Global overpopulation

[Tom B]

Of course, the root cause of all the other problems, pollution, fish stocks declining, climate change etc. is that we are trying to fit too many people onto this planet. The Chinese policy of only allowing one child was effective in slowing their growth rate - but brutal and cruel in its implementation.

Not sure what the answer is here.

[Beachcomber]

Can we not all still fit onto the Isle of Wight?

The Chinese government's policy of late term abortion is despicable.

[Surfbored]

The answer, sadly, is war. War has always been a highly effective way to cull the population.
In the nuclear age, this isn't really an option.

However War, along with diesase, plague, famine and drought has always sufficed in the past.

[Big Bob]

Ask Malthus

[alan k]

Drugs and blades are quite effective at curbing the population in this neck of the woods !! Only kidding, but they are both getting worse as years go on.

[Surfbored]

Ask Malthus

Thanks for that Big Bob. Didn't have a clue about Malthus, but looked him and his theories up on Wikipedia.

Who says this forum isn't educational

[big tony]

free condoms to the third world, with the popes permission of course!!!! and the sterilisation of the underclasses

breeding should be reserved for the intellectual classes, and that has nothing to do with money or position or the ruling classes as most of them should have been drowned at birth.

nor is it a natural selection thing either or aimed at those born with birth defects or illnesses (that would include me)

more the single parents of single parents of "the father could be anybody?" generation

[alan k]

You mean the "last on is daddy "crew ???

[big tony]

if you move in those type of circles in your social life? then yes!!!!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

To revive an old thread..

World Population Growth - It took from the beginning until 1804 to build a population to 1 billion, and it has taken about the last 10 years to build a population of 1 billion.

Year Population
1 200 million
1000 275 million
1500 450 million
1650 500 million
1750 700 million
1804 1 billion
1850 1.2 billion
1900 1.6 billion
1927 2 billion
1950 2.55 billion
1955 2.8 billion
1960 3 billion
1965 3.3 billion
1970 3.7 billion
1975 4 billion
1980 4.5 billion
1985 4.85 billion
1990 5.3 billion
1995 5.7 billion
1999 6 billion
2000 6.1 billion
2005 6.45 billion
2006 6.5 billion

[Tom B]

I quite liked this post on the BBC website, as a follow up to this article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7078857.stm


"Perhaps you could make people smaller? Could genetic engineering make future generations 60 cms high? They would take less space, consume less, pollute less. Its a permanent solution too. As the number of people on the planet increases further, then human height can be reduced in inverse proportion, to 30 cms, 15, 10, even 5, ad infinitum. Obviously potential predators like cats and ferrets would need downsizing at the same time. They say that there is a lower limit on brain size below which people are not so clever but that might not be a bad thing. How is it that humans with their huge brains are an endangered species, yet seagulls with their smaller brain are not? Why is it that seagulls are already top dog in many Atlantic seaside towns. For those attracted by the idea, further genetic research could turn us all into seagulls... No worries then about planes and their carbon, no need for body searches at airports.... No problem about heating houses. Yes, I know, seagulls don't pay taxes so that would ruin government budgetary planning, and of course there's the impact of a seagull population bubble on fish stocks... Well nothing is 100 percent pefect. Anyway, downsizing may be the only piskey solution Making the planet bigger would be a logistical nightmare. Getting everyone to volunteer for negative growth (in the sense of consuming less) shows no sign of working. And reducing population numbers by drawing straws, euthanasia for the over 20s, bombing the **** out of other countries, etc., is unfair, unjust, immoral and wrong and would create an uncontrollable backlash. Downsizing people may be the only equitable option. There are plenty of communities of Elves, Korrigans, fairies, spriggans, hobbits, etc where I understand it has been tried with success.
Alan Trevarthen, Brittany"

[bill]

free condoms to the third world, with the popes permission of course!!!! and the sterilisation of the underclasses

breeding should be reserved for the intellectual classes, and that has nothing to do with money or position or the ruling classes as most of them should have been drowned at birth.

nor is it a natural selection thing either or aimed at those born with birth defects or illnesses (that would include me)

more the single parents of single parents of "the father could be anybody?" generation

So I was right,now that The Sopranos has finished Big Tony has returned to his roots here in The Forum.

WELCOME HOME BIG TONY

[Sweltered]

eh Bill, that post from Tony was from a year ago......

[bill]

eh Bill, that post from Tony was from a year ago......

DOH!

[Bobbie En Tejas]