Fewer People, Please

It must be something in his genes. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, has just declared that the world’s problem is: too many people. Apparently, all of those extra people are bad for the wildlife.

The Daily Caller has the story, via the Daily Telegraph, via Maggie’s Farm:

Prince William warned that population growth is putting “terrible” pressure on the natural world and driving animals to extinction.

“Africa’s rapidly growing human population is predicted to more than double by 2050 – a staggering increase of three and a half million people per month,” the Duke of Cambridge said at a gala hosted by the Tusk Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting African wildlife.

“There is no question that this increase puts wildlife and habitat under enormous pressure,” William said.

“Urbanisation, infrastructure development, cultivation – all good things in themselves, but they will have a terrible impact unless we begin to plan and to take measures now,” William said, according to The Telegraph.

Of course, Wills is following in the footsteps of his doddering father, Prince Charles:

Prince Charles, William’s father, is also a staunch environmentalist. In July 2009, he warned humanity had only 96 months to save the world from “irretrievable climate and ecosystem collapse, and all that goes with it.” That deadline passed with no apocalypse.

I know, you find it impossible to believe that Prince Charles could have gotten it wrong.

Fortunately, nature is not taking it lying down. As we write, nature is fighting back in Madagascar… of all places. It has launched an unusually nasty version of the bubonic plague on that country. The nation often sees small outbreaks of plague. This year is different, the attack is more virulent and has killed more people.

Was it an answer to princely prayers? The BBC reports:

Madagascar is facing the worst outbreak of plague in 50 years.

There have been more than 1,800 cases and 127 deaths since the start of August, according to new figures.

The island off the south-east coast of Africa is used to seeing about 400 cases of mostly bubonic plague in the same rural areas every year.

But this year it has developed into the deadlier pneumonic version and spread to much more populated areas, including the capital.

As it happens, the plague is eminently treatable with antibiotics. These were not produced by nature, but by human beings working in laboratories. The cure was the product of Western science and ingenuity, the result of the Industrial Revolution.

For those multiculturalists out there, the Madagascar plague story has a multicultural angle. The Sun reports that the disease is being transmitted through an ancient practice called…  Famadihana. And we all respect the different rituals practiced by different cultures, don't we? You see, you learn something new every day.

What is Famadihana? Glad you asked. The Sun explains:

Madagascans have been told to stop the traditional practice of Famadihana - which sees locals dig up deceased relatives and dance with them before they are re-buried.

It is feared the ceremony has helped spread an outbreak of pneumonic plague that has left more than 120 dead on the African island.

The country's health chief Willy Randriamarotia said: "If a person dies of pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for a Famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body."

The tradition has been banned since the outbreak began, but it is feared ceremonies have taken place regardless.

Some locals are openly dismissing the advice.