Elephant in the Living Room

Overpopulation is the “elephant in the living room” – everyone sees it but no one wants to talk about it. Exponential growth on a finite planet is neither sustainable nor desirable; however, even though sustainability is the “buzz word” de jour, humankind worships growth. Most politicians would rather walk through a mine field in their bare feet than discuss population control with their constituents.

Ref. 21September 2009
Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Living Room*

John Cairns, Jr.

Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,

Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA

*This posting is a simultaneous submission for “Climate Change and You: Putting a Face on Global Warming,” EcoRes Forum Online E-Conference #3, October 19-29, 2009. Further information available at http://www.eco-res.org/ .