population

Global Warming| Cosmology | Earth Awareness | Eco-Communities | Eco-Economics

Genetic Modification | Faith Traditions | Fossil Fuels | Population Growth

Renewable Energy |Sacred Commons | Traditional Wisdom | International Agreements

Interest Groups - Areas Being Explored

Friends' Population Concerns

WHEN THE ISSUE OF WORLD POPULATION GROWTH was first raised within QEW in the early 1990s, some Friends thought it might be "too controversial," given the often acrimonious public debates going on over sex education, contraception, and abortion, as well as differing perspectives that were pitting affluent countries against many supposedly "overpopulated" Third World countries.

However, with the persistent witnessing of QEW supporter Stan Becker, a demographer, more Friends have come to see that a population concern for Friends does not have to be the anti-human complaint that is heard in many environmental concerns. As modern demographic studies have shown, the factors that serve to stabilize population growth, such as improved status and education for women, easily fit within the scope of Friends' traditional values of equality and compassion for all. Other studies on population have shifted the focus to humans' material consumption as a more significant factor in assessing environmental impact than simply counting gross numbers. In this perspective, the United States is one of the most "overpopulated" countries in the world! Addressing the issue of overconsumption is a good fit with the Quaker testimony of simple living as well.

Climate Change/Global Warming	An overwhelming majority of the world's professional climatologists now agree that human activities--mainly through the industrialized world's release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere--are significantly disturbing the earth's climate.
Cosmology/New Story/New Revelations from Science	Many Friends have become intensely interested in the implications of the New Universe Story or New Cosmology, as illuminated by recent discoveries in physics and the life sciences in a creatively unfolding universe.
Earth Awareness/Eco-Psychology	There is growing scientific evidence that humanity urgently needs to make a course change, to come up with a "Plan B," or to devise some other solution to the global crisis in ecological sustainability.
Eco-Communities/ Permaculture	Supporters are convinced that being part of a supportive community is the key to successfully redirecting our materially addictive lives to a healthier, mutually enchancing relationship with the Earth community.
Eco-Economics/Confronting the Growth Dilemma	There is a need for systemic change in the way industrial societies are organized, without which no amount of legislation, public education, and technological advances can make enough of a difference.
Genetic Modification/ Bio-engineering/ patenting of life-forms	Genetic Enineering involves the use of highly sophisticated methods to transfer a selected pieces of genetic code (DNA), but they may have opened what many critics fear is a Pandora's Box of alarming unintended side-effects.
Judeo-Christian Foundations/ Other faith traditions	Groups with roots in various branches of Christianity and Judaism, has found, that the essential teaching of the Judeo-Christian tradition is for humans to be responsible trustees of the gift of God's creation.
Peak Oil/Over-reliance on fossil fuels	The drive for control of petroleum resources is clearly at the root of much deadly conflict today. Global petroleum extraction will peak soon (some experts say as early as 2012); if demand is not restrained, oil prices will soar and wars will continue.
Rapid Population Growth/Overconsumption	World Population growth may be "too controversial," given the often acrimonious public debates going on over sex education, contraception, and abortion
Renewable Energy	We are attentive to details of our lives that reduce our consumption of energy and other resources.
Sacred Commons	Talking about Earth's declining ecosystems,what is often overlooked is the underlying assumption of our industrialized civilization.
Traditional Wisdom	The belief is that resources for restoring the earth may be found in the storehouse of Earth wisdom of many traditional cultures.
UN, Earth Charter & International Agreements	QEW supporters have attended NGO briefings at the UN in New York and have reported on important environmental developments, such as treaties involving intellectual property rights.

Click on the links above to read more about how these interests relate to the vision and witness of QEW, plus relevant articles that QEW supporters and others may submit from time to time. Contact the QEW office if you want to contact some of the Friends who are involved in these areas.