Episode 93: An Eye-Opening Discussion On Practical Solutions To Human Overpopulation
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Note: This interview was recorded before the Supreme court decision to overturn Roe v Wade. Nonetheless, Nandita and Carter present a deep look into the driving cultural and political forces behind it.
About
Nandita Bajaj, Executive Director, Population Balance
A Humane Educator and a passionate advocate for planetary health, Nandita’s area of interest is on the intimate links between pronatalism, anthropocentrism and overpopulation and their impacts on human rights, animal protection, and environmental preservation. As faculty with the Institute for Humane Education at Antioch University, Nandita teaches two courses – Human Rights as well as Pronatalism and Overpopulation, a first-of-its-kind open online course that she designed to explore the impacts of the pervasive and oppressive pressures on women to have children and the resulting impacts on them, other humans, animals, as well as the planet. (See full bio)
Carter Dillard, Policy Director and Board of Directors, Fair Start Movement
Carter, author of Justice as a Fair Start in Life, began his career as an Honors Program appointee to the U.S. Department of Justice. He later served as a legal adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in the national security law division. He wrote his thesis reformulating the right to have children under Jeremy Waldron.
Topics
- Overpopulation and pronatalism
- The role of humane education in turning the tide on human population issues
- The effects of overpopulation on people, wildlife, and wild places
- Simple, practical, humane solutions to the population crisis
Extra Credit
Go deeper and learn more about the work Carter and Nandita’s organizations are doing, and how you can help!
Articles…
- Abortion Bans Are a Natural Outgrowth of Coercive Pronatalism Nandita Bajaj, Ms. Magazine
- Mother Pelican ~ A Journal of Solidarity and Sustainability Carter Dillard, pelicanweb.org
Learn More…
- Learn about Ecocentrism
- Learn about the Fair Start Model
Podcast…
Interviews and Webinars…
Show Transcript
Transcript: Episode 93: An Eye-Opening Discussion On Practical Solutions To Human Overpopulation
Director of Digital Outreach (D.O.D.O.) for The Rewilding Institute
Host and Producer of the Rewilding Earth Podcast
Jack started Rewilding work as Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance in the mid-1990’s, organizing the Sky Island Wildlands Network design, ripping up illegal roads on forest service lands, installing wolf acclimatization pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch & conducting howling surveys to help make way for the final stage of the Lobo reintroduction program in the Southwest.
Through the years, Jack has worked with Dave Foreman and the Rewilding Gang to further Rewilding initiatives and education.
I can’t believe you had a discussion about overpopulation! People are going to believe you!
WE DO NOT HAVE AN OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM, WE HAVE A DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM AND WE HAVE A PROFIT MOTIVE THAT CAUSES ALMOST ALL HUMAN NEGATIVES ON THE PLANET……YES I’M SHOUTING, THE FALSEHOOD REALLY MAKES ME ANGRY…..START TELLING TRUTHS!
The attempt to embed rights of nature into another right, the right of freedom. We could also point toward another right, the right to life – not just human life, but all life. Sad that we can take an obvious harm – the destruction of the natural world – and have to concoct an esoteric reason why it’s wrong. The philosophical foundations of morality are deep. I guess it’s too simplistic to just say, “We’re killing the earth” and we know that killing is wrong.
Compelling rebuke of the “overconsumption of the rich” argument as the only problem: https://rewilding.org/overconsumption
There are no large-scale egalitarian societies. Inequality and hierarchy emerge when population numbers push humans into agriculture. That’s the unhappy reality.
I have never for one second regretted being childless by choice, why should I? I have a brother on his third marriage who is estranged from all three of his children. My niece is raising six kids (four are her own), she is trapped in her second marriage with a verbally abusive husband and is absolutely miserable. Her step-brother, my nephew is on his third marriage and has wrestled with separation anxiety ever since his parent’s divorce. As for me, I write a wildlife column in a local magazine to help prevent human-wildlife conflict and educate the public to promote a better understanding of why we NEED ALL species collectively within our ‘web of life’. I especially love to educate children about animals and nature. I did not marry until I turned 50. It is blissful knowing that I will not burden this planet when I die, but have instead dedicated my retired life to animal advocacy campaigns and wildlife education. It is a peaceful and deeply gratifying endeavor. Meanwhile, I would wager my very life that only two of my sibbling’s Grandchildren will grow up to live a functional, stable, well-adjusted, happy and productive life. The rest will be a burden on society. Some will no doubt spend their time and money on alcohol, street drugs, anti-depressants and counseling in an attempt to find happiness amidst their failed marriages and the deeply troubled lives of their own step-children.
Who made you God ? Jack? How do you know the “right” population of humans on God’s Green Earth?