Below are some reflective pieces which have been written either individually or collectively by QCOP members and which have been submitted for consideration for inclusion in the revised Book of Discipline.
Quakers work for a sustainable planet, for a simple life-style, for peace in the world, and for equality. Our world can scarcely produce enough resources to provide water, food, fuel and living space for the current global population, so a continually-growing population strains the planet’s capacity to sustain the human race, as well as crowding out other species.
We are called to live simply, that others may simply live. In this simplicity, we can decide “One or two children is enough” or “I am content not to have children” and give up the urge to reproduce ourselves.
We encourage each other to seek out and eliminate the seeds of war in our lives and possessions. Over-population leads to conflict over the earth’s limited resources, so is one of the underlying causes of war; as we work for peace, we must look for and root out all that endangers human security and harmony.
Each human life has equal value; research shows that inequality within and between nations causes massive social and international strains (see ‘The Spirit Level’, by Wilkinson and Pickett). If we are all to cherish and sustain each person’s life, that life should be chosen and wanted, not casually conceived and born to become an extra burden on our fragile earth.
In quiet reflection, everyone can use common sense, discernment and modern family planning methods to choose abundant life for a sustainable level of the world’s population.
Beth Allen, Bromley Meeting.
The Canterbury Commitment (Minute 36 of Britain Yearly Meeting 2011) provides a spiritual basis for us to become a low-carbon, sustainable community. Considerable attention is rightly being given to this work and much still remains to be done. The impact of the exploding size of the global population, however, is missing from most of our discussions. Today we total over 8 billion, which is well over three times as many as in 1950. Human over-population is putting intense pressure on land and water resources, causing ever increasing pollution, and driving species other than our own to extinction. This is clearly not sustainable; yet population is the elephant in the room when considering the planetary crisis. The topic is controversial and opinions may be influenced by religion, culture or politics, but ignoring a problem will not make it go away.
Mindful of the longstanding Quaker tradition of taking sometimes unpopular stands when led by the Spirit to do so, we are inspired by the contributions of earlier Friends to the abolition of slavery, to penal reform and to same sex marriage. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we need to find ways to raise the topic, and to support and enable those who wish to have fewer children.
Do you believe there are limits on a sustainable global population? What should our response be as Quakers to this pressing problem? Might speaking out about the ills brought about by over-population be part of our concern for social justice and sustainability?
QCOP Committee, with input from members, September 2024
We seek to live in a sustainable world. The multiplier of all climate change problems is the huge and growing number of people on the planet. Women are central to reducing the pressure of population growth on world resources. With equality and education they are more able to make their own decisions about family size. How can you support this internationally and encourage it locally?
At a time of climate emergency, we now face the necessity for radical changes in mindset to achieve a smaller population for lasting less consumption. Some of the changes are very personal, such as family size. Be courageous but sensitive in discussing these issues.
Submitted by QCOP to the Book of Discipline Revision Committee, October 2024