The number of humans on this planet in the year 1000 was about 300 million, in 1200 about 500 million, in 1700 about 650 million and in 1830 we reached our first billion.  

We added our second billion in 1930, about the time I was born. Since then we have exploded to almost 7 billion. Yes, 5 billion more people in just my lifetime.

The cause is not an increase in the birth rate but a decrease in the death rate - people are living longer and longer. The average life expectancy in 1900 was 40, now it is 80. The choice is an increase in the death rate or a decrease in the birth rate. I prefer the later.

Sex education and contraceptives could lower the birth rate. The United States is the fastest growing industrialized country on the planet. We add 8,000 more people every day. 

Santa Maria has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. I call it an epidemic.

All local hospitals are Catholic, which do not provide contraceptives. The only local source of contraception is Planned Parenthood. Local Catholics pray across from Planned Parenthood on abortion days because they claim to be opposed to abortion.

Italy, which is 97 percent Catholic, has such a low birth rate they are not even replacing themselves. I doubt if this is due to abstinence only. To reduce the need for abortion, to reduce the local teen pregnancy epidemic, to slow the population explosion, I suggest local Catholics start supporting Planned Parenthood.

Advertisement

Bill Denneen

Nipomo

June 22, 2007