Zero Population Growth Panel Discussion on Issues related to
CIVIL LIBERTIES AND POPULATION STABILIZATION
May 17,1973 at the McCully St Library.
The panel consisted of Evan Shirley
of the American Civil Liberties Union, Laurel Kasaika, member of the Temporary Commission on Population Stabilization, Cindy Weineiber of Life of the Land and Earl Babbie of the Maximillian Report. Mr. Babbie spoke of conflicting rights of individuals, i.e. those given up because of congestion vs. the right to have children and to move about freely. Also discussed by Ms. Kasaoka were those freedoms still not achieved, such as the right to have control over one's own body on the adolescent's sexuality rights. Land Use Policy restricts the right of People to use their own land as desired or to make a profit. Still further discussion centered about how people come to terms with a standard of living (how much is enough) and growth-a-mania. Studies are still needed to determine individual and society's attitudes toward families and children.
Mr. Shirley explained some subtleties of the Bill of Rights and recent court decisions affecting the above discussion. The entire group explored possible laws to limit in migration to Hawaii under Interstate Commerce Commission and those possible because of our unique position as an island. The lawyers present explained how any such laws could adversely affect our civil rights by creating precedent. At any rate, it was felt that any social change should be considered from a national and/or international basis rather than as a single state no matter how unique. Also that any such social change must come from the constituency rather than lawyers.
Other areas than the legal were also explored to start to limit population and congestion. These areas were financial incentives, manipulation of taxes and widespread dispersal of information in all media.
Grace Furukawa
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May 1973
August 1973
BYOP