Don’t run for the hills; COVID-19 is not a zombie apocalypse. But incidence of zoonotic pandemics has quadrupled over the last fifty years. You’ve probably heard of HIV, Avian Flu, Swine Flu, Ebola, SARS, MERS, West Nile, and Zika. That’s not a comprehensive list, but a scary one.

In this episode we explore the connection between pandemics and population. COVID-19 is a sign from Mother Nature, telling us we’re living beyond ecological limits. We’re becoming more and more vulnerable to pandemics because there are so many of us, we are developing in very dense patterns, traveling quickly and widely, altering the climate, and expanding our footprint into every nook and cranny of the planet. Chances of encountering a more lethal virus are increasing thanks to our expansion.

The Overpopulation Podcast is produced by World Population Balance, a non-profit organization committed to alerting and educating that overpopulation is the root cause of resource depletion, species extinction, poverty, and climate change. Our mission is to chart a path for human civilization that – rather than causing greater misery – enables good lives on a healthy planet. We advocate and support a smaller, truly sustainable human population – through dramatic and voluntary reduction in birth rates.

We envision a world where no one suffers in dire poverty and misery for lack of enough food, water, and other basic needs. We see a world where all species thrive and where lower consumption and population are in balance with Earth’s finite resources.

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

One Planet, One Child Billboard Project

Why Choosing a Smaller Family is Something to Celebrate — on Billboards!
(Dave’s Essay at Medium)

The Population Bomb

Sustainable Population Meetup

CORONAVIRUS READING:

Coronavirus Offers "A Blank Page for a New Beginning" Says Li Edelkoort

How Climate Change is Exacerbating the Spread of Disease

'Tip Of The Iceberg': Is Our Destruction of Nature Responsible for COVID-19?

Where's Wally?

How Does Population Size Affect a Pandemic and Social Distancing?

How Deforestation Drives the Emergence of Novel Coronaviruses

COVID-19: Condom Shortage Could Lead to Baby Boom, Experts Say

Coronavirus: 'Nature is Sending Us a Message,' Says UN Environment Chief

The Neo-Malthusian World of the Coronavirus

Bats Are Not To Blame For Coronavirus. Humans Are

A Lesson From the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Perils of Density

The Overpopulation Podcast is produced by World Population Balance, a non-profit organization committed to alerting and educating that overpopulation is the root cause of resource depletion, species extinction, poverty, and climate change. Our mission is to chart a path for human civilization that – rather than causing greater misery – enables good lives on a healthy planet. We advocate and support a smaller, truly sustainable human population – through dramatic and voluntary reduction in birth rates. 

We envision a world where no one suffers in dire poverty and misery for lack of enough food, water, and other basic needs. We see a world where all species thrive and where lower consumption and population are in balance with Earth’s finite resources.

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