I like the example of the anti-overpopulation movement of the 1960s and 70s. It involved good intentions, but its predictions and fears (e.g. widespread famines) were completely unfounded from today’s perspective. It also produced some very unfortunate policies in developing countries:
“Millions of people were sterilized, often coercively, sometimes illegally, frequently in unsafe conditions, in Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Indonesia and Bangladesh.” This article seems like a good starting point.
There was good reason back then to believe that overpopulation was a real problem whose time would come relatively soon. If it wasn’t for technological breakthroughs with dwarf wheat and IR8 rice variants, spearheaded by Norman Borlaug and others, our population would have seriously passed our ability to grow food by this point—the so-called Malthusian trap.
Using overpopulation as an example here would be akin to using something like global climate change as an example in the present, if it turns out that a technological breakthrough in the next 5-10 years completely obviates the need for us to be careful about greenhouse gas release in the future.
Because of this, I don’t think overpopulation as a cause area would make for the best example that you’re trying to make here.
Thanks so much—someone else suggested China’s One Child Policy and I think this or a more general point on overpopulation might be where we end up! Really great suggestion. The sterilisation stories are harrowing and I think could really bring the point home.
I guess one question I would have is whether the campaigners at the time were using good reason and evidence. It’s possible that the information we have now was not available to them, and it’s also possible that it’s a legitimate cause area (i.e. overpopulation is a real concern) even if the means (sterilisation etc.) are clearly wrong. I’m not an expert on this at all but will read up on more recent literature on overpopulation!
Family and Sanctity of life are probably good frames for a Christian audience. As is the way we treat the poorest, most downtrodden: whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (from Matthew 25:40).
Relating back to cause prioritization: a cause that treats people as a problem will always be inherently flawed.
I like the example of the anti-overpopulation movement of the 1960s and 70s. It involved good intentions, but its predictions and fears (e.g. widespread famines) were completely unfounded from today’s perspective. It also produced some very unfortunate policies in developing countries:
“Millions of people were sterilized, often coercively, sometimes illegally, frequently in unsafe conditions, in Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Indonesia and Bangladesh.” This article seems like a good starting point.
There was good reason back then to believe that overpopulation was a real problem whose time would come relatively soon. If it wasn’t for technological breakthroughs with dwarf wheat and IR8 rice variants, spearheaded by Norman Borlaug and others, our population would have seriously passed our ability to grow food by this point—the so-called Malthusian trap.
Using overpopulation as an example here would be akin to using something like global climate change as an example in the present, if it turns out that a technological breakthrough in the next 5-10 years completely obviates the need for us to be careful about greenhouse gas release in the future.
Because of this, I don’t think overpopulation as a cause area would make for the best example that you’re trying to make here.
Thanks so much—someone else suggested China’s One Child Policy and I think this or a more general point on overpopulation might be where we end up! Really great suggestion. The sterilisation stories are harrowing and I think could really bring the point home.
I guess one question I would have is whether the campaigners at the time were using good reason and evidence. It’s possible that the information we have now was not available to them, and it’s also possible that it’s a legitimate cause area (i.e. overpopulation is a real concern) even if the means (sterilisation etc.) are clearly wrong. I’m not an expert on this at all but will read up on more recent literature on overpopulation!
Forced sterilization in India: https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/6/5/18629801/emergency-in-india-1975-indira-gandhi-sterilization-ford-foundation
Family and Sanctity of life are probably good frames for a Christian audience. As is the way we treat the poorest, most downtrodden: whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me (from Matthew 25:40).
Relating back to cause prioritization: a cause that treats people as a problem will always be inherently flawed.