Population Growth

As someone who usually agrees with Alexander Cockburn, I am surprised to have to write this letter. His suggestion that population is not a problem because the rate of increase is declining is absurd (Column Left, Oct. 16).

It is still a rate of increase and whether we have 5 billion or 10 billion more people is still bad news on just about any environmental issue. Pull your head out of the sand, Alexander!

JOHN GREEN

Riverside