World population projected to reach 7 billion next year

[CG51]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The world's population is forecast to hit 7 billion next year, the vast majority of its growth coming in developing and, in many cases, the poorest nations, a report released Wednesday said.

A staggering 97 percent of global growth over the next 40 years will happen in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Population Reference Bureau's 2009 World Population Data Sheet.

"The great bulk of today's 1.2 billion youth -- nearly 90 percent -- are in developing countries," said Carl Haub, a co-author of the report. Eight in 10 of those youth live in Africa and Asia.

"During the next few decades, these young people will most likely continue the current trend of moving from rural areas to cities in search of education and training opportunities, gainful employment, and adequate health care," Haub continued, calling it one of the major social questions of the next few decades.

In the developed world, the United States and Canada will account for most of the growth -- half from immigration and half from a natural increase in the population -- births minus deaths, according to the report.

High fertility rates and a young population base in the developing world will fuel most of the growth, especially in Africa, where women often give birth to six or seven children over a lifetime, the report says. The number is about two in the United States and 1.5 in Canada.

Don't Miss



13 million abortions in China (http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/30/china.abortions.millions/index.html)

A stark contrast can be drawn between Uganda (http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Uganda) and Canada, which currently have about 34 million and 31 million residents, respectively. By 2050, Canada's population is projected to be 42 million, while Uganda's is expected to soar to 96 million, more than tripling.

"Even with declining fertility rates in many countries, world population is still growing at a rapid rate," said Bill Butz, president of the bureau (http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Population_Reference_Bureau). "The increase from 6 billion to 7 billion is likely to take 12 years, as did the increase from 5 billion to 6 billion. Both events are unprecedented in world history."

By 2050, India (http://topics.cnn.com/topics/India) is projected to be the world's most populous nation at 1.7 billion, overtaking current leader China, which is forecast to hit 1.4 billion. The United States is expected to reach 439 million for No. 3 on the list.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/12/world.population/index.html

[Shuimo]

Doesn' the developed world face the gloomy prospect of an aging society?

If properly managed, these robust young people from third-world countires could provide the much need labor force for devepoped societies!

But then you wud start to worry about being marginalized!

A dilemma there!

[Shuimo]

Fears are now mounting high in Europe about Islamizing tendencies going on there!

[SniperLane]

white people... start having *** the old way.

[Arfah]

The west should stop providing aid to the over populated nations. Then ban all news coverage from these nations so we don't start feeling guilty over their famine.

Also we could nuke them if starvation takes too long !

What ? Just saying what everyone else is thinking. What ? :-)

[Shuimo]

Also we could nuke them if starvation takes too long !



How cud you think of such an idea?

[seraosha]

How cud you think of such an idea?

Don't you have a political prisoner to harvest organs from or something equally entertaining?

[Arfah]

How cud you think of such an idea?

I have my own red 'Launch' button p-)

[Shuimo]

Don't you have a political prisoner to harvest organs from or something equally entertaining?

It is hearsay!
I hope it is!

[Shuimo]

I have my own red 'Launch' button p-)

To propose sth like is really inhumane!

[CG51]

I see the standard of living of the USA going down. The world cannot support both China and India at the living standard of the west. Not saying they do not deserve it, the world just cannot sustain it. Not enough resources to go around. Wars now for oil, wars in the near future for food and potable water.

[Switek]

World population projected to reach 7 billion next year

I feel so proud cuz my contribution to this score... ;)

[Solvent]

The earth is doomed.

Agent Smith was right. " You humans like virus"

[Shuimo]

I see the standard of living of the USA going down. The world cannot support both China and India at the living standard of the west. Not saying they do not deserve it, the world just cannot sustain it. Not enough resources to go around. Wars now for oil, wars in the near future for food and potable water.
Very well-justified concern!
Then are wars the only way out of this dire straits?
We all know the brutalities of world wars!

And also you need to remember both China and India are nuclear countries, which means mutual destruction if a nasty war is to break out!

We have to find better ways to sort this out!

