“The next few decades will be the end of the kind of civilization we’re used to. Humanity is consuming 175% of what the earth can regenerate. Our current way of life is unsustainable.”— Paul Ehrlich, population expert
Pretty sobering statement! Recently, I drove past the green/cement/steel monstrosity rising against the sky on South Golden Road. I drove past another sign announcing another housing development in a huge vacant lot across the from green monstrosity.
For over 15 years, I’ve attempted to educate our Golden mayors and city council members that they cannot continue exponential growth. I’ve attended city council meetings, written letters to the editor to the paper and sent letters to city council members. Yet, they rubber stamp every building project.
What do we face with endless construction? Answer: we average citizens face a dubious future where water will be more precious than gold. We face accelerating, toxic air pollution. We face increasing gridlocked traffic. We face higher utility costs. Worst of all, we face quickening catastrophic climate destabilization.
With each new construction project, nothing gets better, but everything worsens. Every breath you inhale 24/7 carries toxic air pollution into your lungs. You’re breathing a worsening Brown Cloud that grows thicker and more deadly with each construction project.
You face horrific traffic on I-70 on weekends and impossible traffic in Denver…seven days a week.
At the same time, you receive all kinds of letters to do your part to reduce climate change. But in reality, none of them address the main driver of climate change: human overpopulation.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We must prevent human tragedy rather than run around trying to save ourselves after an event has already occurred. Unfortunately, history clear shows that we arrive at catastrophe by failing to meet the situation, by failing to act when we should have acted. The opportunity passes us by and the next disaster is always more difficult and compounded than the last one.”
With city councils adding more construction across Denver, our dilemma compounds daily. Do we want the projected 3,000,000 people added to Colorado in three decades? Do you want it for your children? Isn’t it time for a Golden Stabilized Population Policy? Or do we simply charge into a living nightmare of a future for Golden and Denver?
Frosty Wooldridge, Golden
