KILLING-US-SOFTLY1

III.
METHODS – IN THE ABSENCE OF CHOICE – SOCIAL ENGINEERING
In this section I will only briefly list the methods to control population growth. The benefits and
drawbacks of each method are discussed further in the text.
As the Global Depopulation Policy grew in scope its methods expanded accordingly, being
dictated by the particular circumstances of each region and nation. Broadly speaking the
methods can be categorized in two groups, direct and indirect. Direct methods are aimed at
undermining fertility while the indirect methods are aimed at undermining the family. Both
direct and indirect methods subvert people’s reproductive freedom.
1. DIRECT METHODS – AIMED AT UNDERMINING FERTILITY
(i)
Legislation – China
Deng Xiaoping’s One-Child Policy since 1978
China is the only country in the world that chose to restrict family size by law and
thus tackle the population problem overtly and not covertly. As a one party state,
Chinese statesmen do not have to compete for office by pandering for popularity, as
politicians in democracies have to, and this enabled the Chinese Communist Party to
introduce the One-Child Policy, officially known as the “Family Planning Policy”
( 计 划 生 育 政 策 ), immediately after Chairman Mao died and Deng Xiaoping took over
the reign of power. The policy forbids couples in urban areas to have more than one
child while rural couples and minority groups are allowed two children.
(ii)
Coerced Surgical Sterilization – India
1952 Population Control Policy (first in the world)
1976-77 Indira Gandhi’s State-of-Emergency
2000 National Policy – replacement level fertility by 2010 (tubal ligations for
women and vasectomies for men)
After two failed and misguided attempts to address the population problem (in 1952
and 1976), India, which is grossly overpopulated, has settled for coerced surgical
sterilization as the method of choice. In less than 20 years, India has succeeded in
surgically sterilizing 80% of its women of childbearing age, which, considering that it
is the world’s most populous nation after China and has 1.2 billion people, it is an
incredible accomplishment. It has succeeded not by persuasion or education as much
as by coercion. Mobile medical caravans scour the country’s villages, where 80% of
India’s people live, and entice the villagers, who are for the most part illiterate and
easily misled, with offers of free medical care for every woman who has had two or
18