Controversial Social Media Post by UCL Professor Sparks Outrage
Bill McGuire's Post on Mass Depopulation
Bill McGuire, a Professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards at University College London (UCL), stirred controversy with a social media post over the weekend. In his post, he seemed to endorse the idea of mass depopulation.
McGuire shared an article questioning humanity's preparedness for a potential Bird Flu outbreak on his X account. Alongside it, he wrote, “If I am brutally honest, the only realistic way I see emissions falling as fast as they need to, to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown, is the culling of the human population by a pandemic with a very high fatality rate.”
McGuire's Post Deleted After Backlash
Following a wave of backlash, McGuire deleted his post the next day. However, he clarified that he did not regret his statement, but removed it because many people had either mistakenly or deliberately misconstrued his words.
McGuire's Clarification on His Post
McGuire, who identifies as a socialist, later attempted to clarify his initial post. He denied advocating for a reduction in human population and instead claimed that he was referring to a decrease in economic activity.
Despite his clarification, many remain skeptical. This is largely due to McGuire's involvement in advising politicians on the UK’s COVID-19 pandemic policies and his co-authorship of climate policy for the United Nations.
Public Reaction to McGuire's Post
The public's reaction to McGuire's post and subsequent deletion has been largely negative. Many have accused him of gaslighting the public about his controversial views on population control.
Final Thoughts
Bill McGuire's controversial post and subsequent deletion have sparked a heated debate about the ethics of population control and its potential impact on climate change. While McGuire insists his words were misinterpreted, many remain unconvinced. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you believe McGuire's clarification, or do you think his original post revealed his true beliefs? Share this article with your friends and join the discussion. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, delivered to your inbox every day at 6pm.