[Solvent]

I feel so proud cuz my contribution to this score... ;)


Confess to us, how many billion you made this year?

[Arfah]

Also you need to remember both China and India are nuclear countries, which means mutual destruction if a nasty war is to break out!

We have to find better ways to sort this out!

I am glad you see things my way and agree with you wholeheartedly that they should nuke each other p-)

[Switek]

Confess to us, how many billion you made this year?

Oh no... I'm not such supermale (never even intended to be ;)), my contribution was much more humble, but it should be recognized in qualitative side, not quantitative. Anyway, the very best of me - my DNA - was shared with the humanity, three times... ;). A qiute above than an average of an average blond, white , blue eyes male...

[Shuimo]

I am glad you see things my way and agree with you wholeheartedly that they should nuke each other p-)

It's Schadenfruede, makin' me feel glad that I'm not you! I assure you!:bash:

[Solvent]

Oh no... I'm not such supermale (never even intended to be ;)), my contribution was much more humble, but it should be recognized in qualitative side, not quantitative. Anyway, the very best of me - my DNA - was shared with the humanity, three times... ;). A qiute above than an average of an average blond, white , blue eyes male...

A little bit under expectation.:)

Congratulations anyway.

[Arfah]

It's Schadenfruede, makin' me feel glad that I'm not you! I assure you!:bash:


I take no joy in watching others suffer.

In fact, once the two aforementioned countries have cancelled each other out, I intend to ignore their suffering.

The planet's too small and those nations that are over populated should sacrifice themselves for humanity and for the benefit of my own bourgeois existence. It's called taking a hit for the team. p-)

[CG51]

The earth is doomed.

Agent Smith was right. " You humans like virus"

Heh, best movie ever.

Almost true, soon we will strip the earth of every resource and if there are any of us left, space will be our next victim.

[vinny_121_ND]

The west should stop providing aid to the over populated nations. Then ban all news coverage from these nations so we don't start feeling guilty over their famine.

Also we could nuke them if starvation takes too long !

What ? Just saying what everyone else is thinking. What ? :-)

OK, I'm going to be polite here. The reason why africa has such a high birth rate is because the chances of death in the offspring is quite high. In order to counter that, they have 6 or 7 so at least a few survive. Same as it is in the wild life.

Now I must agree with others here that resources are running out. In china, they have a serious water problem. We don't have enough resources to go around. someone once said, not sure if it;s true, in order for us to sustain our living, we need 4 more earths.

[Breakfast in Vegas]

Still waiting for my chance to pursue a new life in the Offworld colonies.

[AlexMartin2]

The reason why africa has such a high birth rate is because the chances of death in the offspring is quite high. In order to counter that, they have 6 or 7 so at least a few survive. Same as it is in the wild life.


You are mixing causes and results. They have such high birthrate because they don't have access to contraceptives and abortion. And absence of modern medicine is a result of high death rate.


Anyway, 7 billion is very huge number. Living standards are low for at least 5-5.5 billions. No wonder so many want to immigrate to developed countries.
And I don't think world is able to sustain 10 bln in 2050. We could see serious hunger with hundreds of millions of death in next 30-40 years :(

[Solvent]

And I don't think world is able to sustain 10 bln in 2050. We could see serious hunger with hundreds of millions of death in next 30-40 years :(

x2

When the hand of nature takes over the control of population growth, it will be really ugly.

[Shuimo]

Constructive proposals are sorely lacking in this thread so far!

[zad]

Still waiting for my chance to pursue a new life in the Offworld colonies.

I have heard those new nexus-6 models rocks in bed !.

[Arfah]

Constructive proposals are sorely lacking in this thread so far!

Maybe China could bring in the ''No babies per family'' law ?

[Shuimo]

Maybe China could bring in the ''No babies per family'' law ?


Unless the Chinese all emigrate to the USA!

[vinny_121_ND]

You are mixing causes and results. They have such high birthrate because they don't have access to contraceptives and abortion. And absence of modern medicine is a result of high death rate.


