CULLING THE MASSES

Mankind loves to argue and reject change. Nothing excites us more than being told what to do, and that what we currently are doing is wrong, bad for us, bad for society, bad for the planet.

Environmental research results are immediately challenged upon publication, and considerable resources then poured into DISPROVING the conclusions drawn, instead of looking for solutions.

Poor Al Gore, picking up the pieces of his life after that shambled election, pouring his heart into spreading the inconvenient truth not many wanted to hear.  Instead of receiving unanimous global acclaim, the storm troopers were called in, the science was questioned and challenged in court and when the science was proven, his personal life dissected.  All he wanted to do was to shout STOP, LOOK & LISTEN. All Joe Public heard was more doom and gloom and veiled threats to our lifestyles.  To the barricades!

However, as intelligent and educated folk, we comprehend perfectly the basic logistics of the vehicle being filled to capacity.  South Africans perform a loaves and fishes miracle daily, by fitting 32 people into 16 seater minibuses. But eventually, even the most optimistic driver has to agree, enough!  Leaving the remaining commuters behind to wait for the next taxi.

Oct 2011 saw the 7 Billionth person born.  The date is a theoretical one, as we really have no idea when or where this event actually happened.  The population reached its 1st Billion in 1830, 2nd billion in 1930, 3rd Billion in 1960 and ever since has been adding the billions on at an average rate of 1 Billion every 12 years or so.

So what happens when Planet Earth is filled, to capacity?  We aren’t talking standing room only here.  All life forms require far more space than merely their physical body, in order to survive.  It’s been suggested 69m2 each person, for living space alone.  That doesn’t include the space for animal and crop rearing to provide food and fuel, or mining for the resources that produce our possessions.

Unfortunately, we have yet to find a sister planet to move onto, so the next “taxi” isn’t coming along for a while.

Well, here’s the solution—culling.  Yes, let’s take a leaf out of ancient civilizations and animal management and dispatch and be done with people who just aren’t up to scratch.

Each law abiding tax payer should be entitled to nominate 5 people for culling.  Think your teenage children, the errant husband, noisy neighbour, complaining mother in law, the guy who cut you off in traffic, or stole your cell phone…..

We could take a leaf out of Roman Empire times.  Turn the underutilized soccer stadia into arenas a la the Coliseum.  Toss the Rhino and Elephant poachers in to face a pack of enraged Rhino’s and Ellies, along with some hungry lions.

In fact, kill two birds with one stone, and add the poor schmucks who believe that the Rhino horn powder they buy is going to cure their cancer.  In one fell swoop, you’ve stopped the market, ended their cancer suffering, and reduced the population, leaving more living space for the rest of us.

Talk about a one size fits all solution. Works for me, what do you think?

(Written for Live Lightly Times, published Feb 2012)