By Karen Giovetti
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 6, 1997

Starvation is result of overpopulation

Editor:

In response to Raphael Hon's letter of Friday, Oct. 3, 1997 regarding NASA I would like to say that a large part of the reason we have hungry people is that we simply have too many people ... period. This planet is rapidly reaching the population limit for which it is capable of feeding. We desperately need some new frontiers for several reasons. One, as stated above, to grow food for the ever growing population both on this planet as well as whatever new ones we are able to colonize. Two, we need, even more desperately, some sort of social relief valve to alleviate the stresses of overcrowding, unemployment, etc. This is the first time in the history of mankind when we have no available frontiers. In other words, when society begins to drive someone crazy, they have nowhere to go. A hundred years ago, this sort of person could head out west. Teo hundred years ago they could go to the new world. Where do they go now?

They go to Oklahoma City and blow up federal buildings and day care centers. If we don't start the colonization process now, not tomorrow or next week, we will outgrow this little ball of rock and water. On CNN there was a story about a mother and father who starved their three children, killing the youngest, while making sure their life insurance policies were paid up. Earlier this week was yet another story about a mother who locked her 5 year old in a closet and starved her to death. When too many rats are placed into too small of a place they begin to attack each other, beginning with the smallest and weakest. We humans may not be rats but given a few years there may not be much difference - unless we can escape.

Karen Giovetti
Accountant Associate
Plant Sciences Department