I have a real problem with population growth maintaining its undeserved place on the mantle of trophies for city success. Cities don’t grow their population in an alternative universe. They grow in the same overpopulated world of 7.4 billion currently killing our planet.

Bill Maher thinks, “Everybody but me has their head up their ass,” according to the title of his most recent book. A week ago on his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher, he was quite right. Apple’s release of the newest iPhone inspired him to excoriate our obsession with MORE.

It’s a bit challenging to decide whether Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe belongs on the Wall of Shame or the Wall of Fame this week. His recent comments accepting Japan’s shrinking population – in the end – are dramatic enough that they outweigh his obvious worship of economic growth.

Today I applaud an eminently logical, but also heartfelt, response to mindless criticism of the suggestion that conceiving fewer children is a smart, clean, humane way to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A growing number of philosophers, ethicists, environmentalists and potential mothers are suggesting that moderating reproduction is a logical, responsible, and surprisingly effective means of curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Last week we heaped high praise on NPR (National Public Radio in the U.S.) for running a story about this.

Not surprisingly, that report – and its contents – struck fear in the hearts of some. Let’s look at some of the responses.