Overpopulation v. Willful Stupidity

[Stanley A. Gorodenski]

I really don't think overpopulation as it impacts lepidopteran habitat
is a 'rationalization'.  Overpopulation, to me, manifests itself in
demands upon the resources of the environment, such as habitat
destruction either for living space, farming area to support the larger
population, industry, etc.  Many examples can be produced of this, and
some already have on this list, although, at the time, it was not in the
context of overpopulation.  My example goes back to my childhood in
Erie, Pennsylvania.  I remember collecting butterflies in fields as a
kid, and cocoons during winter.  About 8 years ago I went back for a
visit to find the fields non-existent because of the demand for homes
caused by the increased population in the area.  I remembered a pond
area I used to frequent that was good for cocoons.  It no longer exists
because it had been turned into a dumping ground for hazardous wastes.
 
Stan
 
p.s. what does mbpi stand for?
 
 
mbpi at juno.com wrote:
>
> I'm still not convinced that overpopulation is the problem:  I think Mike
> Gochfeld said it all with "Western values" that have been imposed,
> (whether wanted or not), through the omnipresent media and unthinking,
> intrepid "adventurers" who feel obligated to press their so-called
> "sophisticated values" on indiginous populations who have managed to
> coexist sympatrically with the natural environment for eons of time until
> the "western white-bread mentality" was thrown into the mileau.   All it
> takes is one individual with manufactured "trinkets" at their dispersal
> to corrupt a complacent society.  (And no, the near demise of the
> American Bison was NOT a result of "overpopulation:"  it was the result
> of willful, white supremecy, i.e. ignorance, by a SMALL handful of
> individuals.)   By the way...the "carrier pigeon" is doing just fine (!)
>
> I'd say that the MAJORITY of the "overpopulation" are ineffectual at
> best.  There are a select FEW individuals who "run the show," regardless
> of the number of people involved.  It doesn't matter if it is a "family
> of four" or an entire nation.  To reiterate what Ron Gatrelle posed
> through Biblical references:  If one were to take the "first family" as a
> case in point:  Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel (and "Pinch Me") COULDN'T
> even get along in their "underpopulated" existence....and the entire
> Earth was their oyster!  Fable or not, it still can serve as a metaphor.
>
> Blame overpopulation if you must...it's as easy a "rationalization" as
> anything else.  Like I said:  all it takes is ONE thoughtless, elitist
> individual to disrupt an entire ecosystem.  We live in a world of EXCESS,
> however poorly distributed.  While WE suffer the pangs of obesity and
> other metabolic disorders because of our nutritionally unsound,
> sedentary, "excessive" life style, we nevertheless try to inflict our
> cultivated, capitalistic moors on undiscerning others. Third World
> countries DON'T "need" McDonald's hamburgers or Coca-Cola, much less
> outboard-motors, anymore than WE do.  They need to "evolve" in their own
> time and place.  Witness Russia: they are KILLING  themselves as a nation
> from "too much, too soon," after years of living in a restrained
> Communist regime.
>
> Does anyone recall how the AIDS epidemic "started?"  As I recall, it was
> traced back to ONE "sexually indiscriminate" individual who had the
> finances to "globe trot"...
>
> We don't have to "worry" about overpopulation:  we just got rid of
> 13,000+ Indians by an unforseen natural disaster...and that's "what they
> get" for breeding like rabbits and refusing to embrace the Western
> "status quo" (!)  Hmmph!  Not knowing enough about Indian history, I can
> only speculate that THEIR problems started when the British moved
> in...like Africa and Australia...and yes, North America.  (And please,
> Neil, DON'T get your "knickers all in a twist...")  We "smug and smart"
> Americans" are just as responsible for the current state of world affairs
> as the British were in their hey-day... a small fraction of the
> "overpopulation" if you ask me...
>
> Blame it on "overpopulation," but don't assume the responsibility that
> OUR white-bread elitist heritage has anything to do with it.
>
> Get me off this soapbox, PLEASE...  (This is what happens when you turn
> 50 and are jaded and weary with the world...)
>
> Anyone seen any good Leps lately?!
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