Kelvin Thomson MP: Population Parliamentary Speech 17/08/2009

"We all know that the world has plenty of problems. Let me run out some that come to mind without much effort global warming, food crisis, water shortages, housing affordability, overcrowded cities, transport congestion, fisheries collapse, species extinctions, increasing prices, waste, terrorism. We scratch our heads and try to come up with solutions.

It staggers me that so often we ignore the elephant in the room increasing population....

...The consequences of the present population pressure are dramatic. In my opinion it is not plausible that the worlds population could double without the consequences becoming catastrophic. And yet when it is suggested that the worlds population is a problem, there is zero interest from policy makers. In my view it isnt so much a problem as the problem..."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Kelvin Thomson MP
• Labor Member for Wills
• Population
• Global Warming
• Climate Change
• Terrorism
• Overpopulation
• Stabilise Population
• Water Shortages
• Species Extinction

[TimeForParadigmShift]

A FANTASTIC POLITICIAN. I DO HOPE HE WILL BE ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE POLITICAL LEADERS! VOTE 1 KELVIN THOMSON!

[lagosultans]

Great speech Kelvin! You have my 100% support! If Australia is to reach it's emissions target, how can we continue to grow at the rate the Prime Minister is suggesting? I'll still be here in 2050, so will my kids. Mr. Rudd will be in an old age home, or passed away by then.

[Aepsilonm]

A voice of reason. And a pretty courageous one!

Truly, only the swift implementation of a worldwide, ethical, democratic (applicable to each and all!) and scientific system of birth control could defeat this exponentially growing worldwide overpopulation and ensure sustainable development and well-being to all, and stability and peace on this weary planet.

MP Thomson and his Australia are pioneers; the rest of the world shall follow suit.

May reason and wisdom prevail.

Regards.

[Aepsilonm]

A voice of reason. And a pretty courageous one!

Truly, only the swift implementation of a worldwide, ethical, democratic (applicable to each and all!) and scientific system of birth control could defeat this exponentially growing worldwide overpopulation and ensure sustainable development and well-being to all, and stability and peace on this weary planet.

MP Thomson and his Australia are pioneers; the rest of the world shall follow suit.

May reason and wisdom prevail.

Regards.

[nomoresurfingforyou]

Bravo! *claps* I just read your discussion paper from your speech last night (11/11/09). What a relief to hear *someone* from the government finally acknowledge the elephant in the room. On this driest of (inhabited) continents, we can't just keep running our population as an everlasting pyramid scheme. I've stopped taking any notice of people like Krudd yapping on about cutting national greenhouse emissions while completely ignoring the treadmill of unchecked population growth.

[janieooob]

Your speech is an excellent start. Now actions need to be taken. Australia is important, but overpopulated third world countries are more important, otherwise the spill over will be to Oz and other less populated continents. How is this reduction achieved though......China now says it will scrap its one child policy and India is progressing to be a huge consumer of resources as well!

[QueenieAlexander2000]

To stop population growth, all that needs to be done is for the Government and the commercial growth lobby to stop ramping up immigration and encouraging a higher birthrate. We also need the alternative media like this to give the public proper info about the consequences of growth. The Murdoch and Fairfax Press, tv and ABC all pretend that it is a good thing. Our population would adjust to limits as all populations do when left to the own devices and allowed access to real information.

[QueenieAlexander2000]

What a relief. An honest and courageous politician in the Australian parliament. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the rest of the backbenchers, kowtowing to the growth lobby and the front benchers threatened with the back bench if they don't toe the populate and perish line, joined together to support Kelvin and democracy. Look out for the media backlash - they are already talking about population growth inevitability to justify pushing us into a nuclear power economy. that we cannot afford.

[shadowmax351]

Great speech. It is so true and I am so glad to hear a leader in this country open to this opinion. Population control is the only way to maintain our lifestyle and keep Australia great. Good luck with the fight Kelvin. You have my support.

[IANRUDD]

Solutions that work to reduce population growth are well documented and range from China's one child policy to Iran's very successful efforts at providing both the education and the means to its people to keep their families smaller. (If you are interested Google it - also watch talks by Albert Bartlett and Paul Ehrlich.)

Earth is finite and ALL growth in material consumption will have to end sooner or later. Each one of us even a poor Bangladeshi uses some resources.

By qualitative you mean?