Sir, - Full marks to William Reville on "Too many people may be the problem" (The Irish Times, October 27th). What a delightful and surprising volte-face from his columns of May 26th and August 4th on the same theme! Young couples contemplating starting or adding to their families would do well to consider Dr Reville's comments. As he points out ". . . birth rates must be reduced to, at most, replacement levels. This means widespread and effective artificial birth control". He also spells out the need to change economic models based on continuous growth, which will involve attitude and lifestyle changes. He brings to our attention the fact that the richer countries must supply massive assistance to poorer countries to allow them to develop along the right lines. And, to ensure a world fit for habitation, he concludes it will be necessary to form a world government to preclude a large-scale war ever happening again.
Dr Reville has clearly done his homework and got it right. His epiphany has worked wonders for my sagging sanguinity. - Yours, etc., Myles Crowe,
Seapoint,
Co Dublin.