World War III
WORLD WAR III: POPULATION & THE BIOSPHERE AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM
By Michael Tobias. Continuum. 1998
(296 pages)
Subjects: Population. Environment. Politics. Globalization.
Recommended for: High school – Adult
SUMMARY:
Numerous books have been written about issues contributing to environmental problems, but few have addressed the connection between our booming population and its dire impact on our natural world (and our global communities). Tobias focuses on five bioregions – China, India, Indonesia, Africa, and the U.S. – to explore human impact on the planet through overpopulation, degradation of resources, factory farming and pollution. He also offers suggestions for reducing population and transforming our relationship with the natural world.
IDEAS FOR USING THIS BOOK:
Tip: Tobias’s book includes a great deal of devastating information, so it’s important when making others aware of these issues to do it in a way that’s not too traumatizing, and that shows them the power they have to make a positive difference.
1. One way the information in this book could be shared with others is by using maps and visual representations to demonstrate the differences in what’s available and in how our choices affect others. It’s often difficult for people to relate to the circumstances of people from other cultures and places. One idea is to use maps of selected different countries (some Westernized, some developing, etc.), to visually represent population amounts of food available, consumption of energy, etc. It can make a huge impact, for example, to see aerial maps of regions from decades ago, and compare them with images of the same area from today. All the loss and destruction can be seen in just those two images.
2. It might also be helpful to have participants represent someone from each of the sample countries and hold up cards with statistics that compare how much North Americans consume and waste compared to people from other countries. Knowing how many times more energy is used, or waste is generated or clean water is available, etc., can be a powerful catalyst for discussion and problem solving.
3. Another potential way of using the information from Tobias’s book is to create a sort of game in which participants represent people from different countries. The game would deal with purchasing/attaining every day needs and wants: food, shelter, energy, clothes, etc. Each player would have an amount of money and types and amounts of resources realistically proportional to how it really is in the sample countries. It could be very revealing to the participants to learn just how much more the “developed” countries have and use, compared to “developing” countries. After such an activity, a discussion could explore the kinds of choices that are available, and what kinds of choices we can each (and all) make to affect a positive difference for other people, the planet and animals.
4. Since much of Tobias’s book is about the impact of overpopulation, you could have groups of participants develop some positive population solutions that take into account what Tobias says about methods & strategies that are/aren’t useful, and that consider needs like choice, immigration, how health & education are related, etc. Alternatively, you could have groups of participants respond to the question: “How do we balance the perceived right of people to have children and pursue happiness with the ability of the planet to sustain us?”
5. After having participants discuss the challenges of population and sustainability, have them develop a Code of Ethics for a Sustainable World Population.
6. Tobias’s book includes a number of statements/questions well worth discussing. Samples might include:
- “War is being waged by humanity against the environment, by the rich against the poor – and by those of us living today against the unborn generations of the future.” (11-12)
- “Having sons is what women come into the world for.” (60)
- “The less human beings suffer, the more the rest of nature tends to be adversely affected.” (204)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Learn more about the author’s work.
Want to submit a teaching idea for this title?
Email: Marsha@HumaneEducation.org
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