Anyway, 7 billion is very huge number. Living standards are low for at least 5-5.5 billions. No wonder so many want to immigrate to developed countries.
And I don't think world is able to sustain 10 bln in 2050. We could see serious hunger with hundreds of millions of death in next 30-40 years :(

Right, those are factors that contribute to the high birthrate as well.

10 billion, absolutely not. We'll be fighting over drinking water. 2050 is a long way from now though, let's first see if 2012 end of the world talk is true or not.

[wotsnext]

Difficult times ahead......Just do the maths

[CG51]

You are mixing causes and results. They have such high birthrate because they don't have access to contraceptives and abortion. And absence of modern medicine is a result of high death rate.


Anyway, 7 billion is very huge number. Living standards are low for at least 5-5.5 billions. No wonder so many want to immigrate to developed countries.
And I don't think world is able to sustain 10 bln in 2050. We could see serious hunger with hundreds of millions of death in next 30-40 years :(

We will never make it to 10 billion. Next major war is between two emerging giants, China and India. Both nucular powers. We will probably see it in out life time.

[Shuimo]

We will never make it to 10 billion. Next major war is between two emerging giants, China and India. Both nucular powers. We will probably see it in out life time.

You can't stand idle by, can you?
WE are all on the same boat, aren't we?

[CG51]

You can't stand idle by, can you?
WE are all on the same boat, aren't we?

Nobody wants a major war that would disrupt the quality of life for all people on this planet, but two huge emerging giants, next to each other, competing for scarce resources it seems inevitable.

[hulaku]

Keep on dreaming.

There will never be a war between India and China.

No matter how much people may want that happening.

[AlexMartin2]

We will never make it to 10 billion. Next major war is between two emerging giants, China and India. Both nucular powers. We will probably see it in out life time.

War between China and India is another BS in western media. I don't see any problems between them.

As for 10 bln, we'll see. Shortage of food or water doesn't mean that some people in Africa or Asia will stop making babies.

[CG51]

I don't know anybody that wants China and India to go to war. I am saying that in the future; disputes about oil regions, shortages of food, water, any other consumable resource, territory disputes, ect. It's in the cards.

And the two have been at war before so how can you say it will never happen.

[SOG]

Fodder for the cannons we shall be and the reapers hand will come for thee!

Tee hee!

[seraosha]

Still waiting for my chance to pursue a new life in the Offworld colonies.

A chance to begin again in a golden land of opportunity and adventure?

[Mikhael]

Doesn' the developed world face the gloomy prospect of an aging society?

Yep and China f..ed itself up with the "one child policy" and have situation like the west.

[Holmes85]

You know we can always get an early start for the preparations to colonize Mars. Because from the looks of things we may need a second planet.

[Goggen]

The current development is clearly unsustainable and I strongly believe that a major resource-related crisis will take place within the next twenty years. Wheter it's fossile fuel decline or enviromental degradation I can't say but the reality of our planets spherical boundaries will sink in sooner rather than later. I don't want to sound cold, but large scale sterilization with some form of compensation seems like an increasingly attractive option.

[seraosha]

Look, it's real easy...just release some gene-tailored plagues with the cure already in reserve, and when those deemed undesirable have dropped, bring out the inoculations. Already have the military, government and families pre-inoculated, good to go.

All you have to fear is it mutating and rendering the cure useless...what could go wrong?:roll:

[wotsnext]

Look, it's real easy...just release some gene-tailored plagues with the cure already in reserve, and when those deemed undesirable have dropped, bring out the inoculations. Already have the military, government and families pre-inoculated, good to go.

All you have to fear is it mutating and rendering the cure useless...what could go wrong?:roll:
No more cheap socks? :)

[vinny_121_ND]

The current development is clearly unsustainable and I strongly believe that a major resource-related crisis will take place within the next twenty years. Wheter it's fossile fuel decline or enviromental degradation I can't say but the reality of our planets spherical boundaries will sink in sooner rather than later. I don't want to sound cold, but large scale sterilization with some form of compensation seems like an increasingly attractive option.

Sounds like the movie 'The day the earth stood still' and 'knowing' ... both terrible movies that had hinted about 2012.

