Letters to the Editor, March 2022

Thank you for the wonderful feature in the December magazine with Jane Goodall’s new book. She is amazing and still going strong.

I am currently listening to the audiobook version, so I enjoyed seeing the pictures and being able to read the excerpts in print.

Thanks for the great work done by Population Connection.

Donna Snow

Population Connection is the only organization I know that addresses population growth openly.

Jane Goodall said it in a nice way with her statement about how many of our problems wouldn’t exist if we had the population of 500 years ago.

I have been saying for years that every problem we hear about day after day—global warming, ocean pollution, deforestation, etc.—has one simple answer: There are too many people. I am tired of hearing all the wondrous scientific solutions. It’s way past time for the politicians and religious leaders to step up to the plate.

I don’t want to be pessimistic, but I think we are way too late, past the point of no return.

Frank Pittman

Great Dr. Jane issue! I really appreciated your Editor’s Note about walking alone in nature. While I usually walk with someone in the woods of Maine and along the seashore of Acadia National Park each summer, I have had many times where I was by myself. I set my own pace, take a look around when I want to, and, when there are no other hikers nearby, I enjoy the sounds.

I also enjoyed the cartoon at the end (you can fit one more). So true today, not!

Bob Pettapiece, EdD

Page 16 of the December 2021 issue of Population Connection quotes Jane Goodall, “And it was people fighting to end slavery that led to the American Civil War.” (pp.58-59 of The Book of Hope). Would it not be more correct to say, “It was people fighting to perpetuate slavery that led to the American Civil War.”? Confederates fired the first shots.

Bob Weggel

I have to admit that as a supporter of your organization, I am continually frustrated that the word doesn’t seem to be getting out to others involved in the environmental movement. I am attending the Climate Smart Food Summit and I have not heard population growth mentioned once. Some mentioned that food waste is the #1 factor that impacts climate change—who do they think all that food is produced for? An ever-growing population.

How do we get these other organizations to acknowledge this issue and take it up as part of their cause? It seems like many think it is a taboo subject and don’t even want to address people having smaller families. With China now incentivizing its population to have larger families, the situation is getting even more concerning.

Cory Davidson