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Talk of 'overpopulation' has been with us for some time. Already, in 1798, when there were a mere 978 million people in the world, mathematician Thomas Malthus was warning of an impending catastrophe as human numbers exceeded the capacity to grow food.

Often the cause of concern is the speed at which others - be they people of other races or social classes or religions or political allegiances - are reproducing themselves, threatening, presumably, to disturb the wellbeing of whatever dominant group the commentator belongs to.

For many, the issue is primarily an environmental one. The logic is simple. The more people there are, the more greenhouse gas is emitted, the more damage is done. Any attempts to reduce carbon emissions will be negated by runaway population growth.

How reasonable is all this? Is population really the big taboo that progressive thinkers won't touch? Or is today's panic over population as irrational as earlier panics turned out to be?

Issue #429 of the New Internationalist magazine also includes:
- Copenhagen: Blood on the summit floor: reflections on the meltdown of the climate talks.
- Brothers in peace: how an Israeli and a Palestinian activist forged an unlikely friendship through terrible tragedy. Both of them lost a daughter to the conflict between their two peoples.

If you take up this introductory trial subscription you'll receive:
- Issue #429 of the New Internationalist magazine on World Population.

- FREE - the next 3 issues of New Internationalist magazine, each worth $9.50, but yours free of charge.

When you subscribe you'll receive the best independent magazine in the world for reporting the big issues of human rights, sustainability and global justice. On eight occasions the New Internationalist magazine has received the annual award for Best International Coverage in the global Independent Press Awards.

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