Key insights
Some of the key insights of report are controversial:
- "The U.S. economy will require large and increasing amounts of
minerals from abroad, especially from less developed countries [see
National Commission on Materials Policy, Towards a National Materials
Policy: Basic Data and Issues, April 1972]. That fact gives the U.S.
enhanced interest in the political, economic, and social stability of
the supplying countries. Wherever a lessening of population pressures
through reduced birth rates can increase the prospects for such
stability, population policy becomes relevant to resource supplies and
to the economic interests of the United States. . . . The location of
known reserves of higher grade ores of most minerals favors increasing
dependence of all industrialized regions on imports from less developed
countries. The real problems of mineral supplies lie, not in basic
physical sufficiency, but in the politico-economic issues of access,
terms for exploration and exploitation, and division of the benefits
among producers, consumers, and host country governments" [Chapter
III-Minerals and Fuel].
- "Whether through government action, labor conflicts, sabotage, or
civil disturbance, the smooth flow of needed materials will be
jeopardized. Although population pressure is obviously not the only
factor involved, these types of frustrations are much less likely under
conditions of slow or zero population growth" [Chapter III-Minerals and
Fuel].
- "Populations with a high proportion of growth. The young people, who
are in much higher proportions in many LDCs [Least developed countries], are likely to be more
volatile, unstable, prone to extremes, alienation and violence than an
older population. These young people can more readily be persuaded to
attack the legal institutions of the government or real property of the
‘establishment,' ‘imperialists,' multinational corporations, or
other-often foreign-influences blamed for their troubles" [Chapter V,
"Implications of Population Pressures for National Security].
- "We must take care that our activities should not give the
appearance to the LDCs of an industrialized country policy directed
against the LDCs. Caution must be taken that in any approaches in this
field we support in the LDCs are ones we can support within this
country. "Third World" leaders should be in the forefront and obtain the
credit for successful programs. In this context it is important to
demonstrate to LDC leaders that such family planning programs have
worked and can work within a reasonable period of time." [Chapter I,
World Demographic Trends]
- The report advises, "In these sensitive relations, however, it is
important in style as well as substance to avoid the appearance of
coercion."
- Abortion as a geopolitical strategy is mentioned several dozen times
in the report with suggestive implications. These are some of the
lines:
-
- "No country has reduced its population growth without resorting to abortion."
- "...under developing country conditions foresight methods not only
are frequently unavailable but often fail because of ignorance, lack of
preparation, misuse and non-use. Because of these latter conditions,
increasing numbers of women in the developing world have been resorting
to abortion..."
From the
Wikipedia article. Kissinger had a hand in writing this memo. It's all
Dustbury's fault, quoting that retired
Doc in the Philippines. I am a little disturbed that Kissinger and I seem to be in agreement in that reducing population growth would be a good thing. That business about mineral rights is not such a hot idea. That's the kind of thinking that has gotten most of the rest of the world angry with us, the USA.
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