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Is the EARTH / HUMAN POPULATION screwed?
This thread is basically a run off of the “Global Warming is it TOO Late?” a thread created by jtayl153 (sorry for stealing the idea, just felt like expanding upon it, all credit truly goes to you and a few others) and the sparked idea stated by ocalhoum about how we have much more dire things to worry about than global warming. Also, thank you to all who have posted in jtayl153’s thread and your concern of the subject. Well, I am on a thanking roll, so time to suck up and say thank you FRIHOST for, well, FRIHOST!
Now that I have saved myself from infringing in anyone’s topic, time for the real question:
Is the world, and/or the human population, basically screwed within the next 1000 years?
I mean screwed in an “elimination” aspect, not any other way, just wanted to at least lighten up the question a bit.
Well, after reading “Global Warming is it TOO Late?” , I found myself noticing a common trend between the posters: they base all their beliefs on what the scientists and what the news says, but why not? I mean, they are the leading citizens of the world, right? Actually, I am not one of those people who freak out about things in that aspect, but I did find that for everything that someone says, in a general/stereotypical way, there is always someone/something else that contradicts all beliefs. This is becoming more of a rant than an explanation, but, you get the idea; oh, and by the way, I am one of those people that abide by what the higher order says, not because I have to or feel constricted to, but because no one truly have the answer for anything, which will be a whole nother’ thread (OH! Can’t wait – SARCASM?).
Ok, BACK ON SUBJECT, sorry. . . : ( . . .
Some of the things that are screwing us up are as follows (Taken directly from ocalhoum’s and afaceinthematrix’s post):
1. Overpopulation - this is the biggest issue. Everything is based on this. If we had fewer people living on the planet, then there would be a smaller impact on the environment and we wouldn't need to be having this conversation.
2. Deforestation – From surplus population
3. Overuse of materials such as plastic
4. Overfishing / Unsustainable agriculture
5. Poaching
6. Industrial pollution / Trash / Landfills
I am sure that there are a lot more, so add them to your post, and when I have time, I will add them to the list. Sorry if I missed your post, I just picked the two that had lists because I have to write a full fledge “discussion” paper in my research paper for tomorrow.
-Cody T. (GOOD LUCK ON LIFE AND THANKS FOR LOOKING)
I will be at school, so, I will try to check up as frequently as possible.
Now that I have saved myself from infringing in anyone’s topic, time for the real question:
Is the world, and/or the human population, basically screwed within the next 1000 years?
I mean screwed in an “elimination” aspect, not any other way, just wanted to at least lighten up the question a bit.
Well, after reading “Global Warming is it TOO Late?” , I found myself noticing a common trend between the posters: they base all their beliefs on what the scientists and what the news says, but why not? I mean, they are the leading citizens of the world, right? Actually, I am not one of those people who freak out about things in that aspect, but I did find that for everything that someone says, in a general/stereotypical way, there is always someone/something else that contradicts all beliefs. This is becoming more of a rant than an explanation, but, you get the idea; oh, and by the way, I am one of those people that abide by what the higher order says, not because I have to or feel constricted to, but because no one truly have the answer for anything, which will be a whole nother’ thread (OH! Can’t wait – SARCASM?).
Ok, BACK ON SUBJECT, sorry. . . : ( . . .
Some of the things that are screwing us up are as follows (Taken directly from ocalhoum’s and afaceinthematrix’s post):
1. Overpopulation - this is the biggest issue. Everything is based on this. If we had fewer people living on the planet, then there would be a smaller impact on the environment and we wouldn't need to be having this conversation.
2. Deforestation – From surplus population
3. Overuse of materials such as plastic
4. Overfishing / Unsustainable agriculture
5. Poaching
6. Industrial pollution / Trash / Landfills
I am sure that there are a lot more, so add them to your post, and when I have time, I will add them to the list. Sorry if I missed your post, I just picked the two that had lists because I have to write a full fledge “discussion” paper in my research paper for tomorrow.
-Cody T. (GOOD LUCK ON LIFE AND THANKS FOR LOOKING)
I will be at school, so, I will try to check up as frequently as possible.
