50 replies to this topic

[Hilander]

Quote

A Stanford professor and author of the Population Bomb recently published a paper in a scientific journal re-emphasizing climate change and population growth pose existential threats to humanity and in an interview with Raw Story said that giving people the right to have as many children as they want is “a bad idea.”
“The only criticism we’ve had on the paper is that it’s too optimistic,” said Paul Ehrlich, Bing professor of population studies at Stanford University and president of the Center for Conservation Biology. “You can’t negotiate with nature.”

‘Population Bomb’ scientist: ‘Nobody’ has the right to ‘as many children as they want’

I didn't know where to put this.  I finally chose this forum because over population will have an effect on the environment.  It will cause more pollution and lack of natural resources.  I will effect our quality of life, our ability to feed our families.

I think this professor is right the days of having 6 kids is over.  What to do about it is another thing.  Much higher taxes for those that chose to have more.  A tax that is a percentage of your salary so it would be equally hard on the wealthy.   Sterilization of anyone that has fathered or given birth to three kids.  That would be harsh but starvation would be equally harsh.

There's absolutely no reason to have 6 or 8 kids anymore.  Half of them aren't going to die from childhood diseases like they once would of.  As a matter of fact now by having such large families you may be causing someone else to go without enough food.  Because like it or not this planet is at its capacity and something has to be done.

[Professor T]

I kind of disagree with the premis of over population. but completely agree with eliminating social and religious promotions of having large families.. Untill humanity can learn to feed & take proper care of the children they have there should be some sort of world wide control put in place to eliminate religious and social promotions of having large families.. One needs to attack these aspects... not attack the actual families by exta taxes or something insane like that because at the end of the day the only thing you would achieve is more hungry mouths..

Edited by Professor T, 22 January 2013 - 06:53 PM.

[freetoroam]

This backs up my thread about the booming births in England. Its not rocket science to see what the future holds if nothing is done. But we have a lot of selfish people in the world who think its their right to breed as much as they like, they do not even want to think of the effect it will have on anything else, planet or tax payers, and they do not even care.

[wolfknight]

So we should do what China does 1 family 1 child?

[freetoroam]

Professor T, on 22 January 2013 - 06:52 PM, said:

I kind of disagree with the premis of over population. but completely agree with eliminating social and religious promotions of having large families.. Untill humanity can learn to feed & take proper care of the children they have there should be some sort of world wide control put in place to eliminate religious and social promotions of having large families.. One needs to attack these aspects... not attack the actual families by exta taxes or something insane like that because at the end of the day the only thing you would achieve is more hungry mouths..

Hiya professor T,
would just like to know why you disagree with the premise of over population?

[freetoroam]

wolfknight, on 22 January 2013 - 06:59 PM, said:

So we should do what China does 1 family 1 child?

Remember that China is a touch larger than  England, so using England as an example, YES, if we carry on like we are now, its on the cards that that will need to be done.

[Hilander]

No I'm not saying be like China.  I think 3 kids could be allowed, and would satisfy most people, because there will still be people that will not want kids at all and accidents.

If there isn't some sort of punishment why would you abide by the law.

[Professor T]

freetoroam, on 22 January 2013 - 07:01 PM, said:

Hiya professor T,
would just like to know why you disagree with the premise of over population?

I believe that the Earth coupled with our current level of technology can support a much higher human population than it does now.. The only reason why we have issues with food sources and supply now is the economic systems we have in place actively supports and promotes the false scarcity of produce, supplies & demands. In short, It's in Bankers, Manufacturers & owners best interests to create false scarcity to pump up the price of their products.. The same goes with current technologies which are Designed to fail for cyclical consumption..  

Like it or not, this world revolves around the Dollar.. Humans unfortunately don't even come into the equation, and as a result we suffer..

Edited by Professor T, 22 January 2013 - 07:17 PM.

[freetoroam]

Hilander, on 22 January 2013 - 07:04 PM, said:

No I'm not saying be like China.  I think 3 kids could be allowed, and would satisfy most people, because there will still be people that will not want kids at all and accidents.

If there isn't some sort of punishment why would you abide by the law.

I agree in part, today. But i think its more of a case that if those 3 children had 3 children each and then they have 3 children etc etc etc , thats when things start getting out of hand, and as professor T has pointed out, one we have eliminated  social and religious promotions of having large families, its not going to get better. How we tell people to stop and if they will is another story, at the end of the day we are not China!

[freetoroam]

Professor T, on 22 January 2013 - 07:14 PM, said:

I believe that the Earth coupled with our current level of technology can support a much higher human population than it does now..
The only reason why we have issues with food sources and supply now is the economic systems we have in place actively supports and promotes the
false scarcity of produce, supplies & demands. In short, It's in Bankers, Manufacturers & owners best interests to create false scarcity to pump up the price of their products.. The same goes with current technologies which are Designed to fail for cyclical consumption..  

