Wouldn't one of the first steps be for the US to stop consuming so much? It's been a long time since I looked at the numbers, but if I remember correctly, 5% of the world's population (assuming 6 billion total and 300 million US) consumes 25% of the world's "output." Sounds odd to me... sadly my computer and I aren't doing anything to remedy that.
Overpopulation
- Thread starter e2density
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So.... China FTW!...?e2density said:
I find it funny how there's people (not saying anyone here is one of those people) that complain about the world's population being too big and then complain how there's not enough food. Here's a solution, WW3, genocide, I'm not they're my solutions, though.
Yea and if someone moves that joystick a mm to the wrong direction, that person just destroyed 10 million dollars worth of equipment that only purpose is to take pictures and search for water... I can do more with my iPhone. We are more like light-years from actually living on Mars than a simple step.SnootyEnglishman said:
Education for women in third world countries.
When women are better educated, they wait longer before having children, and they have less of them.
Also in those countries: social security. When there is none, your children are your only social security, so it pays to have an army of them.
When welfare goes up, the birth rate goes down. In Western Europe, population growth has almost come to a stop this way.
When women are better educated, they wait longer before having children, and they have less of them.
Also in those countries: social security. When there is none, your children are your only social security, so it pays to have an army of them.
When welfare goes up, the birth rate goes down. In Western Europe, population growth has almost come to a stop this way.
Ignore all suggestions for war, etc - birth control is the only population solution that has ever worked.e2density said:
9 billion isn't that far off from where we're at now, and that's a number our planet can easily support - as long as not everybody tries to live like rich Americans. 9 billion is also where population growth is expected to level out at, according to UN predictions (previously they thought 18 bllion but they've had to adjust it down).
This already happens in china. Seems to be a bit brutal, accidents happen. My biology teacher said that as a fact if our population keeps rising we WILL see a massive drop because of disease, polution or strained resources. Look at any population of animal that gets to large. Iether that or a controlled cap on population to keep it steady.e2density said:TL;DR is in bold
Just a quick insight before I go to bed (as I should have done an hour ago...)
Learned a few things about overpopulation...and was thinking of the odds, along with the countries.
Japan has too much older people and not enough people for the younger workforce, not enough people working for Social Security for older people, which is also going to be our problem (the US) with Baby Boomers, except with Japan it's like that times five.
China started the controversial 1 child per family law. I personally think that isn't extreme enough, but then again humans have the right to reproduce if they want.
America (as mentioned earlier) is going to have too many of the Baby Boomers retiring and not enough people in the work force to cover for them.
Aaaaaand, to top that off, we are very likely to reach 9 billion people by 2050...a very scary thought. We may get to the point where the earth's resources are simply exhausted. There is a large chance humans may exceed the carrying capacity of our Earth and exhaust the resources, have a mass die off of a LOT of people (3-6 billion) and leave our resources unable to replenish themselves.
Here's a little chart to show where we came from... I just now realized how extreme this issue may be. So my fellow Escapists, what are your thoughts? Ideas? Possible Solutions? I personally think we should stress birth control a lot more and restrict the amount of children any family can have. It may sound very harsh, but it is completely necessary in my opinion.
The one child a family thing mixed with general social sexism has caused a shit load of problems for China. In the near future it's going to be real hard for anyone to find a woman because every family needs a man. Women now are being forced into [sex] slavery at young ages because of this. It's terrible. The one child policy is not going to work. But I'll tell you all what is:e2density said:
Nup. Western countries actually do pretty good when it comes to 'New people brought into the world' opposed to the 'People taken out of the world' scale. We're pretty level (though slowly climbing).e2density said:
Where the balance is tipped are in poorer countries. Look at India and China. They are slowly becoming powerful nations, but compared to the standard of living of the US or Canada, it's nothing. People there need more children to combat poverty, starvation and disease among many other factors. If you don't have a strong family then you'll perish.
As India (for an example) has grown in wealth, less people have died due to poverty and also, less people have been born. It's hard to believe that doing more services to make sure that people live longer and more safe lives lead to less children and a more stable growth.
In Africa, more should be done to cut down on aids and ensue that people live above the dollar a day margin and have clean food and water.
