(1) Dialogue with "Population
control violates human rights. A country has no right to demand that other
countries suppress their population."
Basically, we believe that
each individual is free to decide how many children to have and that this right
should be respected. Therefore, in order to achieve population control, it is
important to implement policies that have an indirect effect. For example, in
areas where population control is needed, consideration should be given to
creating incentives for people to have fewer or no children. One such mechanism
is a "reverse child benefit". This is a benefit paid in inverse proportion to
the number of children.
I also believe that instead of one country demanding
that other countries implement population control policies, a fair and neutral
body, such as the United Nations, should compile and coordinate the population
control policies of each country.
(2) Dialogue
with "Everyone has a different sense of wealth. It is not a common ideal that
"everyone should be wealthy."
I understand
that there is affordability in a natural way of life, and I do not believe that
everyone necessarily needs to pursue material wealth. However, I do believe that
it is desirable to have a society in which all people can enjoy at least a
certain level of consumption that they can afford. This is because we should
create a situation where people can freely choose to live an environmentally
friendly lifestyle or to consume a little more. I believe that a sustainable
society requires a certain level of material wealth.
(3) Dialogue with "Against Population Control for
Religious Reasons."
I respectfully understand
the idea, but on the other hand, we need to consider reality. Certainly,
religious beliefs may cause people to find it meaningful to have more children,
but it is hardly desirable to have an unlimited number of children in a
situation where it is difficult to provide enough for them. The result could be
increased competition for food and resources. We all want to build a prosperous
society, and sustainable population control is essential to achieving this.
While respecting religious beliefs, we must understand that the future of our
planet and its people requires the achievement of appropriate population
control.
(4) Dialogue with "I am against
population control because a decrease in population will result in a shrinking
market and a decrease in revenue."
It may seem
that a decrease in revenue will result in less happiness. But if too much
population makes many people unhappy, then not everyone is happy. For everyone
to be happy, we must strive to make both ourselves and others happy. I agree
that some income is necessary for people to be happy, but I hope that in
generating income a balance is struck between self-interest and altruism so that
everyone is happy.
I also believe that it is generally possible to maintain
or increase revenue by introducing benefit policies such as a basic income, even
if the market shrinks. This is because the increase in disposable income from a
basic income, etc. will result in an increase in consumption equal to or greater
than the total amount of the market contraction, and therefore the increase in
income can be expected to be maintained. This is not true for all consumption,
but we believe it is generally true.
(5)
Dialogue with "I am against population control because a declining population
will destroy the country."
Certainly,
excessive population control can threaten the sustainability of a country. On
the other hand, if the world's population is too large, the existence of many
countries, including that country, should be endangered. Therefore, I believe
that it is necessary to successfully tackle population control on a global scale
while maintaining the demographic trends necessary for the maintenance of a
country.
(6) Dialogue with "If the population
becomes too large, we should expand into space."
Considering the possibility that the earth and the sun will eventually
explode, it may be necessary to expand into space in the future. From this point
of view, we agree with the direction that the problem of population expansion
should be solved to some extent by expanding into space. However, the first
priority must be to ensure that people on Earth lead prosperous and happy lives,
and we should not rush into space without addressing the ongoing problems of
conflict, poverty and hunger, etc. Our first priority must be to address the
various problems on Earth, and we should work to enable people to lead more
sustainable and fulfilling lives.
(7) Dialogue
with "Shouldn't we pursue a sustainable world through methods other than
population control?"
Perhaps there are other
ways to achieve a sustainable world than population control, even if the world's
population is too large. Unfortunately, I cannot think of them. Many population
control advocates would probably agree with me. If the world's population is too
large, I believe that a sustainable world, a world where everyone is prosperous,
can only be achieved by having a sustainable population, or an optimal
population.