>> I said that we can't feed the world and dispense with >> agribusiness, but i hope we can dispense make food production more >> productive and less destructive to habitats. we are approaching 7 >> billion people and little sign of reaching zpg.
> So what selection criteria do you suggest be used? And again, are > you volunteering to be first? Historically civilizations have often used abortions and infanticide to cull unwanted populations. The occassional war contributes but unless one side is committed to genocidal resolutions wars don't really cull that many (more people were alive at the end of WW2 than its start). Though once upon a time when tribes fought they didn't used to be coy about wiping out the opposition to enjoy their resources. Today we can do it by using more humane methods of contraception and it has helped slow growth. IIRC U.N demographers believe the worlds population will stabilise at between 9 and 12 billion with the estimates tending lower and lower over the last few years. Which doesn't really help when the highest rate of consumption on the planet uses about six times our sustainable production of possible renewable resources and everyone aspires to that consumtion. Ideally we need wealth and high standards of living for all which is a proven supressor of population but without it being coupled to ruinous consumption of resources. A tricky proposition. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
