Earth Hurtles Toward 6.5 Billion (7:16 p.m. EST Saturday)

[joefree1]

By Joanna Glasner ?02:00 AM Feb, 21, 2006
The planet's population is projected to reach 6.5 billion at 7:16 p.m. EST Saturday, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and its World Population Clock.

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However, the key concept -- that population levels are growing, but at a slower rate than in the past few decades -- reflects the consensus view of demographers. The current growth of world population, estimated by Cohen at 1.1 percent a year, has slowed significantly from its peak of 2.1 percent annual growth between 1965 and 1970.

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One metric modeled on the Census Bureau's population clock compares world population to the finite supply of arable land.

For his part, Cohen estimates that if we want to support individuals indefinitely -- allotting each person 3,500 calories per day from wheat and 247,000 gallons per year of fresh water -- the planet has room for only about 5 billion people.
more ...
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70238-0.html?tw=wn_index_1

Yeah yeah, I've heard it before, "earth's population is stablizing, go ahead and have all the children you want."

Oh, and Ka-el was wrong about Krypton too, right?

[cliss]

1. The world can support 5 billion people?

That's not what I've heard. Also, what quality of life are those 5 billion people going to have? There's a big difference between life in the outskirts of Calcutta and Beverly Hills.

I've read that the United States sucks up about 25% of the world's natural resources. We burn through about 30% of the world's supply of oil.

However, the US is a net exporter of crops, so that does tend to mitigate the problem somewhat.

This author is probably assuming that we can continue to feed people, based on an unlimited supply of oil. If that oil gets disrupted, like in PEAK OIL, then we've got some problems. Agriculture is one of the most oil-dependent industries. Everything - from planting the seeds to harvesting, to bringing the crops to market, even fertilizing, is all dependent upon oil or gas.

If that starts to run out, now we've got a crisis situation. The world by itself can only sustain about 2 billion people. That means that 4 1/2 billion people are at risk.

[Extend a Hand]

2. we may soon be a net food importer...

http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/news/2005/Feb/imports.htm

Infanger believes free trade agreements are making the U.S. market more open for new products, thus causing the rise in food imports.

“With the changing tastes of the American consumer and an improving economy, you can understand why imported foods are the fastest growing section of the typical supermarket,” he said. “Our food stores are now stocked with fruits and vegetables year-round with the origin and source changing with the seasons. That’s why horticultural products are the largest component of agricultural imports.”

The steady increase in agricultural imports is a trend that Infanger said will not go away. Consumers expect a wide variety of foods from around the globe. He said exports will vary with production levels, global competition and the value of the dollar.

“It seems clear to me that unless the value of U.S. agricultural exports were to somehow set new records every year, the United States is likely to become a new food importer in 2006,” Infanger said.”

[joefree1]

5. Well, since we're now at 6.5 billion

Then we are in crisis.

[sakabatou]

18. Wasn't it 6 years ago that the planet reached 6 billion?

[henslee]

8. That doesn't include those hanging outside the trolley car and holding on

[geomon666]

3. Well that's one mark for Bush.

Doing everything he can to slow population growth.

[flashdebadge]

4. We have plenty of room for the people....just not the pollution

[Gregorian]

7. No we don't. See the first post...

Quality of life. It's too crowded for this poster already.

[flashdebadge]

19. The govt has been paying farmers in this country to NOT grow crops going

back years and years. I have had the privilege of flying around the US. I am utterly amazed at how much undeveloped land there is in our country. We tend to think our immediate surroundings are representative of everywhere. NOT SO. Look down the next time you're flying and tell me we're running out of land. Also, as technology advances, farmers are growing more and more on less and less land.

[Copperred]

6. It's going to be ugly. Rejoice!!!

This will ultimately be humanities undoing.

In the 21st century humanity will be unable to handle this problem.

Maybe there is a hope we can get it under control...but the chances are slim.

Relying on our leadership will not succeed other. I highly urge every to read Voltaires Bastards to understand why our elite leadership, even with the best of intentions- no joke, is unable to solve the crises we face.

Assuming we are unable to get population control in place.....pray for those Germans designing that hyper drive to get us the hellll out of here....

Numbers like this do you in........

Best to you all.

[brentspeak]

9. Kurt Vonnegut said something about this

About how the Earth will activate its self-defense mechanisms to protect itself from human overpopulation.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

23. One nasty virus, coming right up!

[Roland99]

10. Any female DUers about to pop?

:D

[BiggJawn]

11. These folks are doin' THEIR part!

Jim-Bob and Michelle Duggar

[cliss]

12. Good Lord.

How many kids are there? I can't even count 'em. Must be Mormon, eh?

Well, you know what they say in religion: gotta keep those numbers up to fill the pews. The Catholic Church is not exempt from this, either.

[BiggJawn]

13. 17 at last count (that may be an old pix)

And they're Taliborn-Again Fundies.

[joefree1]

14. Borg-agains

Resistance is useless, they will out procreate you. Proselytizing by procreation.

[superconnected]

16. Interestingly it's the most uneducated, poorest countries on earth,

and the fundies into this.

[Jose Diablo]

17. Gosh, she is fertile

I wouldn't mind having 5-6 just like her.

[Gato Moteado]

21. are those people or rodents?

wish these people would slow down. no need to have that many children.

[BiggJawn]

27. But they have a HOLY MANDATE!

"Go Forth, be FRUITFUL, and MULTIPLY...."
Which I take it they have interpreted as "Breed like Vermin".
I've read suppositions that Mrs. Duggar may get her rocks off big-time on being preggers. Wish she'd buy a vibrator instead, if that's so. The Earth can support more D-cells than kids.

[superconnected]

15. Reminds me of something I read in Sagans Millions and Millions

It's been a while but I believe it went like this:

If a pond has algae on top of it, that doubles in growth everyday, the day before the whole pond is covered, it will be only half covered, and the day before that only a quarter.

[Delphinus]

20. That's very similar to what

Professor Albert Bartlett of the University of Colorado said when he was explaining exponential growth and Peak Oil. Started off with one (or two if two are needed to reproduce) bacteria in a two-litre bottle and it would be livable right up to one or two seconds before it went into overpopulation. (I'm doing it from memory, too!) In other words, once you recognize there's a problem, it's too late to find a solution.

[shadowknows69]

22. How do they know?

That the earth was born on a Saturday. Sorry, bad joke.

[Blue_Tires]

24. wow...and that number doesn't even take into account

the TRILLIONS of illegal aliens sneaking in! Earth's border is unprotected and wide-open like a barn door! anyone can be coming in right now as we speak! IT'S TIME TO CLOSE THE EARTH BORDER!:silly: :crazy: :dunce: :tinfoilhat: :hide: :sarcasm:

[Baconfoot]

25. 3500 calories per DAY?!?! I'm already fat at it is. NT

[Comadreja]

26. Guys, Aren't we supposed to be fighting to spread our genes?

The evolutionary imperative...the reason for Alpha males and trophy wives and Machismo, etc. Maybe that is what separates us from other life forms...the ability of some of us to see the foly of this. (kidless at 53 and unconcerned).