I do believe that human beings are screwing up the environment, just like I said in my original post from the other topic. One of the biggest problems, in my opinion, is what I put as number one and that is overpopulation. There are so many human beings on the earth and our numbers are creating a larger impact. That leads to every other issue. Another major issue is deforestation. Also, I think another problem is that many people simply do not care. I try to conserve as much as I can. Most of these issues need to be done at a personal level. I don't use any of those plastic water/drink bottles. I've used the same water bottle for years. I bought one of those disposable water bottles a long time ago and I simply wash it and reuse it. The nice thing about it is that they are disposable, but they're also reusable. I don't buy Gatorade or any other drink like that. I drink water. I don't use plastic bags at the store. Those are horrible and need to be eliminated. I live off of little material; I don't buy very many consumer products. They're unnecessary. I conserve water. I use very little water. I take short showers and don't use water for anything unnecessary. I always keep things turned off except for when I use them. I drive as little as possible. I try to conserve as much fuel as possible.
Unfortunately, most people are unlike this. Everyone uses many of those plastic bags. I've seen people at the store ask for new ones from the cashiers because one of the bags has a little hole in it (even though the hole is way too small for anything to get threw). I've also seen them shove huge consumer items into bags and then when they obviously rip, they ask for a new one. Then they go and carry the product out in a bag, not even using the handles. So in other words, the bag is completely useless because it's being carried normally. Most people buy several water/drink bottles every day and they simply throw them away when they're done with them. Most people take 20 minute showers and waste water in every way. For instance, three of my neighbors this morning were all washing down their driveways and the street in front of their houses. The hose was pouring out huge amounts of water and many times people will do this several times a week, for up to 45 minutes at a time. What's the point of washing down the cement if it's just going to get dirty again? They waste hundreds of gallons of water a month doing this. Oh, and did I mention that I live in the desert? We have to get our water in from other places. Many people never turn off their computers or TVs. It amazes me how some people don't even turn off their lights and televisions when they leave the house. Many people buy hundreds of dollars in useless products. Also, the majority of the people that I live around drive these humongous SUVs/Monster Trucks that get 8-12 MPG and then they drive next door.
That's Americans for you.
Unfortunately, most people are unlike this. Everyone uses many of those plastic bags. I've seen people at the store ask for new ones from the cashiers because one of the bags has a little hole in it (even though the hole is way too small for anything to get threw). I've also seen them shove huge consumer items into bags and then when they obviously rip, they ask for a new one. Then they go and carry the product out in a bag, not even using the handles. So in other words, the bag is completely useless because it's being carried normally. Most people buy several water/drink bottles every day and they simply throw them away when they're done with them. Most people take 20 minute showers and waste water in every way. For instance, three of my neighbors this morning were all washing down their driveways and the street in front of their houses. The hose was pouring out huge amounts of water and many times people will do this several times a week, for up to 45 minutes at a time. What's the point of washing down the cement if it's just going to get dirty again? They waste hundreds of gallons of water a month doing this. Oh, and did I mention that I live in the desert? We have to get our water in from other places. Many people never turn off their computers or TVs. It amazes me how some people don't even turn off their lights and televisions when they leave the house. Many people buy hundreds of dollars in useless products. Also, the majority of the people that I live around drive these humongous SUVs/Monster Trucks that get 8-12 MPG and then they drive next door.
That's Americans for you.
I think we are doom in less because
1 lack of space to grow food
2 water suply being poputed
3 landfill space and waste mangerment
1 lack of space to grow food
2 water suply being poputed
3 landfill space and waste mangerment
Well, the question is whether the human population is screwed. In other words, will humans die out. It will take something rather exceptional to kill humans as a species. Overpopulation will not do it. It might cause catastrophic problems (war, famine etc) but I cannot see how that would kill us off completely.
Neither will nuclear war do the job - although it could possible kill a very large proportion.
Global warming could possibly do the job. If we reach a 'tipping point' and global temperatures increased by 10 degrees or more then the consequences would be dire. Even that, though, would probably not be enough to completely see us off.
The most likely candidate for an extinction event is a comet/asteroid strike. How likely is that within the next 1000 years? There is not enough data to give a meaningful answer. It's not likely, but certainly possible.
Neither will nuclear war do the job - although it could possible kill a very large proportion.
Global warming could possibly do the job. If we reach a 'tipping point' and global temperatures increased by 10 degrees or more then the consequences would be dire. Even that, though, would probably not be enough to completely see us off.
The most likely candidate for an extinction event is a comet/asteroid strike. How likely is that within the next 1000 years? There is not enough data to give a meaningful answer. It's not likely, but certainly possible.
Wel if it comes so far you never know. But I think humans will survive that kind of temperature increase.
If there are too many humans the poor one's will be screwed and the rich one's will have enough money to buy food.
If the water suply is poluted then.... wait! it already is! Big city's near rivers usually use river water for drinking. It needs a lot of filtering and cleaning and afterwards it tastes really bad. BUT you can drink it.
