People Hump Like Rabbits

“What unites the Vatican, lefties, conservatives, environmentalists, and scientists in a conspiracy of silence? Population.”

From “The Last Taboo” by Julia Whitty in Mother Jones

Using her trip to India, a really crowded country to say the least, Whitty explores the subject that nobody seems to touch in mainstream environmentalism. Who knew that two American babies are equal to 337 Bangladeshi babies in terms of carbon footprint. She enumerates the solution without sounding geneticist nor abortionist, as stereotypes suggest. Women’s education is the primary key in achieving a stable population.

“Memo to urban environmentalists: Don't fight development—embrace it.”

From “Yes In My Backyard” By Josh Harkinson

“SunCal Companies envisioned a complex featuring 1,000 detached single-family homes, 2,000 townhomes, and 1,000 condos in three-story buildings built with the latest in energy-efficient design: passive solar, geothermal heat pumps, and gray-water systems. Historic buildings would be preserved, and 25 percent of the units would be set aside as affordable housing.”

Though this might seem very nice, the NIMBY attitude kicked in and everyone near Amadela Point (SF Bay Area) screamed crime rate, obstructed views, and a ‘change of character’ (whatever the fack that is). the only supporter of the project seems to be the one who wants to build it and the Greenbelt Alliance (other environmentalist also rejected the project). There's also the problem about the population density law, which seems ludicrous at this day and age. (I mean seriously, there's like 3-5 babies being born nationally as I type these words.)

“More than just another triumph of NIMBYism, the failure of Alameda Point is also a lesson in how fighting local growth can undermine the larger environmental values that many NIMBYs believe in. By 2050, the United States can expect to add as many as 200 million people. Demographers predict that they'll require 90 million houses and 140 billion square feet of office and other nonresidential space—the equivalent of replacing all the country's existing buildings. If we keep building in the way we do now, suburbs will gobble up a New Mexico-size amount of open space in the next 40 years. More suburbs mean more freeways and more cars, which means that by mid-century, Americans will clock 7 trillion miles per year—twice as much mileage as we do now. The alternative to this metastasizing, car-dependent sprawl is population density. And that means squeezing more people into cities and inner suburbs like Alameda. According to the Greenbelt Alliance, the Bay Area could absorb another 2 million residents by 2035 without expanding its physical footprint.”

IMAGE: Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

HAITI SLIDESHOW (LOOK DAMMIT!)

‘“Don’t they have a heart, or a suggestion?” asked Ms. Guillaume, who covers her children’s noses with her floral skirt when the diesel fumes get especially strong.’

From “In Haiti, the Displaced Are Left Clinging to the Edge” By DEBORAH SONTAG

Government, Non-Government, and even journalists get pleading inquiries of where should they go for homes and stuff like that. The government is not really in a good shape and the customs is being a beotch holding on to items and charging a hefty holding fee.

The somewhat fitting “Miles Away” (Madonna) played when I went through the slideshow. It was somewhat sad and somewhat true that we couldn't really see them despite the pictures because they’re so far away.

 

I honestly thinking of adopting or sponsoring a child in the VERY distant future. I really don’t see myself as a ‘normal’ parent of some sort, because I never had any, and if I did turn out to be a parent, then life would be somewhat difficult.