Boom until we bust? Australia’s population at 30 June 2012 of 22.7 million is projected to increase to between 36.8 million and 48.3 million in 2061, and reach between 42.4 million and 70.1 million in 2101. There have been two estimates by scientists for an ecologically sustainable population for Australia at consumption levels similar to those of today. The first was 10 million people by ecologist Prof. Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University. The second was 6-12 million by Professor Tim Flannery. Both estimates are substantially lower than Australia’s current population 23.4 million people (as of February 2014), and highlight the need for urgent action to address this vexed issued. We live on a finite planet and humanity must accept these limits. Increasing population threatens not only the ecosystems (and ecosystem services) on which all species rely, but also our own well-being and quality of life. Increasing population also counteracts strategies to reach a truly ecologically sustainable future.
Sustainable Population Committee
Our Sustainable Population Committee (SPC) was established to develop policies that address the environmental impacts of population and consumption. In 2011, our Annual Conference adopted the Ecologically Sustainable Population and Nature Policy.
Sustainable Population Seminars
SPS 2015 POPULATION DIALOGUE II 21st November 2015
The Sustainable Population Committee (SPC) is arranging a Sustainable Population Seminar on Saturday 21st November 2015, titled: POPULATION AND CONSUMPTION – the SUSTAINABILITY DIALOGUE
Venue: Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts (SMSA), 280 Pitt St, Sydney
Date: Saturday 21st November 2015
Time: 9am to 5pm (Register from 8.30am )
Cost: $30 / $20 (includes Lunch, Morning and Afternoon teas)
Registration: See below for payment.
DETAILS as at 20th August 2015 (will be updated from time to time):
Welcome: Kate Smolski, CEO of NCC
Introduction to Seminar: Prof. Don White, NCC’s Chairman
Keynote Speakers: (1) Bill Ryerson from the Population Media Center, US
(2) Mark O’Connor, Writer
(See Bio for each of these speakers below)
With input from: (1) Annie Leonard’s “Story of Stuff”
(2) Speaker from the Global Footprint Network by videolink (tbc)
(3) Nola Stewart “Conservation thru having Smaller Families”
* Workshops: 3.or.4 Workshops to choose from for discussions on relevant topics
* Politicians: From the major Parties speak on the politics of population; followed by
* Panel Discussion on Topic: ‘Endless Growth is the Ideology of the Cancer Cell’
* Close: The Seminar will be closed at 5pm by Prof Don White
HOW TO REGISTER: (a) Online or (b) on the day at venue (if seats available)
Online: Register through TryBooking by clicking here.
Full price: $30
Concession $20
Half Day (lunch not included) $10
Gratis $0 (for invited guests who have been asked to use the Gratis registration category. Invited guests still need to register, for catering purposes.)
Enquiries: Nola Stewart on [email protected]
Speaker Bios:
Bill Ryerson is President of the Population Media Center (PMC) in the US.
PMC works to impact population, thereby enhancing health, human rights and environmental protection. It does this through creating serialised dramas, or ‘soap operas,’ for radio and television. In these dramas, characters evolve into role models for positive behaviour change and the impact of these dramas is life-changing. Founded in 1998, PMC has over 15 years of field experience in behaviour change communications, with projects around the world.
PMC is a not for profit, international non-governmental organisation (NGO). Bill oversees all PMC activity and travels the world for current and new programme development.
Bill has had over 40 years’ experience working in the field of reproductive health, including two decades of experience in the ‘Sabido Method’ of behaviour change communications. His initial training was as an ecologist.
Mark O’Connor is an Australian poet, writer, and environmental activist.
He has published several books of poetry on regions of Australia such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Blue Mountains. He has also written or co-authored three books on the issue of overpopulation: This Tired Brown Land (1998), Overloading Australia (2008, 4th edition 2010, co-authored by William J. Lines) and he has also co-authored Big Australia? Yes / No, Pantera Press 2012.
Mark O’Connor has won several national and international prizes and awards, and he has undertaken fellowships throughout the world including USA, Europe, Russia, China and India. He is the editor of the much re-printed Oxford anthology Two Centuries of Australian Poetry.
He is also the inventor and patent holder for the Pro-NOUNCE-it software for showing the pronunciation of English words.
Mark was a candidate for NSW Senator in the 2010 and 2013 Australian federal elections, representing the Stable Population Party (now Sustainable Population Party).
SPS 2012
In 2012 the SPC hosted a Sustainable Population Seminar in Sydney. Speakers included:
Prof Ian Lowe – Griffith University, and President, Australian Conservation Foundation (presentation)
Prof Bob Birrell – Monash University
Prof Mark Diesendorf – UNSW (presentation)
Mark O’Connor – ‘Overloading Australia’
Graham Larcombe – Strategic Economics
Kelvin Thomson MP – ALP
Senator Larissa Waters – The Greens
William Bourke – Stable Population Party