Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Al Gore, speaking at New York City's Games For Change Festival this week, was up to his usual prophesying about the end times by way of climate change. In one segment of his address, the former Vice President discussed the necessity of stabilizing the population in order to curb pollution. And how does Al Gore propose we "stabilize" (i.e. reduce) the population? By "educating girls" and "empowering women," whatever that might entail.
Al Gore: One of the things we could do about it is to change the technologies, to put out less of this pollution, to stabilize the population, and one of the principle ways of doing that is to empower and educate girls and women. You have to have ubiquitous availability of fertility management so women can choose how many children have, the spacing of the children....You have to educate girls and empower women. And that’s the most powerful leveraging factor, and when that happens, then the population begins to stabilize and societies begin to make better choices and more balanced choices.
Al Gore inserting himself into the reproductive decisions of women would seem comical if not for the fact that people in positions of power actually pay heed to his nefarious ideas.
(h/t Daily Caller; video via Brian Merchant)
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Mar '11
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Al Gore wants to "empower women?" Now that's what I call "climate change!"
May '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
I'm going to push back on this one a bit Diane. Truth is that in many cultures around the world, women are not permitted to make their own choices. Many on Ricochet have bemoaned these conditions in predominantly Muslim countries. Though squishy, the notion of "empowering" women so that they can actually choose to become pregnant or not is a good thing, not a bad thing. Population control may not be a real issue at a macro level, but in cultures where women are typically second-class citizens, family planning can make an enormous difference. So without endorsing the Orwellian implications of Gore's little speech -- the notion of giving women more control over when and under what conditions they become pregnant is, in my view, a good thing.
May '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Why is he dressed like Dieter from Sprockets on a three-month doughnut binge? Nomnomnom.
Y'know, I do agree that women exercise a stabilizing influence on the population. But it's through creating population, and then stabilizing them.
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
My predominant concern is that Gore is endorsing abortion here. But even if he isn't, his calls for reducing the population result in things like government coerced foeticides and infanticides, forced sterilizations, and other despicable practices the world over.
Feb '11
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Diane Ellis, Ed.
My predominant concern is that Gore is endorsing abortion here. But even if he isn't, his calls for reducing the population result in things like government coerced foeticides and infanticides, forced sterilizations, and other despicable practices the world over. · Jun 22 at 8:39am
In other words, we the government will decide what is good and will empower you women to do it. If not, we have other ways.
Edited on Jun 22, 2011 at 8:52amRe: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
I have come to feel morally certain that Al Gore is a lunatic. For me, he has exactly the same authority as that Camping guy who declared the world was going to end whenever it just didn't. I try to keep this under wraps so my wife doesn't find out, but I'm actually all in favor of "empowering women" if that means giving them the same human rights as men. But my observation is that fewer babies from educated women simply means the stupidest people reproduce... ala Idiocracy... which by a circular chain of thought, brings us back to Al Gore.
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Diane Ellis, Ed.
My predominant concern is that Gore is endorsing abortion here. But even if he isn't, his calls for reducing the population result in things like government coerced foeticides and infanticides, forced sterilizations, and other despicable practices the world over. · Jun 22 at 8:39am
I understand your concern, but in your original post you said he's endorsing "education" as the road to population control. It's obvious that when women gain access to education the birth rate goes down (too much in Western countries) and usually quality of life improves. (India.) This is only a good thing.
Where Gore's logic fails (if I can even us that word in association with the man) is that when quality of life improves, that usually includes access to modern conveniences that require MORE burning of those hated fossil fuels. Not less. The scary thing about global warmers is that if they really wanted to achieve their ends they'd wish for MORE poor women stuck in non-developed societies relying on solar stove programs.
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
The "crazed sex poodle" makes his return.
Nov '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Gore, thy name is Malthus!
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Denise Moss
Where Gore's logic fails (if I can even us that word in association with the man) is that when quality of life improves, that usually includes access to modern conveniences that require MORE burning of those hated fossil fuels. Not less. The scary thing about global warmers is that if they really wanted to achieve their ends they'd wish for MORE poor women stuck in non-developed societies relying on solar stove programs. · Jun 22 at 8:54am
Your point here, Denise, is a good one. It reminds me of a really fascinating TED lecture by Hans Rosling about the "magic washing machine."
Oct '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Is the quality of life really improving or are you just talking about economics? I agree there's a correlation but I'm not sure it's a causal relationship. Even the data here in the U.S. shows that conservatives have relatively more children and are happier.