[widi243]

War between China and India is another BS in western media. I don't see any problems between them.

As for 10 bln, we'll see. Shortage of food or water doesn't mean that some people in Africa or Asia will stop making babies.


maybe some arms deal with Pakistan?? Maybe now ther is now problem between India and China but it's doesn't mean that tyhe wodldn's show in the future. The are both growing powers laying very close. I'v no doubts that there willbi competition between them competition in near future.
But I don't know will it go so far to cause a war. They both have nuclear weapons. It means that cost of war wille greater trhan adventages what they can achive in a case of military conflit. It's could be cold shower for anyone who want start a war.

[CG51]

Look, it's real easy...just release some gene-tailored plagues with the cure already in reserve, and when those deemed undesirable have dropped, bring out the inoculations. Already have the military, government and families pre-inoculated, good to go.

All you have to fear is it mutating and rendering the cure useless...what could go wrong?:roll:

Heh, maybe the planet has already begun to correct the virus that is called man. Hmmm, maybe it should release a virus that attacks our immune system, lets say through our means of reproducing ourselves. The virus should be very smart and mutate so attempts to destroy it are futile.

[Solvent]

Sounds like the movie 'The day the earth stood still' and 'knowing' ... both terrible movies that had hinted about 2012.

People, pay attention. If you see a pale man in black suit is wandering around in your neighborhood, please let me know.

I need to take my space shuttle to leave earth

[khukuri]

Fact is, is that its the western world that is living on more resources than it has... yet everyone is pointing at asia and africa as culprits when its our own lifestyle that is unsustainable. Industrialized nations have already gone through population boom and now its other nations turn,,,

[Arfah]

There's alot of people on this planet who like Indian food.

There's alot of people on this planet who like Chinese food.

Coincidentally, it's also these two regions that are severely over populated.

So, my solution is quite practical. We simply control the population whilst indulging in our favourite international flavours...

CANNIBALISM :)

Chinese first though, because as soon as I've eaten one, I'll want another one twenty minutes later.

[HellToupee]

Would you like some soylent green with that?

[DaveDash]

Everything goes in cycles. When third world nations reach the cap in their sustainability cycle they won't have such high birthrates, as long as we don't try and artifically prop them up through feel good charities (which will only serve to cause more harm in the long run for everyone).

BTW, India and China, at current trends, are not going to be "mega giants" of power 2050. Who knows by then if the west will still be pouring money into those countries due to inflation. Eventually natural economics are going to have to take effect and China in particular is in for a nasty shock at some point.

[Holmes85]

People, pay attention. If you see a pale man in black suit is wandering around in your neighborhood, please let me know.

I need to take my space shuttle to leave earth

How are door-to-door salesman related to the world?

[Andreas]

x2

When the hand of nature takes over the control of population growth, it will be really ugly.


I fear you are right.. Gaia theory

[Holmes85]

x2

When the hand of nature takes over the control of population growth, it will be really ugly.


I fear you are right.. Gaia theory

I think it's already happening:

-Long Severe Droughts
-Severe Storms
-Swine Flu
-Bird Flu

are a few examples.

[ren0312]

white people... start having *** the old way.

Ban the sale of contraceptives for something like 5 years and you would see Europeans multiplying like rabbits.

[ren0312]

So are coutries like the US, Canada, and Australia anywhere close to reaching the limit in terms of population that their environments could support?

[59Diesel]

Well first I think we should stop AIDS and HIV infested people from having children. Only costing us in the long term with all the AIDS effort. Also alot of those tribes have multiple wives and multiple children with their multiple wives. I have a friend from South Africa. They are nto exactly nice to women as she tells me.

China has their own thing going on. Population increases and immigration increases are damming the US. We need to start thinking smart and building UP not out.

Mother Nature has her own way of controling the population Storms Floods Earthquakes etc. In the end Mother Nature always wins.

Population increase is a big deal but not yet at this moment IMO.

As for 2012 well some said it would end in 2000 and other years but it never happend. Ever think their calender stopped cause they ran out of rock to carve.

