Hi everyone
This week on socio-logic with the amazing Alex Pye on FBI radio, we looked at some controversial issues… would love your thoughts…
Population growth: what should Australia’s population level be?
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/editorial/challenges-of-our-growth-spurt-20091025-hely.html
The Prime Minister recently got excited about the idea of having 35 million people in Australia. Ken Henry, Treasury secretary responded by raising concerns about Australia’s ability to handle this – fair point.
I have historically avoided talking about population growth and environmental issues because it makes me feel that we are adopting a ‘life boat mentality’ and we can use it as an excuse to exclude people (here I am thinking refugees). This has been described as the ‘greening of hate’ by the very cool Betsy Hartmann.
I think we cannot shield ourselves from what is happening around the world including population growth and herein lays the issue: the problem is not with the poor countries with big populations, but with us. That is, we use way more resources than they do.
In fact, if everyone used the same resources as an Australian, we would need four earths to support us! (Check out this website on eco-resources.)
There are two ways around this that would also act to deal with the excess resource use that is threatening our planet:
a) The first is to build smarter cities: mass investments in public transport and green medium density urban environments; and
b) We should get used to using fewer resources!
We are better off doing this now in a negotiated way and having a response to the issue of population growth – not have it forced upon us at some future point.
Religion v. ethics in schools
http://newmatilda.com/2009/10/06/dumbest-education-policy-australia
The issue of religion or scripture in public schools has always perplexed me. I only realised recently that it is done as a compromise between the State government and the Church in a deal struck in 1880 (see article above).
When I was at school, many of us avoided religious studies because we could not relate to the teachings – so we just kicked the ball around instead.
The Parents and Citizens Association has recently proposed that ‘ethics’ could be taught in parallel with religion as a way of giving non-religious children and families an alternative.
I think this is a great idea and it could act as a way of discussing the many ethical dilemmas to modern life: how can anyone be against this. Further, any teaching of ethics must include religious ethics because the frameworks are related.
In seems that sections of the Church are against it however – it seems more because it sets a precedent than because they do not like the idea. What a crock I say!
Teaching on ethics are important – both religious and secular – and are part of a well-rounded education. In fact, I have had a long association with a number of religious groups who are strong advocates for human and environmental rights: and there is no reason why these things should be in conflict. For the State government to squander this opportunity is to let us all down: well those of us who believe in a well rounded society anyway.
For some information on ethics teaching, check out the St James Ethics Centre who designed the proposed program.
Speak soon
james
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