In response to Ms. Brooke Warner's letter "Dangers of overpopulation must be heeded for survival," I wish to proudly claim my status as one of 10 children and denounce her uncompassionate views. After reading her critique of the usefulness of foreign aid, I was insulted by her claim that help now (often in the form of "extra grain") simply leads to larger issues and increased suffering in the future. I presume that Ms. Warner has not gone to bed hungry often. She probably does not take time between classes to put food on the table. Whether or not she has been confronted with extreme levels of poverty, I do not know. If so, I contend that she has not absorbed these experiences.

Ms. Warner blames advances in agriculture for overpopulation. Yet, she fails to offer a suggestion of what to do with the "extra grain." Is she willing to allow Third World countries to continue to starve simply so we don't "worsen their situations?" Is she advocating the stockpiling of resources in order to limit the percentage of the world's population that can bear children and live a healthy and prosperous lifestyle?

I will celebrate what the Zero Population Growth interest group negatively terms, "Y6B." On Oct. 12, the world's estimated population reached 6 billion, while the United States nears 274 million. Though my family of 12 undoubtedly consumes more grain than most others, I placate that with the fact that we all can put forth efforts to solve these social ills that "threaten" Ms. Warner.

Shaunti Althoff

Senior

Walsh Hall

October 11, 1999

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