Let's celebrate the falling population

Will Hutton's argument that declining birth rate in Europe puts 'our very civilisation under threat' ('An Italian lesson for Europe', Comment, last week) considers only economic issues and does not consider ecology. A lower population means less pollution and depletion of natural resources. In capitalist societies it is enormously difficult to reduce pollution and depletion per head: it is vital to reduce population as rapidly as possible. The increased tensions in cross-generation income transfers are far outweighed by the ecological gains. The only unambiguous loser is business since it expands by expanding its workforce. Hutton argues that the declining birth rate makes 'optimism ... run dry'. A more rational view would see it as one of our few reasons to be optimistic.
Jamie Gough
Newcastle upon Tyne


I was saddened to see Will Hutton supporting increasing the birth rate in Britain and in other countries.

His case, and the government's, as reported by Robin McKie, is that in order to retain a balance of age classes and help continue our profligate life style in the West, we need more babies. This mirrors a similar mantra for more roads, more energy production, more houses. And so it goes on.

We are a grossly overpopulated country in a grossly overpopulated world. If we want a future, what we should surely do is take stock, calculate the basic resources available - such as raw materials, space, land and water - and then see how many people these will support living the lifestyles they should be able to expect?

Such a calculation also cannot assume current resource distribution. If only through the self-interest of achieving global stability, there must be a fairer distribution of wealth and resources in this country and between countries. This will simply not be achievable by increasing everyone's standards to the highest, even in the unlikely event of those currently at the top of the pile letting others catch up.

We clearly have to address the issue of how to deal with the transition from current to future birth rates but let's welcome a drop in population in this country and globally so that some of the major problems facing mankind can at least be better addressed.

Pie in the sky? Of course, but oh for a few politicians to start taking a longer-term view of what is required.
Dr Peter Tilbrook
Rosenberg
Cromarty
Ross-shire


For years, people have complained there are too many (other) people in the world. Now we panic about the effects on the young population of falling birth rates, fast food, cheap booze, fags and recreational drugs. At the same time we fret about the pensions crisis.

Perhaps the solution is simple. Junk food, fags, booze, fast cars, dangerous sports and unsafe sex should be banned (or rationed) until retirement. After that they should be compulsory.
Iain Climie
Whitchurch
Hants