Like it or not, this world revolves around the Dollar.. Humans unfortunately don't even come into the equation, and as a result we suffer..

on this explanation I agree. Also when I watch programmes on Africa and how rich the land is in many places, i wonder why those in barren areas are not encouraged to move.
I am though not in favour of desecrating our countryside to build more and more housing estates, for one, it will affect the wildlife and 2, many areas are already showing signs of flooding because of areas being build on nearby. We are a small island and here we can not sustain the population increase. We need land to grow food on and if it is built on to accommodate the humans then the alternative would be for us to buy from abroad, this would not help our economy at all. We still need be able to find jobs for people and the more people there are the more jobs are needed, and as we already know, because of our new computer technology, jobs are becoming scarcer.

[Hilander]

freetoroam, on 22 January 2013 - 07:16 PM, said:

I agree in part, today. But i think its more of a case that if those 3 children had 3 children each and then they have 3 children etc etc etc , thats when things start getting out of hand, and as professor T has pointed out, one we have eliminated  social and religious promotions of having large families, its not going to get better. How we tell people to stop and if they will is another story, at the end of the day we are not China!

Religion does promote large families and how you would get that stopped remains to be seen.  Three kids might still be too many but that is a place to start.  Some people will be sterile or not want kids at all or not that many, then there is accidents.  I think one place we could start is not allow immigration at all.  That way if your country is becoming overpopulated then you will have to stay and address that issue.  I know some of my idea's seem harsh but the problem of overpopulation may require it.

If the population would go down oil companies would have no reason to drill in the arctic and places like that.  The more people you have, the more oil is needed, the more timber that gets cut for houses and farm land.  Its a domino effect.

[WoIverine]

I don't want kids, is that weird? I just want to live my life and enjoy it without any extra hassles. Maybe someday I would want one, but all of my life conditions and requirements would have to be right, first. Problem is, and I've seen this in all races, even caucasian where irresponsible people do not even consider the ramifications before they have sex! It's crazy, and they just keep popping out child after child, even if they can't take care of them. Why does it always seem like minorities are the worst offenders though? Not trying to sound racist or anything, I'm just pointing out an observation that's been pushed around in the media.

Edited by WoIverine, 22 January 2013 - 08:02 PM.

[freetoroam]

WoIverine, on 22 January 2013 - 07:58 PM, said:

I don't want kids, is that weird? I just want to live my life and enjoy it without any extra hassles. Maybe someday I would want one, but all of my life conditions and requirements would have to be right, first. Problem is, and I've seen this in all races, even caucasian where irresponsible people do not even consider the ramifications before they have sex! It's crazy, and they just keep popping out child after child, even if they can't take care of them. Why does it always seem like minorities are the worst offenders though? Not trying to sound racist or anything, I'm just pointing out an observation that's been pushed around in the media.

The problem today is those who keep popping out children after children know that in countries like England, they can because the tax payer will pay for them.
I remember as a child (oh yes) when i was in primary school collecting monies for Africas starving children,,after all these years they are still breeding like rabbits, makes me wonder why they never taught these people about contraception from day one, no doubt their religion will not allow it, but they are happy enough to allow people to give them food, clothes and guns.

[Hilander]

Some women have this stupid notion that just because someone wants to sleep with them that they love them or will.  Some also think if they get pregnant its going to keep him around and it will make him love them.  When there is a pregnancy many times the guy takes off and leaves his responsibility up to her, her parents and the tax payers and both parties goes on to repeat this with someone else expecting different results.  Here comes the kids that aren't being properly taken care of and often repeat the cycle.

I hate to say it but it's usually poor uneducated people that do this.  Not that I think all poor people are like this.  I also think poorer children are exposed to the seedier part of life by virtue of being poor.  That's why schools need to feed poor children and they need opportunities for better education and access to camps where they can get out of their bleak surroundings even if only for a short period of time.

[Hilander]

Professor T, on 22 January 2013 - 07:14 PM, said:

I believe that the Earth coupled with our current level of technology can support a much higher human population than it does now.. The only reason why we have issues with food sources and supply now is the economic systems we have in place actively supports and promotes the false scarcity of produce, supplies & demands. In short, It's in Bankers, Manufacturers & owners best interests to create false scarcity to pump up the price of their products.. The same goes with current technologies which are Designed to fail for cyclical consumption..  

Like it or not, this world revolves around the Dollar.. Humans unfortunately don't even come into the equation, and as a result we suffer..

I'm sorry but I think this planet is at its limits on population.  There may be physical space for them but not enough prime farm land or clean water to take care of them.