Our population can't keep rising

Our population can't keep rising
Letter from Tham Su-yin 04:46 AM Sep 14, 2011
I REFER to the study reported in "Without migration of some magnitude, Singapore's population will decline, says IPS" (Sept 8). With a low birth rate and longer life expectancy, it is obvious Singapore's population is ageing.

This situation is faced by many developed countries, and it is easy to see that if we can raise the number of young people by migration or by birth, we will have more working people to support the elderly who are living longer due to better medical science.
I am not against immigration, as migrants have made positive contributions to Singapore. However, I am concerned that Singapore views it necessary to have ever more young people to look after the elderly.
This view is ecologically unsustainable, for the ever more young people will eventually grow old and will need yet more people to support them. This benefits only the present generation at the expense of the next.
We cannot increase our population indefinitely. Resources such as food, water and land are finite. Only non-physical things such as respect, spiritual growth, knowledge, health and quality of relationships can increase in a physically finite world.
Our census shows that Singapore's total population has grown from 2.07 million in 1970 to 5.08 million last year.
As world population hits 7 billion this year and possibly 9 billion in time, and people in Singapore already complaining of overcrowding and congestion, I hope our leaders will look at ways to manage a stable population and make ageing affordable instead.
Longer, healthier lives mean we can work longer. With more flexible job arrangements, more jobs can be done by older workers. Given training and support, the fit old can care for the infirm older.
It is unwise to think we can continue adding more people into Singapore and, of course, the world.
As former United States President John F Kennedy's environmental adviser Kenneth Boulding said 45 years ago: "Anyone who believes in indefinite growth of anything physical on a physically finite planet is either a madman or an economist."
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110914-0000415/Our-population-cant-keep-rising
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HWZ:
16Sept2011: Our population can't keep rising