The author Alan Weisman discusses population control and his latest book, Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? (Little, Brown, 2013), with Joseph Planta.

Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? by Alan Weisman (Little, Brown, 2013). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Countdown

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

The author Alan Weisman joins me now. He’s got a new book out, Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? We’re at a critical time in the life of the planet as we’re under pressure what with the population increasing. This poses immense challenges to food and water supply, not to mention the life of the earth itself. In the book, he travels to twenty-one countries to see how the Earth might be able to sustain itself. What political will our governments have, and what innovations might improve life for those in the developing world, or even our own in so-called First World countries. The population of our planet is seven billion, seven times what it was in 1900. Growth is projected to hit ten billion. Alan Weisman’s previous book The World Without Us was an international bestseller, and featured a photograph of Vancouver on the cover, if I recall. That book won many awards, and was translated into 34 languages. His work has appeared in sundry publications in the United States and beyond. He lives in Western Massachusetts, but joins me ahead of an appearance with the Vancouver Writers Festival this Friday out at UBC’s Fredric Wood Theatre. That event will be moderated by our old friend Charlie Smith of the Georgia Straight. Visit www.writersfest.bc.ca for more information on that. Countdown is published by Little, Brown. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Alan Weisman; Mr. Weisman, good morning.

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