[ren0312]

Well first I think we should stop AIDS and HIV infested people from having children. Only costing us in the long term with all the AIDS effort. Also alot of those tribes have multiple wives and multiple children with their multiple wives. I have a friend from South Africa. They are nto exactly nice to women as she tells me.

China has their own thing going on. Population increases and immigration increases are damming the US. We need to start thinking smart and building UP not out.

Mother Nature has her own way of controling the population Storms Floods Earthquakes etc. In the end Mother Nature always wins.

Population increase is a big deal but not yet at this moment IMO.

As for 2012 well some said it would end in 2000 and other years but it never happend. Ever think their calender stopped cause they ran out of rock to carve.

I think the population of the US in 1970 at 200 million was just about right, considering that a lot of the land west of the Rocky Mountains is effectively desert or semi desert.

[59Diesel]

I think the population of the US in 1970 at 200 million was just about right, considering that a lot of the land west of the Rocky Mountains is effectively desert or semi desert.

Well I don't like it I do not want to be forced to sell my land cause they can build a housing project for the Greater Good.

Which they have done alot in this State.

The made the Davis Farms sell I forget how many acres for a school. That they don't even use.

They also forcefully took land from another farmer for a water treatment plant.

Also tired of all theese people from the citys move out into my areas bringing their drugs and crappy music. Cause they felt the city was getting overpopulated.

[vryhpyammoadded]

Gimmie a few AN-12’s and a hundred tons of small arms/ammo and I’ll get project Zardoz supplying the brutals in no time clearing out surplus population.

I like Lex Luther’s quote from that last crappy Super Man film. “I want to bring humanity fire, and make a tidy profit on the side”.

[Shuimo]

I think it's already happening:

-Long Severe Droughts
-Severe Storms
-Swine Flu
-Bird Flu

are a few examples.

Earthquakes? Extreme weather conditions?Wars? Aids?
The list goes on and on!

[DanteXavier]

I think that by the end of our lifetimes, space colonization will be very much closer to reality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization#The_argument_of_benefits

The sheer amount of resources available in space is almost mind boggling. Were we to gain the technological prowess needed to get up there and exploit them, it is likely populations far higher than 10 billion could be sustained.


"... the smallest Earth-crossing asteroid 3554 Amun (see orbit) is a mile-wide (2 km) lump of iron, nickel, cobalt, platinum, and other metals; it contains 30 times as much metal as Humans have mined throughout history, although it is only the smallest of dozens of known metallic asteroids and worth perhaps US$ 20 trillion if mined slowly to meet demand at 2001 market prices.[25] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization#cite_note-members.nova.org-24)”“In the 2,900 km³ of Eros, there is more aluminium, gold, silver, zinc and other base and precious metals than have ever been excavated in history or indeed, could ever be excavated from the upper layers of the Earth's crust."

This book makes some interesting claims as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_the_Sky:_Untold_Riches_from_the_Asteroids,_Comets,_and_Planets

Of course there are tons of caveats and our technology isn't nearly there yet. But its something interesting to think about, and our grandchildren might get to see it.

[mig3535]

I think that by the end of our lifetimes, space colonization will be very much closer to reality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization#The_argument_of_benefits

The sheer amount of resources available in space is almost mind boggling. Were we to gain the technological prowess needed to get up there and exploit them, it is likely populations far higher than 10 billion could be sustained.



This book makes some interesting claims as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_the_Sky:_Untold_Riches_from_the_Asteroids,_Comets,_and_Planets

Of course there are tons of caveats and our technology isn't nearly there yet. But its something interesting to think about, and our grandchildren might get to see it.

this is the stuff we see in movies and games, and the funny thing is that it might actually be possible in about 100 or 150 years or so...

[Goggen]

I think that by the end of our lifetimes, space colonization will be very much closer to reality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization#The_argument_of_benefits

The sheer amount of resources available in space is almost mind boggling. Were we to gain the technological prowess needed to get up there and exploit them, it is likely populations far higher than 10 billion could be sustained.



