Population Matters - The Durango Herald

Mourn for Martha, before we share in her fate

Although the Ebola epidemic is terrible, there is an invisible epidemic that might end up being even worse for humanity. We depend on the great web of life, but paradoxically, we are constan...

DATE: Sep 27, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Integrate population, health and the environment

If we had unlimited resources, we wouldn’t need to be concerned about human population. We live in a wonderful, rich world, but we need to share with such a large number of people and other ...

DATE: Aug 23, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Online series targets real issues, such as contraception

There was an omission in my last article about the effectiveness of the media on teen pregnancy rates. Bill Ryerson, one of the world’s most effective population activists, kindly reminded m...

DATE: Jul 26, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Using television to educate viewers about population

It is over 14 years since we’ve had TV in our home except for an old set to watch movies. Yet, I recognize TV can do wonders in changing people’s attitudes and behavior. Perhaps y...

DATE: Jun 21, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Working to control dangerous methane emissions

For years, I had heard about a mysterious source of power here in La Plata County. This month I had the chance to see it for myself. Perhaps you have heard the term “San Juan Basi...

DATE: May 24, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Thank goodness for Pope Francis and his openness

Roman Catholic nuns and priests were a substantial proportion of the populace in past centuries. Their celibacy acted to slow population growth. Starting in the 12th century, prie...

DATE: Apr 26, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Support our community through support for Fort Lewis

One of the reasons we chose Durango as our home 37 years ago is it is a college town. Through the years, Fort Lewis College has enriched our lives in many ways. After graduation f...

DATE: Mar 22, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Old memes tie cultures to outmoded ways of thinking

Recently, a friend introduced me to the word “meme.” Now, I run across this concept frequently. The word “meme” is analogous to “gene,” but the former is information in our cultur...

DATE: Feb 22, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

How to age gracefully with slowing population growth?

Last July, when I turned 70, I wrote about my own aging. What happens as a large group of people age? Let’s look at the start of the process of demographic change, when birthrates...

DATE: Jan 25, 2014 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

How I honor my father in a rapidly changing world

We were listening to NPR when the news came on: “The dentist with the greatest name recognition worldwide died yesterday. Dr. Louis Grossman developed modern endodontia (root-canal therapy),...

DATE: Dec 21, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Recognize effective ways to save the world’s children

Two of my recent columns dealt with child deaths. The sad fact is that, worldwide, 19,000 children die every day – mostly in poor regions, and mostly related to inadequate nutrition. ...

DATE: Nov 23, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters

Countering starvation requires more than just food

July’s column described two Nicaraguan boys with severe malnutrition. Miguel had kwashiorkor, caused by lack of protein. Poor Van’s problem was inadequate food energy; he died from marasmus....

DATE: Oct 26, 2013 | CATEGORY: Population Matters