Jun '11
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Diane Ellis, Ed.
My predominant concern is that Gore is endorsing abortion here. But even if he isn't, his calls for reducing the population result in things like government coerced foeticides and infanticides, forced sterilizations, and other despicable practices the world over. · Jun 22 at 8:39am
Exactly. The resurrection of eugenics. Another great moment for "Rational Administration."
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Denise Moss
Diane Ellis, Ed.
My predominant concern is that Gore is endorsing abortion here. But even if he isn't, his calls for reducing the population result in things like government coerced foeticides and infanticides, forced sterilizations, and other despicable practices the world over. · Jun 22 at 8:39am
I understand your concern, but in your original post you said he's endorsing "education" as the road to population control. It's obvious that when women gain access to education the birth rate goes down (too much in Western countries) and usually quality of life improves. (India.) This is only a good thing.
You're right about this. If Al Gore is endorsing sending girls to school to learn how to read and write alongside their male counterparts, that's a great thing and I stand behind him 100%. But so often in the lexicon of a liberal, "education" and "empowerment" are code words linked to abortion. Especially in this scenario, where Al Gore has an interest in seeing fewer babies born, I'm skeptical of the man's message.
Jun '11
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Oh, don't worry. I have a strong suspicion that we will not easily rid ourselves of one Albert Gore. He will be entertaining for years to come.
May '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
I agree with Trace that a right societal promotion of the rights of women is good and does tend to lead to smaller families. It's undeniably true that in many places in the world, women are instrumentalized by their sexuality and backward moral norms.
And Denise is exactly right too in pointing out the fault in Gore's reasoning. Who can deny that the cultural dynamic that empowers women leads to bigger, not smaller "carbon footprints"?
Gore is a propagandist for the culture of death. People are polluters. Birth control and abortion are what the world needs.
Want to know what really empowers women without giving an inch to the culture of death? Natural Family Planning.
Sep '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
When doomsday cultists like Al "Every day is a massage day here on Planet Gore" Gore talk about education for women then that usually means massive warehouses full of condoms, spermicides, IUDs, birth control pills, inflatable sex toys, and other goodies in the developing world while anti malaria medicine remains scarce.
And you don't have to believe me. Just talk to a Kenyan gynecologist.
Sep '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Did the interviewer ask Al how empowered Tipper is these days?
Oct '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Denise Moss
Where Gore's logic fails (if I can even us that word in association with the man) is that when quality of life improves, that usually includes access to modern conveniences that require MORE burning of those hated fossil fuels. Not less. The scary thing about global warmers is that if they really wanted to achieve their ends they'd wish for MORE poor women stuck in non-developed societies relying on solar stove programs. · Jun 22 at 8:54am
Your point here, Denise, is a good one. It reminds me of a really fascinating TED lecture by Hans Rosling about the "magic washing machine." · Jun 22 at 9:16am
I was thinking the same thing.
Dec '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
katievs: I agree with Trace that a right societal promotion of the rights of women is good and does tend to lead to smaller families. It's undeniably true that in many places in the world, women are instrumentalized by their sexuality and backward moral norms.
And Denise is exactly right too in pointing out the fault in Gore's reasoning. Who can deny that the cultural dynamic that empowers women leads to bigger, not smaller "carbon footprints"?
Gore is a propagandist for the culture of death. People are polluters. Birth control and abortion are what the world needs.
Want to know what really empowers women without giving an inch to the culture of death? Natural Family Planning. · Jun 22 at 9:55am
How about a covenant marriage to a good man and NFP?
I have trouble putting the fire out on my head every time anyone makes an argument for population control. Especially when the "religious" do it! The socialists at my parish are in this camp.
Dec '10
Re: Al Gore: Reduce Pollution by "Stabilizing the Population" and "Empowering Women"
Denise Moss
I understand your concern, but in your original post you said he's endorsing "education" as the road to population control. It's obvious that when women gain access to education the birth rate goes down (too much in Western countries) and usually quality of life improves. (India.) This is only a good thing.
Where the standard of living rises, women gain access to education and children shift from being valued as labor inputs to agriculture to being valued as heirs and bearers of the family legacy. At some point, of course, children become devalued as potential parents realize that they can really enjoy life if they aren't burdened by too many (or any) offspring.
The order is not women's education -> lower birth rate -> wealth. It's wealth -> lower birth rate -> women's education.