
I propose a fix to the population bubble: when a man or woman reaches adulthood, each would get a certificate for one child. This is a fair method for halting global population growth. If a family wanted to have more than two children, they would need to obtain (buy or receive) additional certificates. If individuals didn't have children, they could sell or give away their certificate. Unwanted pregnancies could be aborted or could be delivered for adoption to another person who had a certificate. Governments would safeguard the certificates.
The religious would oppose this solution saying, "It is God who must decide this." My reply is, "If it is God's will for families to have more than two children, then pray and He will get you another certificate." No octomoms or procreating like other animals.
If you agree that we are ignoring the population bubble and need to implement some kind of zero population growth, then please publish this solution at other sites. Just like Global Warming is a looming disaster, unregulated human population growth will likely lead to the worst disasters on this planet.
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Googled "population bubble" and got:
http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2007/01/17/45aeab1041aa7
http://www.liveindia.com/rajanahuja/5.html
http://www.thebinarycircumstance.com/2009/03/14/3198/the-human-population-bubble/
Although people can see it coming, the above sites seem to treat it as a matter-of-fact, not recognizing the horrific degradation of life on this planet.
Here is a link to a video which supports the idea that smaller family size is the only solution to the population bubble.
http://www.gapminder.org/videos/what-stops-population-growth/
What about families that exceed their certificate limit? Another solution would be for their children to loose their certificates. Another words, parents who exceed their certificates will cause their children's certificates to be lost. Selfish parents will end up stealing from their own children.
To prevent confusion and abuses, the standardized price of an additional certificate might be based on the cost of a new car. Additional certificates might cost $20K in the U.S., might cost $3K in India, but would only be transferable among cooperating nations.
Critics of this plan are probably thinking "it won't work". That kind of thinking is dualistic (all or nothing, succeed or fail, etc.) and is an example of flawed reasoning that results in disasters.
If this plan is adopted by one nation, it will help protect the quality of life in that nation. Other nations would gradually follow, realizing that it is possible. Abuses would occur, but if 19 out of 20 people in a nation did not abuse the plan, zero population growth could still be achieved.
I talked with someone who disliked the child certificates because they distrust government, as justified by past governmental abuses. They make a very good point, as governments mislead, lie, and discriminate. Unfortunately, doing nothing about population growth is even worse, because a world population of 9 billion will essentially destroy the planet as we know it (think Easter Island which was once covered with trees).
What is more important? Maintaining a quality of life similar to 2009 by having small families OR Seeing the quality of life permanently decrease 1-2% every year, as world population increases unchecked? Many will accept the latter choice, without realizing the consequences of what a 50-100% decrease in the quality of life actually means. For many, it will mean 50-100% less food, water, and shelter... a truly horrific future for everyone.
Realized that it might help people to get an idea of what a decreased quality of life would look like, in our near future. Here are three examples:
1. In 2003, prior to our invasion of Iraq, they had electricity 24/7 in the cities. Now, they only have electricity for a few hours a day. Richer people buy gas generators, so they have electricity almost 24/7 but also get to hear and smell their generators. Many old and poor individuals simply died from the heat.
2. In 1990, Santa Barbara faced a water shortage of almost 50% because of the ongoing drought. Consequently, the City Council voted to make watering lawns illegal. The ordinance also prohibited residents from using hoses to water trees and shrubs. Lawns turned brown and died.
3. In 2000, a home in Fresno ran its air conditioner 24/7 during the hot summer months and paid $1000 a month. Now, they are paying $1500 a month for electricity. Within a few years, it will be $1800 a month. That extra $800 a month will mean less to spend on other things.
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