Nadine, Gregg, et al. - if you're interested in the population growth part of the economic/environment equation, take a look at the ongoing roundtable debate among me, the ex-head of the UN Population Division, and three other scientists on the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on-line journal:
http://www.thebulletin.org/roundtable/population-climate-change/ Best - Fred Meyerson -- Frederick A. B. Meyerson, Ph.D., J.D. The University of Rhode Island The Coastal Institute at Kingston Department of Natural Resources Science 1 Greenhouse Road, Room #109 Kingston, RI 02881 Tel: 401-874-4580 Fax: 401-874-4561 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.nrs.uri.edu/Fred_Meyerson.fmeyerson.0.html On Jan 18, 2008 6:16 AM, Greg Davies <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Any statement on economic growth should EXPLICITLY refer to human > population and population growth in the SAME statement. > > FAILURE to mention the problem of human population growth as THE driver > of economic growth (as witnessed in the prolix, potential E.S.A. policy > statement circulated on this list the other day) will render the > statement otiose and near-useless. > > Your message itself reads somewhat like insipid bureaucratic waffle. > Surely, from fundamental ecological canons, the premise of exponential, > infinite (economic) growth against a base of finite resources is simply > impossible? What more scientifically and ecologically can there be left > to cogitate over in your multifarious committees? > > Can an outsider (i.e. non-ESA member) and amateur ecologist (i.e. > non-professional) such as myself possibly divine in your email that the > real reasons for E.S.A. foot-dragging on this important issue are > actually more of a political and sociological flavour, and the wish to > avoid "controversy"? > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nadine Lymn > Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 4:02 PM > To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU > Subject: Re ESA and Economic Growth Statement > > Dear Ecologers, > > There have been several postings over the last months urging the > Ecological Society of America to consider issuing a position statement > on economic growth. In addition, a group of ecologists submitted a > request to the Governing Board in August, followed by additional letters > of interest supporting such a statement. > > The ESA Governing Board is taking this interest seriously and has asked > the Society's Public Affairs Committee to oversee the development of a > position statement for its consideration and review. > > This process is underway and there will be an opportunity for interested > members to offer feedback to the proposed statement. In addition, the > Public Affairs Office has been collecting the many letters that have > already come in offering views on this topic. > > As with all the Society's position statements, ESA takes very seriously > the task of producing documents that are carefully reviewed and > appropriately reflect the underlying science and the Ecological Society > of America. We will notify this list when a draft is available for > comment and appreciate the interest in this topic. > > Nadine Lymn > ESA Director of Public Affairs > -- Frederick A. B. Meyerson, Ph.D., J.D. The University of Rhode Island The Coastal Institute at Kingston Department of Natural Resources Science 1 Greenhouse Road, Room #109 Kingston, RI 02881 Tel: 401-874-4580 Fax: 401-874-4561 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.nrs.uri.edu/Fred_Meyerson.fmeyerson.0.html
