7 Billion & counting

Scary!

This is what should be at the front of those people worried about climate change, this is a real problem that will affect the earth. At some stage we need to either take over another planet, or see a massive population drop. No doubt Mother Nature will do something, and it probably needs global warming and massive floods to wipe out a few billion. Yes, that seems a harsh and flippant thing to say, but what is the alternative? We can only produce so much food, have so many raw materials and so much space to live.

Also, everyone had better prepare themsleves that we will need to work longer and this will affect our pensions. My son will probably need to work to 80, but then no doubt he will live to 110 instead of the retire at 60/65 and die at 80 of our grandparents generation.
 
I don't want to get into the global warming debate - although I do think there are various agendas playing out that have nothing to do with the real issues - but over-population is a major threat. This morning's news suggests that the UK's population will overtake Germany in the next generation or so, and that's quite a frightening prospect for a small country. Migrations, and population shifts, are nothing new but the impact of large changes in this context is going to be very significant.
 
yes 6.5 billion emigrated to the uk last year:lol::lol::lol:
 
I think it's really terrifying how huge the human population has become; as our population increases, so does the enormous strain we put on our planet and its resources, and these create serious ethical and environmental issues, ranging from the destruction of forests for farmland to the inhumane practices of intensive farming seen as "necessary" in order to feed the increasing numbers of people. And these are over and above the cultural issues which contribute to too many people having too many children that they can't afford, which is especially problematic in developing nations.

While some countries are experiencing declining birthrates, I'd say that humanity as a whole nevertheless needs to undergo a radical cultural shift to place more emphasis on global awareness and responsible family expansion; in other words, people need to start considering having smaller families. And while this is a concept which many will find offensive, it's an important first step to take.
 
7billion!!!!!!!!!! We will be living on floating houses sooner rather than later!!!!
 
Gregory Hicks said:
7billion!!!!!!!!!! We will be living on floating houses sooner rather than later!!!!
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Like they're developing God-knows-how-many thousands of floating homes in the Netherlands at the moment?
 
It's just a number. Where the several tipping points are is what matters (for the doom-mongers), plus the potential in let's hope many of those sprogs.
 
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Scary indeed, the worst part is...their all coming to the UK to live :help::D
 
I heard (or possibly read) somewhere this morning that everyone in the world could fit into France if the whole country was a city as densely populated as Paris. God knows if that is true, but interesting if it is.
 
World population is predicted to peak sometime in the second half of this century and then start declining.

Of course the problem is not that there isn't enough food, oil, mp3 players etc etc for everone in the world, but that there isn't enough for everyone to consume at the same level as people in Britain and other rich countries.
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
I heard (or possibly read) somewhere this morning that everyone in the world could fit into France if the whole country was a city as densely populated as Paris. God knows if that is true, but interesting if it is.
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Errr, no. That's entirely inaccurate. You could fit 7 billion people into the area occupied by Los Angeles.
 
PatrickO said:
World population is predicted to peak sometime in the second half of this century and then start declining.

Of course the problem is not that there isn't enough food, oil, mp3 players etc etc for everone in the world, but that there isn't enough for everyone to consume at the same level as people in Britain and other rich countries.
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No, there isn't, but third world populations have expectations too, and these mainly focus on having the sort of lifestyles they associate with the developed countries. I suppose you can't blame them, or criticise their resistance to 'green' initiatives, when they see the rampant consumerism and wastefulness of the West.

Just as a matter of interest, why do you say that the global population is expected to peak and then decline in, what, another 50 - 75 years? That's about three generations. I'm not challenging you at all, I'd just like to know.
 
With the UN set to announce that there are now seven billion people on the planet, BBC News reporters spoke to seven people from around the world to hear their stories.
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I find this so funny... 7 billion people.. lets speak to 7 of them to find out what it means to 7 billion.. If carlsberg made surveys they would laugh there socks off at this one:)
 
MartynK said:
No, there isn't, but third world populations have expectations too, and these mainly focus on having the sort of lifestyles they associate with the developed countries. I suppose you can't blame them, or criticise their resistance to 'green' initiatives, when they see the rampant consumerism and wastefulness of the West. .
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I agree. We in the West need to start using/wasting less.

Just as a matter of interest, why do you say that the global population is expected to peak and then decline in, what, another 50 - 75 years? That's about three generations. I'm not challenging you at all, I'd just like to know.
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http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v412/n6846/full/412543a0.html

...but of course lots of other scientist think differently :bonk:
 
Sadly, this is just another subject that if discussed correctly would have the PC brigade jumping up and down playing the racist card. Reality is reality :shrug:
 
There are many problems with the world, probably all caused by humans and it's frightening that my wife and I had our first baby 4 weeks ago and how it'll turn out for her.

I keep wanting to say "the problem is..." but there isn't one problem, there's so many.

One major issue that I think is the awful attitude of the human race in their declining respect for other people and their planet. True respect seems to have disappeared and so has an understanding among the majority for their surroundings and their responsibility for/to it.

Anyway, rant over. But it's depressing :-(
 
Splog said:
Sadly, this is just another subject that if discussed correctly would have the PC brigade jumping up and down playing the racist card. Reality is reality :shrug:
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Not sure where racism comes into it, but I can agree 100% with the second sentence :)
 
"Other races" have "large" families, just as mine did, up until a century ago. People from wide open places like Montana look at Europe and think we're degenerate cos we no longer breed as much nor plunder resources to such an extent.
 
I think even if everyone had just one child each the numbers still fly passed the recourses, But stopping people having kids, I shudder to think. I guess a modern world could have Tax incentives for those who choose to live life without the burden of children. Or government schemes like “Carbon points for sterilization, we’ll pay your heating bill this year, if you tie it off”…

…I just gotta be optimistic about it . :gag:
 
Phall82 said:
One major issue that I think is the awful attitude of the human race in their declining respect for other people and their planet. True respect seems to have disappeared and so has an understanding among the majority for their surroundings and their responsibility for/to it.
:-(
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I don't think humans - in the general sense - ever had much respect for each other or their environment. This didn't have much of an impact when populations were small, but it's potentially catastrophic now.
 
cambsno said:
Scary!

This is what should be at the front of those people worried about climate change, this is a real problem that will affect the earth. At some stage we need to either take over another planet, or see a massive population drop. No doubt Mother Nature will do something, and it probably needs global warming and massive floods to wipe out a few billion. Yes, that seems a harsh and flippant thing to say, but what is the alternative? We can only produce so much food, have so many raw materials and so much space to live.

Also, everyone had better prepare themsleves that we will need to work longer and this will affect our pensions. My son will probably need to work to 80, but then no doubt he will live to 110 instead of the retire at 60/65 and die at 80 of our grandparents generation.
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You are absolutely correct.
Ideally, the correct population size is one that uses up natural resources at a rate that does not exceed the speed at which they can replenish themselves (or be replenished).
 
Then you read that Italy has 1.9 trillion of Eur debt for a country of 60 million people.

Madness....
 
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