The Population Bomb: How We Survived It - Page 7

SameOldStory · 04-07-2011, 08:05 PM

Why should we move off planet? I dono.

Why waste money on space research? It just doesn't make any sense.

NDM-1 Superbug Mutation Shows Up in New Delhi Drinking Water

If humanity is to have less time on earth than we would want, it'll be due to our stupidity. Personally, I think that we'll get what we deserve.

"We know that such bacteria with genes are in the atmosphere everywhere," said V.M. Katoch, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. "This is a waste of time," he said. "The study is creating a scare that India is a dangerous country to visit. We are condemning it."

Reminds me of Bagdad Bob.

spaze · 04-08-2011, 12:09 AM

It's funny when people say "We get what we deserve", do you think our children or grandchildren deserve what we managed to f** up?

kennyc · 04-08-2011, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaze

It's funny when people say "We get what we deserve", do you think our children or grandchildren deserve what we managed to f** up?

Unfortunately yes, that is the way life and ecosystems work.

Now if you ask whether it is fair or not, No it's not to them, nor is it right and this is a main reason we much clean up our act if the species is to survive.

Life will go on, it may NOT be human life though.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-08-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Life will go on, it may be human life though.

Then again, it might not be.

dsvick · 04-08-2011, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

"We know that such bacteria with genes are in the atmosphere everywhere," said V.M. Katoch, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. "This is a waste of time," he said. "The study is creating a scare that India is a dangerous country to visit. We are condemning it."

The above quote was followed, several minutes later, by "Yes, yes it is the study we are condemning."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

Then again, it might not be.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-08-2011, 09:35 AM

Ya gotta love the English language.

kennyc · 04-08-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

Then again, it might not be.

Oops....typo.....forgot the not.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-08-2011, 10:06 AM

Yeah, we figured!

dsvick · 04-08-2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Oops....typo.....forgot the not.

Hey!! No fair going in and adding it later - it makes Steven look redundant and me sort of strange for laughing at it

kennyc · 04-08-2011, 12:54 PM

Yep. That'll teach ya!

pholy · 04-08-2011, 06:21 PM

I've just started reading HOT - Living through the next 50 years on Earth by Mark Hertsgaard. I got it from the library, but Kindle and Kobo have it in ebook.

It's kind of scary and hopeful at the same time. All the mitigation we do won't prevent the problems, but if we start working on adaptations too we can survive the problems. I'm probably going to buy it, I can't renew it because too many people are waiting for it.

PKFFW · 04-09-2011, 02:05 AM

I read an interesting book once called Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. In it he talks about the the link between food production and population and the fact that every species of animal in existence always expands to the point its food supply will allow it to and then finds an equilibrium at that point. He discusses the fact that the human population only expanded in line with the discovery of new natural resources up until the agricultural revolution. At that point humanity gained significant control over its food supply and communities started producing far more food than required to sustain themselves and our exponential population expansion began. He postulates that so long as the human species as a whole continues to produce significantly more food than it requires, the population will continue to expand.

I've no idea if the idea holds water but it was interesting read none the less.

The book also discusses many other cultural/psychological/human nature etc issues. Things such as the differences between tribal societies and modern western societies.

I'm of the opinion the issue is not so much over population but rather over consumption. We could support the current population easily if we were willing to lead less consumptive lives or we could support a smaller population if we wish to continue to consume at our current rate. I don't see how we can do both. As I don't see many wanting to lead a life of less excessive consumption the only option is to limit and preferably reduce the population.

I don't think we will have any choice in the reduction of the population. We are sowing the seeds of that ourselves right now and it is a cliched truism that you reap what you sow.

Cheers,
PKFFW

SameOldStory · 04-09-2011, 08:36 AM

Am I the only one to think that corn based ethanol is the height of idiocy?

You're burning food?

I still say that we will get what we deserve. There is no end to the stupidity of humanity as a whole.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 04-09-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKFFW

I read an interesting book once called Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. In it he talks about the the link between food production and population and the fact that every species of animal in existence always expands to the point its food supply will allow it to and then finds an equilibrium at that point...

