Teaching the Next Generation

by Eric Wilson on February 11th, 2010

One of my favorite concepts to teach in my science classes revolves around population growth. Looking at the exponential growth of the human population over the past two centuries always gives me pause for reflection. How can the earth support this continually growing number of people? What is its carrying capacity?

It is with this in mind that I debated having children. The impact of more people, especially with regards to the level of consumption in Western society, weighed heavily on my mind. Watching National Geographic’s special The Human Footprint a few years ago made me ponder this fact even more.

Now that I have a child, born on Tuesday night, I have the ultimate responsibility to the next generation. The oft quoted statement from The Iroquois Confederacy – “In every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations” – rings true now more than ever. Resource conservation, energy independence, and sustainable development are necessities not just buzzwords.

Here is to making a conscious decision to use resources wisely and to educate the next generation about the importance of sustainable development, as well as how to create a sustainable future.

- Eric Wilson

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Posted in Behavior, Education, Eric Wilson, Op-Ed, Sustainability, Sustainable Development

Tags: Population Growth

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Harold Manger

Congratulations on the birth of your child. I applaud your intensified commitment to global preservation for future generations. My only caution is that you not loose sight of another important responsibility- the daily, unclamorous role of husband and father. And I speak with some authority as a husband and father of a son and daughter. It is so easy to lose sight of the latter responsibility.

Now that I am retired my wife and I do a lot of retrospection. And I am learning how much I failed. Christine will mention a children’s book that we read to our then infant children. I don’t remember the book and can barely remember any instances of reading to them from any book except Pat The Bunny. And I could cite other examples of milestone events for Chris and the kids that elicit little or no memory from me. I am not senile. I am just a father who sometimes had his priorities confused.
http://2ndgreenrevolution.com Eric Wilson

Thank you for the congratulatory comment. Balance in the economy, the environment, and especially our lives is paramount if we are to achieve sustainable development. Putting one’s family first is essential. However, we must also consider how our broader actions impact fiscal, social, and environmental sustainability. We cannot be profligate, but at the same time we must be cautious against the overly Puritanical route. Thanks again and I shall definitely keep your comments in mind.