“We are not, of course, optimistic about our chances of success. Some form of ecocatastrophe, if not thermonuclear war, seems almost certain to overtake us before the end of the century. (The inability to forecast exactly which one - whether plague, famine, the poisoning of the oceans, drastic climatic change, or some disaster entirely unforeseen - is hardly grounds for complacency.)” IfsWarEndsSeemsFormCertainCoursesChanceCenturyOceanDisasterOptimisticInabilityPlagueComplacencyFamineNuclear WarPoisoningForecastsDrasticUnforeseen Author:John Holdren
“A massive campaign must be launched to restore a high-quality environment in North America and to de-develop the United States...De-development means bringing our economic system (especially patterns of consumption) into line with the realities of ecology and the global resource situation...Redistribution of wealth both within and among nations is absolutely essential, if a decent life is to be provided for every human being.” IfsHumansMeanStatesRealityAmericaLife IsNationsLinesWealthHuman BeingsUnitedQualitySituationUnited StatesEnvironmentEconomicDevelopmentEssentialsResourcesClimate ChangePatternsCampaignsDecentGlobal WarmingMassiveConsumptionEcologyNorth AmericaEconomic SystemsHigh QualityRedistribution Of WealthDecent Life Author:John Holdren
“There exists ample authority under which population growth could be regulated...It has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society.” IfsHas BeensLawGrowthAuthorityConstitutionCrisisClimate ChangeIncludingPopulationAbortionGlobal WarmingSevereCompulsoryPopulation GrowthPopulation Control Author:John Holdren
“If some individuals contribute to general social deterioration by overproducing children, and if the need is compelling, they can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility — just as they can be required to exercise responsibility in their resource-consumption patterns — providing they are not denied equal protection” IfsNeedsChildrenLawIndividualSocialResponsibilityExerciseEqualResourcesPatternsProtectionDeniedProvidingCompellingConsumptionDeteriorationEqual Protection Author:John Holdren
“The need for de-development presents our economists with a major challenge. They must design a stable, low-consumption economy in which there is a much more equitable distribution of wealth than in the present one. Redistribution of wealth both within and among nations is absolutely essential if a decent life is to be provided for every human being.” IfsNeedsHumansLife IsNationsChallengesWealthHuman BeingsEconomyDesignDevelopmentEssentialsMajorsLowsDecentStableConsumptionEconomistDistributionEquitableDistribution Of WealthRedistribution Of WealthDecent Life Author:John Holdren
