A world traveler’s view on human overpopulation

By Frosty Wooldridge

In 1987, I met Gerd Bollig, a German traveler, in Ecuador on my year long bicycle journey from the top to the bottom of South America.  At the time, he spoke four languages.  Today, he has traveled across six continents and speaks seven languages. He lived in China for three years and speaks fluent Chinese.  He’s married and the father of two girls. 

Bollig has seen much of the world up close and personal.  Today, he lives in Quito, Ecuador for another year before moving to some other destination.  He writes for several magazines in Germany.  He read my latest response to Newsweek Magazine’s short article on children dying of water borne diseases in India.  He responded to my concerns about overpopulation.   His response starts below the letter to Newsweek.

Dear Newsweek editors: [email protected]

Re: “A new model for doing good”  by News Beast, Newsweek, page 5, February 13, 2012

Bill Gates’ concern for children in India dying from dirty water doesn’t tell 1/1000^th of the story.  An average of 1,000 children in India die every day of the year from water borne diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea and other similar diseases brought about by contaminated water.  India’s rivers all run with raw sewage and they feature 10,000 square mile dead zones at the mouth of the Ganges and other big rivers.   At the same time, India grows by 12 million annually, net gain. Poverty remains entrenched as well as illiteracy.  It is gut wrenching and I saw it firsthand.  “People are dying every day in developing countries….” said Gates.  They are dying because they are SO overpopulated that India cannot solve its problems with water treatment plants and clean water stations.  Indians are tapping into wells that are drying up.  But the one thing they won’t do: advocate for birth control and family planning. Nor will they engage a national population policy.  Thus, they will continue to move toward a Malthusian, Darwinian and Ehrlichian solution as they head toward 1.6 billion in 38 years.  As always, Mother Nature bats last.

Source for children deaths in India daily at 1,000:  (www.populationmedia.org , with Bill Ryerson)

Frosty Wooldridge, Golden, CO 80401

Gerd Bollig said:

Good to hear from you, albeit with a matter which I think is impossible to solve. The problem is we humans have the habit to run into disaster. You can teach humans all you want and tell them what to do and still they don´t. Only when disaster finally strikes, they wake up, but then it is too late.

What do you want to do? Invade them? Force them to live in a different way? I know that sounds quite sarcastic or cynical but personally I don´t see a way out. India represents in a big nutshell the dilemma of  human civilization. Humanity has only so much space and we keep filling it up with more people. India is almost full and those with money certainly will escape much sooner than later.

There are cities in India where a staggering 600,000 people live per square kilometer. So it is no surprise that they invade English speaking countries like the US or UK, but at least you mostly get educated people. I know you aren´t happy with the situation in the US either and remember having read your concerns about overpopulation.

What I think about Bill Gates doing what he is doing? Well, he could spend his money on other stuff but yes it is also good press for him and may keep him from getting too bored with his life. You can only party so much. I know that sounds cynical too but there are many more billionaires, even in India, who could do something and don´t.

Thanks for being concerned Frosty, but humans will continue on their journey over a cliff.  Then, of course, the lesson will be learned, as always, the hard way.  Your friend, Gerd

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