Letters - 28 January 2022
From Population to Plain speaking, plain dealing
Population
While it is inarguable that all women should have control of their bodies, it is the way this is pressed into the service of other pernicious arguments that is problematic. These arguments are striking both for their omissions, and for their whiff of ideologies of which we should be well rid. The linking of these concerns with climate breakdown has given a new lease of life to racism, imperialistic paternalism and even eugenics. They also act as self-serving diversionary tactics from our own behaviours.
No mention is made that the carbon footprint of someone in the UK is about thirty-seven times that of someone in Madagascar, which straight away suggests where the focus of reducing population would be most effective.
Nothing is said of the huge amount of historical evidence that now exists to show that birth rates drop off markedly when infant mortality is reduced and living conditions improve.
It is not hard to understand that families reliant on subsistence agriculture are motivated to have many children when so many will be lost in the first five years of their life. These things are improved by good healthcare, stable economies, clean water, and peace, where the wealth generated is allowed to stay in the country, not expropriated by western corporations, and to support our comfortable lifestyles. They are made many times worse by the climate change wrought by the (in)actions of countries such as ours.
It is noticeable that the ‘bodies’ that are always the ones for concern are those of colour, and not the white European and North American ones that are responsible for such a huge proportion of the damage to our planet.
It is so convenient to be able to lay the global problems at the feet of all those citizens of former, but still exploited, colonies and thus be able to sleep easy after booking our flights abroad as travel once more opens up (for those of us nicely triple-vaccinated).
It is just plain ugly that once more the language of imperialist eugenics, seeking to problematise the reproduction of people of colour, is on the rise and being given a new lick of green paint.
Phil Chandler
Crucial to success
I am a firm supporter of the concept of a universal basic income, often shortened to UBI.
By definition, a universal basic income cannot be withheld from any individual by a manipulative government, or it immediately ceases to be universal. In campaigning we should therefore be very careful never to omit the word!
Some campaigners also argue for universal basic services (such as water, electricity, broadband) and there is much to be said for that. However I feel this should be as well as, not instead of, UBI. I regard an element of personal choice as crucial to success.
David Wright
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