Mayor Dooley is happy Nelson is growing. The business community is happy BC is growing its population. Canada’s leaders are happy we have the best population growth rate of the G8, at 10 per cent. Most of that is immigration, not new babies born to already-resident Canadians. Prime Minister Harper smiles, hearing this from the latest census.
Yes, growth is great. Look at how well the world has been going as we add people to it. We had our first-ever billion humans by 1830. Then two billion, (1930), three by 1965, six billion (2000) and now seven.
Look at our progress in that time. Wars, political terror, engineered famines, plagues and genocides in the 20th Century were unlike any other times. Human-induced changes to the planet were unforeseen.
I hear we are “evolving human consciousness” – so never mind the history. The planet is in fine shape, yes? Other species are thriving, eh? So of course, celebrate growth. Canada is a superpower of resources and commodities, and we will do just fine thank you, by selling to Asia’s fast-developing nations.
I realize people have to live and it is depressing to think about the big picture. Jobs are how we survive.
My message asking that we stop growing Nelson was political suicide when I ran for city council in 2011. I am glad I said all I did, regardless of how unwelcome my “pessimism” was perceived.
It seems to me a pity we cannot say no to the inertia of doing what we always have done. Canada, with one of the last favorable ratios of resources to population, is in a rush to sell the former and overgrow the latter. Preserve, conserve, or break the pattern? Unacceptable to us. Therefore, we want Harper and Co.
Don’t let me bring you down. Read Charles Eisenstein’s free online book, The Ascent of Humanity. Then call me and let’s talk about growth, Nelson, Canada, and the human prospect. I look forward to it.
Charles Jeanes
Nelson