It's an interesting theory. Unfortunately, humans satisfied the need by manufacturing cheap but unhealthy foods, that fill our bellies while clogging our arteries and raising our blood pressure. We are also diverting resources like water to our needs, thereby depriving other animals of those resources. So we're supporting a larger but unhealthier population, at the cost of other species, and which will cost us more in medical costs in the long run... a false equilibrium.

This can also be applied to the other resources and technology we have: Creating a false equilibrium by overwhelming natural resources, depriving the resources of other animals, and creating an unhealthy and unsustainable environment in the process. In short, it's not just about the food; it's also about the waste... sooner or later, the environment is too spoiled to inhabit, no matter how much food there is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SameOldStory

Am I the only one to think that corn based ethanol is the height of idiocy?

It is idiocy... especially when
A) you can get ethanol from non-edible plant matter (though it might be edible for something else, and
B) we shouldn't be burning ethanol for fuel anyway, because it's not clean.

spaze · 04-09-2011, 12:40 PM

Tigers get what they deserve. It's their damn fault they have such a beautiful fur.

04-07-2011, 08:05 PM	#91
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	Why should we move off planet? I dono. Why waste money on space research? It just doesn't make any sense. NDM-1 Superbug Mutation Shows Up in New Delhi Drinking Water If humanity is to have less time on earth than we would want, it'll be due to our stupidity. Personally, I think that we'll get what we deserve. "We know that such bacteria with genes are in the atmosphere everywhere," said V.M. Katoch, director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. "This is a waste of time," he said. "The study is creating a scare that India is a dangerous country to visit. We are condemning it." Reminds me of Bagdad Bob. Last edited by SameOldStory; 04-07-2011 at 08:11 PM.

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04-08-2011, 12:09 AM	#92
spaze Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 512072 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Device: Writing my first short story: Guardian Angel	It's funny when people say "We get what we deserve", do you think our children or grandchildren deserve what we managed to f** up?

04-08-2011, 09:35 AM	#96
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Ya gotta love the English language.

04-08-2011, 10:06 AM	#98
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Yeah, we figured!

04-08-2011, 12:54 PM	#100
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,901 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Yep. That'll teach ya!

04-08-2011, 06:21 PM	#101
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	I've just started reading HOT - Living through the next 50 years on Earth by Mark Hertsgaard. I got it from the library, but Kindle and Kobo have it in ebook. It's kind of scary and hopeful at the same time. All the mitigation we do won't prevent the problems, but if we start working on adaptations too we can survive the problems. I'm probably going to buy it, I can't renew it because too many people are waiting for it.

04-09-2011, 02:05 AM	#102
PKFFW Wizard Posts: 3,791 Karma: 33500000 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo H2O	I read an interesting book once called Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. In it he talks about the the link between food production and population and the fact that every species of animal in existence always expands to the point its food supply will allow it to and then finds an equilibrium at that point. He discusses the fact that the human population only expanded in line with the discovery of new natural resources up until the agricultural revolution. At that point humanity gained significant control over its food supply and communities started producing far more food than required to sustain themselves and our exponential population expansion began. He postulates that so long as the human species as a whole continues to produce significantly more food than it requires, the population will continue to expand. I've no idea if the idea holds water but it was interesting read none the less. The book also discusses many other cultural/psychological/human nature etc issues. Things such as the differences between tribal societies and modern western societies. I'm of the opinion the issue is not so much over population but rather over consumption. We could support the current population easily if we were willing to lead less consumptive lives or we could support a smaller population if we wish to continue to consume at our current rate. I don't see how we can do both. As I don't see many wanting to lead a life of less excessive consumption the only option is to limit and preferably reduce the population. I don't think we will have any choice in the reduction of the population. We are sowing the seeds of that ourselves right now and it is a cliched truism that you reap what you sow. Cheers, PKFFW

04-09-2011, 08:36 AM	#103
SameOldStory My True Self Posts: 3,126 Karma: 66242098 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Trantor, Galactic Center Device: Galaxy Tab 2 7.0	Am I the only one to think that corn based ethanol is the height of idiocy? You're burning food? I still say that we will get what we deserve. There is no end to the stupidity of humanity as a whole.

04-09-2011, 12:40 PM	#105
spaze Addict Posts: 265 Karma: 512072 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Helsinki, Finland Device: Writing my first short story: Guardian Angel	Tigers get what they deserve. It's their damn fault they have such a beautiful fur.

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