This book makes some interesting claims as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_the_Sky:_Untold_Riches_from_the_Asteroids,_Comets,_and_Planets

Of course there are tons of caveats and our technology isn't nearly there yet. But its something interesting to think about, and our grandchildren might get to see it.


Forgive me for being skeptical, but that's a very big if. Space exploration on that scale is a huge undertaking and requires resources and stability. So we probably won't get anywhere if almost everyone is fighting for the last drip of oil and the remaining starving to death :).

[Flagg]

Soviet famine and purges, Holocaust, Biafra, Bangladesh, Great Leap Forward, Ethiopia, Iran-Iraq War, Somalia, Balkans, Rwanda, North Korea

Just a couple of the relatively recent biggy famines and purges.

There's a good chance the herd will get thinner in places going forward....past history is indicative of future performance.

[ren0312]

Soviet famine and purges, Holocaust, Biafra, Bangladesh, Great Leap Forward, Ethiopia, Iran-Iraq War, Somalia, Balkans, Rwanda, North Korea

Just a couple of the relatively recent biggy famines and purges.

There's a good chance the herd will get thinner in places going forward....past history is indicative of future performance.

So you do not think places like Australia, Canada, and the US are overpopulated, or are close to being so?

[Flagg]

So you do not think places like Australia, Canada, and the US are overpopulated, or are close to being so?

I'm no expert on all the regions, but I'd say no for Canada since it is so natural resource rich and has such low population density.

I don't think the US has very high population density and great natural resource wealth......but I wouldn't want to live in a bunch of urban areas, and I think the ability to gain or even maintain living standards will be very tough for the foreseeable future.

Aussie is a tough one.....great natural resources, very low population density.....but much of the land can support very few people...I think in the end for Australia is the people not living where and when the water is....but I reckon Aussie will be fine.

Population numbers aren't exploding in any of these three nations......the biggest issue with populations in the wealthy west will be managing and massaging population ages.....many western countries are looking at some demographic walls.

Japan, Italy are two wealthy nations likely to hit first.....and China has some really big issues there......this will cause problems ranging from difficult to brick wall hard.

[timetraveller]

And big deal if the world population is going to hit 7billion

people like getting there nat king

[Yoni-R]

white people... start having *** the old way.

i think you belong on stormfront

[vryhpyammoadded]

So you do not think places like Australia, Canada, and the US are overpopulated, or are close to being so?
The US isn't at all. Various studies have found the US could sustain around 1.3 billion with current technology for a very long time if we detached from the international petro tit and leveraged local resources. Of course this level of population density would require a fundamental shift in the American esthetic.

The current population would probably rather die in mass than suffer the huge increase in urbanization. God, they’d probably even bring back that crying Indian advert.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

I'm no expert on all the regions, but I'd say no for Canada since it is so natural resource rich and has such low population density.

I don't think the US has very high population density and great natural resource wealth......but I wouldn't want to live in a bunch of urban areas, and I think the ability to gain or even maintain living standards will be very tough for the foreseeable future.

Aussie is a tough one.....great natural resources, very low population density.....but much of the land can support very few people...I think in the end for Australia is the people not living where and when the water is....but I reckon Aussie will be fine.

Population numbers aren't exploding in any of these three nations......the biggest issue with populations in the wealthy west will be managing and massaging population ages.....many western countries are looking at some demographic walls.

Japan, Italy are two wealthy nations likely to hit first.....and China has some really big issues there......this will cause problems ranging from difficult to brick wall hard.

With regards to Australia. We COULD support around 50 million people. However to be able to do this sustainably would require drastic measures in our land use. Take my region. Some of the best farmland in the country. Yet also the best coal mining region.

There is to much cotton farming. Wheat should be grown instead.

Just two examples.

Another problem is that the cities are oversized for the population. I mean I lived within walking distance to the CBD of Sydney. Yet I lived in a house with a backyard!

Stupid. Need to build up not out.

[dindin]

The earth is doomed.