People invent more and more ways ro get rid of waste don't worry about that one.
Global warming, deforesting are bigger issues. Some sort of killer virus could do it, but unlikely.
Maybe things will happen that will kill a lot of people but really extinct? Naahh don't think so.
Humans are the one that can adept the best to changes. And since life began millions and millions years ago it's still here! Gues we will survive for a long time.
Unless some HUGE piece of rock falls on the earth, or the sun explodes. But yoe shouldn't worry about those.
If there are too many humans the poor one's will be screwed and the rich one's will have enough money to buy food.
If the water suply is poluted then.... wait! it already is! Big city's near rivers usually use river water for drinking. It needs a lot of filtering and cleaning and afterwards it tastes really bad. BUT you can drink it.
People invent more and more ways ro get rid of waste don't worry about that one.
Global warming, deforesting are bigger issues. Some sort of killer virus could do it, but unlikely.
Maybe things will happen that will kill a lot of people but really extinct? Naahh don't think so.
Humans are the one that can adept the best to changes. And since life began millions and millions years ago it's still here! Gues we will survive for a long time.
Unless some HUGE piece of rock falls on the earth, or the sun explodes. But yoe shouldn't worry about those.
| Klaw 2 wrote: |
| Wel if it comes so far you never know. But I think humans will survive that kind of temperature increase. |
Yes, I think we could survive, or at least small enclaves of us here and there - which would solve the population problem.
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If there are too many humans the poor one's will be screwed and the rich one's will have enough money to buy food. |
Um... Where will the rich find food to buy? Piles of money won't help you if there is no food to be had. The people who will survive are the smart ones. The ones who know how to grow their own food (hydroponics under grow lamps in cooler caves), make their own power (generator run by water wheel in underground river in those caves the survivors would have to live in), have enough guns and ammo to protect what they have built from all the starving hordes who weren't prepared and now want what those who were prepared have, and so on...
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If the water suply is poluted then.... wait! it already is! Big city's near rivers usually use river water for drinking. It needs a lot of filtering and cleaning and afterwards it tastes really bad. BUT you can drink it. People invent more and more ways ro get rid of waste don't worry about that one. |
But, even if you can filter the water and remove the wastes, what do you do with it? Where do you put the sludge? Dump it in someone else's back yard? pump in into the seas? Incinerate it and pollute the air instead? Put it on a rocket and blast it into orbit? Dump it in the desert and ruin yet another ecosystem?
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Global warming, deforesting are bigger issues. Some sort of killer virus could do it, but unlikely. Maybe things will happen that will kill a lot of people but really extinct? Naahh don't think so. Humans are the one that can adept the best to changes. And since life began millions and millions years ago it's still here! Gues we will survive for a long time. Unless some HUGE piece of rock falls on the earth, or the sun explodes. But yoe shouldn't worry about those. |
Leaving out cosmic disaster--
Global warming, deforestation, pandemic, famine, pollution are all symptoms of overpopulation. If the population were smaller we would have less impact on our planet. Each person requires a minimum amount of resources to survive and we are starting to push at the edges of those resources. We can draw it out longer by giving up luxuries, but as long as our population continues to grow we will eventually hit a point where this planet won't be able to support us.
Nature has ways of dealing with overpopulation - disease, famine, etc. These may kill off a portion of the population, but not all of it. Then the cycle will start again, unless we learn from it.
It seems like people just want to stick their heads in the sand and hope the problem will go away, but if we don't come up with a solution Mother Nature will do it for us.
Just want to thank everyone for replying to this thread, been a while since I have been on because I have been busy (lots of beens) with robotics and life. I am kinda hoping we do not have small groups surviving as only the strong will survive, Darwin's theory, and I would probably not be one of those people 
-Cody T.
-Cody T.
Wow, somebody listened when I said there are bigger problems...
None of these things are likely to wipe out the human population, though. Probably the only thing that might be able to do so without wiping out everything else would be some kind of dread disease.
I wouldn't be worried at all about all these issues, I'd be happy to see the world's population decreased by a few billion, but the problem is that in order for it to get bad enough to kill people off, it has to also be bad enough to completely ruin the environment.
None of these things are likely to wipe out the human population, though. Probably the only thing that might be able to do so without wiping out everything else would be some kind of dread disease.
I wouldn't be worried at all about all these issues, I'd be happy to see the world's population decreased by a few billion, but the problem is that in order for it to get bad enough to kill people off, it has to also be bad enough to completely ruin the environment.
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