By Bill Denneen ... June 1 2000

It took over 2 million years for our number to reach one billion in 1830. We quickly added the second billion in only a century (1930). The dangerous thing now is this number has "exploded" to over 6 billion; we have done much too well at "being fruitful and multiply". Exponential growth is always followed by exponential deaths. We are modifying the entire planet, particularly Americans with our excessively high consumption rates.

Some people might say the population explosion is due to increased births---not true. Birth rates has been falling all over the world; it is due to a decrease in the death rate. The average life expectancy has doubled in the past century. People are living longer because of many factors, a few of which are: higher survival rate of babies, better nutrition, better medicine, better health measures, improved dentistry, discovery of bacteria and viruses, and intensive agriculture. It has been a great time to be alive.

We are living longer and longer. Up until the last century I would have been a very rare artifact to be around at 75; now I have a lot of cohorts and the number of "elders" increase and are actually the cause our population explosion. During the Roman Empire average life expectancy was about 35, Ancient Greece about 30, hunter gatherer humans probably 25 or less. Many died at birth and only the very best adapted and smartest survived. Human babies needed strong, protective, smart, well adapted parents. If everyone would die at 40 which they did on the average in 1900 there would be no population problem---volunteers?

It seems we have to make a choice: increase the death rate or decrease the birth rate. As a biologist the best biological choice would be an increase the death rate(let the poorly adapted die) but as an "elder" enjoying the Central Coast I am biased and urge, rather, a decrease in the birth rate.

Coming up on June 4th is "Non-mother's Day". A time for education about the population explosion, a time to decrease the accident rate (60% of all pregnancies in the US are unintended), a time to point out to women that they do not HAVE to have babies to be a woman---an increasing number(now 16%) of women in the US are non-mothers. We need to come up with NEW ways of doing things as the old rules just do not apply.

You might say China, India and Africa are the problem and should DO something. First let us look at our beautiful Central Coast. We are in the "eye of the storm". Nipomo Mesa is the fastest growing area of world. Santa Maria has the highest teenage pregnancy rate of the industrialized world (The Sun 5/5/00). We are the leaders but where are we headed???

The US leads the industrialized world in teen pregnancy and birth rates. It is double that of England, four times that of France and Germany and 10 times that of Japan. If teen pregnancy were a disease we would call it an "epidemic" and Santa Maria leads. A sexually active teen has a 90% chance of pregnancy during the first year if they do not use contraception. To recommendation abstinence is fine BUT the reality is the average age of first intercourse is 17 (I was 21, how old were you?) Forty percent of teenage girls in the US get pregnant by 20 years of age. No girl should EVER go on a date with her boyfriend without a selection of condoms "just in case".

In order to solve problems we must FIRST recognize the problem. Either we reduce the growth rate in Nipomo or we become just like LA. Either we reduce teen pregnancies in Santa Maria or the "edidemic" continues.

Some potential answers are below. I suggest a "task force" be formed led by Patty Herrera (SM-Planned Parenthood) and Virginia Whitehead (Righetti H/S teacher)to address the teen pregnancy "epidemic". The first step is to get the head out of the sand and start talking. A few on my ideas to get the debate started:

1. I suggest a cap for housing starts in Nipomo. The state average for number of people added is currently about 1.7%. Arroyo Grande is increasing in numbers at 3.8%, Nipomo Mesa probably 6%. The FaireShare Initiative of a decade ago that developers shot down had a cap set at the state average (1.7%). It could be pegged to the US Growth rate (.87%) or World growth rate (1.25%)or even Central America (1.13%) but NOT the "explosion" that south SLO County now has. There is even a whole new city planned for the Mesa.
2. . Any male can receive a free vasectomy on request. Any males going to prison to have their term reduced is they get a vasectomy. All rapist automatically get castrated reducing testosterone and stopping reproduction.
3. . Any female receiving welfare to become educated about contraception and tubal ligation.
4. . Illegal aliens can stay if they receive a vasectomy or tubal.
5. . When groups go to other countries with medicine/vaccinations etc. that prolong life that they must also supply contraceptives.
6. . Sexually active teenagers that do not have their own act together be required to have contraceptives knowledge.
7. .Maybe requiring anti-PG vaccinations at puberty along with the regular vaccinations. All potential ideas should be considered.
8. . Change the tax structure. Any couple having a third child to pay $500. EXTRA for that luxury, 4th child $1,000.on up. If you love children become a teacher and get a room full.
9. . All foreign aid to have family planning go along with it. To provide family planning to ANY country that asks for it thus reducing abortions/accidents and increasing the number of "wanted" babies.

Bill Denneen,1040 Cielo Lane,Nipomo,93444 <bdenneen@slonet.org> 929-3647