A New World Coming

Environmentally conscious Americans can still feel the afterglow of this month's Earth Day celebration in Washington. April 22nd marked the 40th anniversary of the Earth Day observance in the United States.

Although the volume of the debate over global warming rises and falls regularly, most people are in agreement about the risks of over-population and how the strain of those growing numbers threaten the earth's ability to support us all.

According to the Census Bureau, the world population increased from 3 billion in 1959 to 6 billion by 1999, a doubling that occurred over 40 years. The Bureau's latest projections imply that population growth will continue into the 21st century, although more slowly. The world population is projected to grow from 6 billion in 1999 to 9 billion by 2045, an increase of 50 percent that is expected to require 46 years.

Wait a second; did I read that right? "[P]opulation growth will continue into the 21st century, although more slowly.

Populations growth is going to slow down? What could that mean?

According to author Fred Pearce, global population is headed for a slow, steady decline. In his new book, The Coming Population Crash: And Our Planet's Surprising Future, Pearce predicts tectonic changes in world societies and the environment.

Pearce, environmental consultant at New Scientist and a weekly columnist and investigative journalist for the Guardian in London, claims that a middle-aged culture will replace our predominate youth culture, and that the eventual decline in the earth's population will help our environment.

In an interview with Salon.com 's Margaret Eby, Pearce challenges the theory that over breeding in poor countries is worse for the planet than the over consumption of resources by developed countries. He notes that fertility rates around the world have halved; not just in Europe and North America, but also East Asia. Fertility rates are stabilizing.

These are provocative theories, but what does it mean for us now, and for the workplace of the near future? Well, in the United States, the Social Security Administration already knows that there are fewer new workers coming into the work force that the baby boomers who are preparing to retire. And as the nation awakens from the recent recession, employers may find themselves facing a sellers' market for reliable, experienced employees. Smart employers will explore new strategies to attract and retain talent if they want to remain competitive.

There's a new world coming. What form will it take? And will you be ready?

Check out Fred Pearce during his recent appearance on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart.

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Try A Different View

As we enjoy the colors of spring (despite the wild temperature swings), a friend was lamenting the return of a persistent cold that she thought she had beat.

Her throat was scratchy, her nose dripped and she maintained a dull ached above her eyes. All of her favor cold remedies were failing her.

I sympathized with her discomfort, since I was suffering with my reaction to the record levels of pollen floating through the air. I have had spring time allergies all of my life, and living in the Washington area only has made them worse.

"My eye are so irritated," I told her, "that I wish I could take them out of my head and rinse them off."

"Really?" she said. "That's exactly how my eyes feel! I never even considered allergies!"

Long story short -- my friend went over the her pharmacy, loaded up on antihistamines and eye drops, and found relief.

Sometimes it's just a word, a quick view from another perspective, that offers a solution.

Enjoy the spring, and don't be allergic to change.