Green thoughts of the day

The Independent today reported, on its front page, no less, how chemicals in soaps and toothpastes and other household products (many of which are also harmful to our environment and to our fellow animals, incidentally) can be damaging to male fertility, because they disrupt endocrine production in human sperm, according to researchers. 

It is an unfortunate fact that in the UK, one in five couples is infertile, for various reasons. However, there is reliable evidence that pollution ,especially from carbon related sources (coal,oil,gas etc.) and chemicals , such as those used to disinfect water in public baths and swimming pools, are to blame for much of the infertility that exists in the UK, and in other 'developed' nations, which contributes to the birth rate falling below the replacement rate of 2.1 per couple (modern lifestyles, to an extent are also to blame for this problem).

One irony about this is that the recklessness of the capitalist system, which has produced huge amounts of pollution and the harmful chemicals cited above, is to blame for much of the declining fertility rates in many nations, yet capitalism has reliance on population growth; in the richest nations which have benefited from free market capitalism, populations are usually becoming stable or even declining e.g. in Russia. It is also important to note that if the population kept itself stable at a global level, and thus achieved a zero population growth rate overall, and if resources were distributed fairly and people lived sustainable lifestyles, we would have no real trouble conserving our planet whilst still being able to enjoy life properly and perform what is necessary in our life cycles. In the meantime, I advise you all to check carefully what is used in hygiene and household products you buy, including soap.

 I am also hoping that David Kirwan will indeed stand for the Green Party in the upcoming Newark by-election. Nominations for said by-election close tomorrow at 4pm (which is also when Sherwood council must put up the statement of persons nominated for the by-election), so hopefully this will be confirmed :) 

 Regards, Alan.

 

 

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