Dear Sir
I’m extremely impressed with The Gaia Atlas of Planet Management for today’s caretakers of tomorrow’s world (1985). Norman Myers is the general editor and the foreword is by David Bellamy. Pan Books must be congratulated on the production of this A4 size 272-page book.
The Land Crisis is the most worrying. Topsoil lost cannot be replaced. Each year many billions of tons are being washed into the sea or blown in the wind.
In the croplands of the USA one third, over 50 million hectares, has undergone marked decline in productivity because of soil erosion. In 50 years time, grain production will be halved. World population must be stabilised now to avoid starvation of billions of people all over the world.
Our own population in Scotland must be reduced so that we can guarantee to grow our own food and give all our people employment. We have to plan 100 years ahead. Having no oil, how will things be for our great-great-grandchildren? Distressing, if we squander green fields at the present rate. To help them we must imagine life without the grid and develop alternative and renewable sources of energy, such as wind, water and solar power. If we fail to control pollution, they will find the taste of fish a rare luxury.
Dr Ian Macadam
Edinburgh
Dear Sir
We were gratified to note the mention in Colin Bertram’s article on the Marie Stopes Memorial Foundation (Newsletter No 2) but would like to clarify that the archives of this body form part of the Eugenics Society Archives held here, in the Contemporary Medical Archives Centre, which is part of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine.
We are always pleased to welcome researchers, but would like to advise very strongly that intending readers make an advance appointment with one of the archivists. They are also reminded of the necessity to obtain the prior permission of the Galton Institute.
It may be of interest to add that we also hold some of the papers of Marie Stopes herself (the rest being in the British Library).
The Wellcome Institute Library is still in temporary premises at 200 Euston Road but the postal address continues to be 183 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BN, to which it will return during 1992. Our telephone number is 071-383-4414 ext 26. The opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.45 am to 5.15 pm, with late opening to 7.30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Dr Lesley A Hall
Senior Assistant Archivist
Contemporary Medical Archives Centre
Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine