Population Growth from National Geographic

[Steve the Gas]

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[lancashire lass]

very informative little film Steve.

Sadly, population growth is not given enough consideration when it comes to today's politics. Most of the problems we have are down to too many people - yes, we can all live in cities (interesting how the film suggests we occupy only a small amount of space on the planet), but stress levels increase, resulting in more crime. Not to mention the resources consumed at a rate never seen before. And humans are responsible for extinction of many plants and animals as we move out into their territory to cut forests down and to cultivate on land once used by migrating herds - culling big animals such as elephants which cannot recover in numbers as quickly, thereby starting genetic bottle necks (technical term for describing a much reduced gene pool which can eventually result in extinction). You only have to look at what happens to animals that have population explosions (lemmings, rabbits) With no predation to keep numbers down, they consume everything and crash. I can see that happening in the human population even today - too many people not having enough food, confined within borders and unable to get out. You would think what happened on Easter Island was a valuable lesson for all mankind but it seems to be treated as an anomly (for those who don't know about Easter Island, the isolated population consumed all its resources, including the trees that could have been used to build boats to fish (or even attempt to escape the island), resulting in starvation and killing each other for survival - not a pretty thought on a world wide scale)

[Meanqueen]

Not to mention the resources consumed at a rate never seen before. And humans are responsible for extinction of many plants and animals as we move out into their territory You only have to look at what happens to animals that have population explosions (lemmings, rabbits) With no predation to keep numbers down, they consume everything and crash. I can see that happening in the human population even today - too many people not having enough food, confined within borders and unable to get out. You would think what happened on Easter Island was a valuable lesson for all mankind but it seems to be treated as an anomly (for those who don't know about Easter Island, the isolated population consumed all its resources, including the trees that could have been used to build boats to fish (or even attempt to escape the island), resulting in starvation and killing each other for survival - not a pretty thought on a world wide scale)

Well said, spot on, LL
Ilona

[LittleBrownFrog]

Thanks Steve

[foghornleghorn2]

23% of the worlds resources used by 5% of the population.

Wait until India and China all want TV's computers and cars for there emerging economies. India and China count for about a third of the worlds population.

[Stig]

I'd say virtually ALL our problems today are down to unsustainable human population growth.

China's two-child-per-family policy might've been an economic success but it was a human rights disaster. But it's clearly unrealistic to think we can solve the problem with education when we consider the huge proportion of the world's population who live in abject poverty. And then there's the religious dogma to deal with. There's no solution is there? Unless we find another planet to colonise!

Very worrying..

[bluebell]

Well, finding another planet to sustain the human population is going to be a tough one.

Everyone has the right to have children, however, I do not think in this day and age it is acceptable or advisable for everyone to have high numbers of children.

[Steve the Gas]

Imo, for this problem to be even attempted at, a myriad of very difficult and emotive subjects will have to be faced.
One near the top will be religion..................