Although "traditional" forecasting sees a a continuing huge increase in the
world's population, environmentalist Maurice Strong (former undersecretary of
the UN and the man who organized the Rio Conference) has good reason to
expect a sharp population decline by 2030 in view of environmental and
criminal catastrophies. He is talking in terms of 4.5 billion, with the
disclaimer that he is not a soothsayer. If that is any solace ... Reference:
Maurice Strong, "Where on Earth are we going?" Viking Press, p. 22:
"At the end of the twentieth century the exponentially expanding human
population was perceived as the greatest problem facing humankind, the
"ur-problem" underpinning al others. Yet now [2030, vE] population growth has
ceased: population levels are declining precipitously almost everywhere, and
some areas of our planet have been almost entirely depopulated. More people
are dying and dying younger - birth rates have dropped sharply while infant
mortality increases. At the end of the decade, the best guesstimates of total
population is some 4.5 billion, fewer than at the beginning of this century.
And experts have predicted that the reduction of the human population may
well continue to the point that those who survive may not number more than
the 1.61 billion people who inhabited the Eart at the beginning of the
twentieth century. A consequence, yes, of death and destruction - but in the
end a glimmer of hope for the future of our species and the potential for
regeneration."
Of course, this is in no way an argument against your post, Eric! What I am
saying is that within little time WE need to learn to evaluate info faster
and better. At this point it is high time to focus hard on that word WE. Are
WE our elected politicians? Are WE our unelected corporate "leaders," i.e.
the followers of short-term trends to maximize profits for themselves (and
hardlly for their shareholders who are paid a pittance, if at all, in the
form of dividends). Or are WE the mostly uninformed electorate a huge
proportion of who bother to vote. Should we also include in those WE
corporate shareholders who hardly ever say boo and are easily manipulated by
corporate boards and executives. We probably have to ask ourselves some other
questions about that WE given that about hald the world's economy is outright
illegal. (Ref. Strong, p. 53):
"Funds derived from criminal and ilicit activities can also be moved swiftly
and anonymously into safe havens. It is estimated [no, not 2030, but right
now. vE] that money generated from the illegal trade in drugs and endangered
species of wildlife, as well as other criminal activities, has reached a
level rivalling legitimate trade. This has put immense financial power in the
hands of an uncivil society of organized crime and terrorist groups, which
are becoming more and more sophisticated. In some cases, this underground
financial activity is linked with corrupt elements in the political and
corporate world to the point that political parties and even national
governments risk of becoming the agents of uncivil society."
Given that Spaceship Earth (not the U.S. or any other nation) requires
responsible, well-informed leadership where the responsibility is to the
ship's passengers - i.o.w. I am talking about some form of democracy - it
behooves the electorate to be well-informed. Can we get to that point within
the five or so elections over the next two decades - to say nothing of
autocracies and theocracies? And if there is any hope at all, would that not
likely include a call on electronic augmentation? And does this not make
world citizenship an important role in the life of all our Earth's
inhabitants - come good times and bad? Can anybody in his right mind say, "My
job comes first, citizenship last."
Aren't these the sort of messages we should be propagating - messages that
inform the public at large what our technology aims to do for them, how it
may help them, to get them interested? Regardless of profits? The bottom line
is not money. The bottom line is survival, if not our own, certainly that of
our offspring!
Anybody out there so irresponsibly foolish to think think I am ranting?
Henry
Eric Armstrong wrote:
> ..... Since
> we stand to run out of oil completely in the next
> 20-40 years, and since overpopulation continues to
> dwarf our ability to generate power,
>
>
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