Changing demographics
Back in the summer of ’67, we learned a song. I can still remember most of the lyrics, and one line in particular has stayed with me. “Now we are twenty million”. An easy way to teach population statistics to a generation. A benchmark. Today, CBC passed along the news (no song this time), that “we are thirty-five million”. A little less rhythmic, and a lot more neigbours. Nobody went north; we just packed the people closer together in the downtown core.
In Pakistan, a new island has formed along the coast. Nothing too large, in a “I can see it from space” way; a measly 30 metres long. And leaking methane (there you go, what Mars doesn’t have, we do”. The government has asked people to stay off (forget settling down), because the whole thing will probably disappear in a violent fashion within days. Now for some of those statistics.
In ’67, the total population of West and East Pakistan was 94 million. Warp forward, and change some flags. The current combined population of Pakistan and Bangladesh is running at an estimated 332 million. No change in area (other than the reported new island). Now, I understand why people might be casting a surreptitious eye on that fallow land. Methane doesn’t have much odour, does it?
Enough idle chatter. Last night, I dreamed about my SCUBA tank. No particular reason. A subtle reminder that I don’t use it and can’t justify the expense of a hydrostatic test. Today, I learned that there’s a SCUBA Barbie. Again, no particular reason. Might make a nice gift for someone around here (not the tank; the doll).