Powerful countries like the US should be utilized to support and build stronger economies in poorer countries.
You're can't be serious. We have non-violent solutions now. See above.Yureina said:Indeed, but you know that someone is thinking about it as a solution. The sad thing is that if this keeps up for another century, it may actually be the quickest and best solution we would have. I hope I don't live to see it.Kollega said:
It's gravity and magnetic poles are all out of whack. It barely has an atmosphere.SnootyEnglishman said:
Omikron009 said:
Souplex said:
Nitemare18 said:
Again, no. This leads to a fuck tonne of social problems which leads to a whole world of pain for everybody else.
What we need to do (resource-wise) is stop spending so much on cows. 5 pounds of wheat goes into making 1 pound of beef. People need to cut down heavily on the meat that they eat. That wheat (which can be stored and transported) can and should be used to feed people. The less cattle we have on this planet, the better as well for environmental reasons as well as many many others. Many people ain't vegetarians because they don't like the taste of meat or don't want a poor animal to die, it's because they know that it costs this planet too fucking much!
Please read above. That would actually worsen the situation.AjimboB said:
Bad idea. Our population is already aging. I believe the birth rate is going down, people are just living longer which accounts for the population rise. Ideally each person should replace themselves. Some countries have birth rates below the replacement level.Souplex said:
It's true, haven't we developed a kind of wheat that can grow in harsher conditions and at a much faster pace than regular? Genetic engineering is great.The_Healer said:
Though then there are non renewable resources we must worry about...
My opinion is that we use population control and explore alternatives for resources (such as space colonization and new energy sources). But instead of population control being random, I think that we should have it to where people who are not contributing to society should not be allowed to produce, and everyone else is limited. I just think it's foolish to allow people who use resources and don't actually help mankind in any way are allowed to have children that will usually do the same thing. I also think that there should be procedures in place to make it so people who are dragging society down as a whole should not be allowed to reproduce. This is mainly because I honestly believe a situation close to the basis of the movie 'Idiocracy' could happen. I know that makes me sound like a cold dick, but that's because I am.
Though organic farming is better for the environment surrounding. We can have a much more stable system of farming without the need of genetic modifications and chemical sprays.LeonLethality said:
But organic farming is much more expensive for less profit, so I'm glad we are developing ways to genetically farm with less and less impact on the surrounding environment. I'm sure soon organic farming will be a thing of the past and no downside genetic farming will be the norm, this is just wishful thinking mind you.PurpleRain said:
We need to focus on transferred consciousness, the amount of humans isn't the problem it's the amount of energy a human needs to survive. If we can develop further technologically then human reproduction and death will become nonexistent. Instead of focusing on how to maintain our organic forms or how to ration our depleting natural resources we need to focus on understanding our minds so we can duplicate and transfer their information into a mechanical form. If we can get to that point human self evolution will jump ahead by leaps and bounds.
Get rid of the stigma around abortions and protection during sex. Make larger families (more than 2 kids) socially frowned upon. Stop stigmatizing suicide and euthanasia. Stop doing everything within the power of medicine to keep everyone alive for as long as possible, if they'll never get better and don't realise they're even there/don't want to live anymore, let 'em die.
Of course, most religions frown upon such opinions so don't hold your breath. We'll just keep as we are til the only option is state enforced sterility, wars that just thin the population and general genocide. Blah.
Of course, most religions frown upon such opinions so don't hold your breath. We'll just keep as we are til the only option is state enforced sterility, wars that just thin the population and general genocide. Blah.
Here's an actual solution: educate women in third-world countries. Teach them how to use birth control, that they have a right to do what they want with their bodies, that they aren't slaves to their husbands, and that they can have a fulfilling life without having a lot of children. That would help considerably with the numbers problem.
But more importantly, we in developed nations have to be less greedy. Americans consume far more resources per capita than any other nation. If we conserved our resources and stopped destroying the environment, the planet could support a lot more people.
But more importantly, we in developed nations have to be less greedy. Americans consume far more resources per capita than any other nation. If we conserved our resources and stopped destroying the environment, the planet could support a lot more people.
Then they get raped and realise that they can't survive with just one or two children bringing in next to no money.blalien said:
Yes, it's perfect!