Agent Smith was right. " You humans like virus"


POWERFULL WORDS:petting:

[Evolv5]

**** is all I say.

[Shuimo]

With regards to Australia. We COULD support around 50 million people. However to be able to do this sustainably would require drastic measures in our land use. Take my region. Some of the best farmland in the country. Yet also the best coal mining region.

There is to much cotton farming. Wheat should be grown instead.

Just two examples.

Another problem is that the cities are oversized for the population. I mean I lived within walking distance to the CBD of Sydney. Yet I lived in a house with a backyard!

Stupid. Need to build up not out.

Unimaginable! You could have a backyand of yr house within the walking distance of CBD!

[DanteXavier]

Forgive me for being skeptical, but that's a very big if. Space exploration on that scale is a huge undertaking and requires resources and stability. So we probably won't get anywhere if almost everyone is fighting for the last drip of oil and the remaining starving to death :).

You're assuming that the technology isn't going to become more practical. If in 100-150 years the technology becomes easier to manipulate and costs go down, it will very well be possible.

That, and it is unlikely that we end up in such a dire situation. I say this due not only the the large amount of oil still available(only to be extended through new discoveries and technology) but also because of the growth of renewable resources. While this space colonization thing is 100-150 years away or so, we are in fact not much more than 50 years or so away from things like fusion power and advanced battery energy becoming practical and cost effective.

Once these things become mainstream, oil demand will go down and the reserves that we will have left will last even longer. Put quite simply, I doubt the likelihood of us continuing to fight over oil in 150 years. It will be a less precious commodity by then. Granted, there will still be large conflicts during this transition period, but they will not preclude a general sense of stability.

There will be more than enough stability for superpowers with the money and means to explore space to exist. Thus, I really do not think that a doom and gloom scenario is all that practical in reality. We have enough of an understanding of potential pitfalls in the future to avoid it, and I think we will with the aid of technology.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Unimaginable! You could have a backyand of yr house within the walking distance of CBD!

In a city of 5 million people it is quite stupid. Poor utilisation of land. In land area Sydney is bigger then New York

[The Dane]

The more the merrier ..
Welcome to the world all !

* hippie mode off

[ren0312]

With regards to Australia. We COULD support around 50 million people. However to be able to do this sustainably would require drastic measures in our land use. Take my region. Some of the best farmland in the country. Yet also the best coal mining region.

There is to much cotton farming. Wheat should be grown instead.

Just two examples.

Another problem is that the cities are oversized for the population. I mean I lived within walking distance to the CBD of Sydney. Yet I lived in a house with a backyard!

Stupid. Need to build up not out.

I think most people would want to live in a house with his own pesonal backyard if he could, and not in a Hong Kong style shoe box, as for Canada I think the big issue is agricultural land and not mineral resources, yes, the Fraser River plain can accomodate 8 or even 10 million people, but that would mean that the average person would have to forget about having a house and front yard, and will have to accept living in a shoebox flat like most Hong Kongers do, as for the US capability to accomodate 1.3 billion people, it is possible if you could persuade people that a 1 minute shower is good enough. And besides, in some cases living in rural areas where the pace of life is slower can be better for someone's mental health compared to living in a city where everything is a constant rat race like Hong Kong.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Urban sprawl is a travesty. Whilst it is good to have a home and a yard, it's not an efficient or long term viable option. With the right provision of services, planning, parks and other public spaces high density living is the way to go.

[ren0312]

Urban sprawl is a travesty. Whilst it is good to have a home and a yard, it's not an efficient or long term viable option. With the right provision of services, planning, parks and other public spaces high density living is the way to go.

I still prefer rural Maine or Montana to something like like NYC or Hong Kong if I can, but maybe that is because I have lived in a big city all my life, so now I preffer a more leisurely pace of living.

[Elbs]

I love my backyard.

[ren0312]

A few years ago I believe there was a study done by UBC that said that the Fraser River plain's population was 3 times its optimum level.

[ren0312]

The US isn't at all. Various studies have found the US could sustain around 1.3 billion with current technology for a very long time if we detached from the international petro tit and leveraged local resources. Of course this level of population density would require a fundamental shift in the American esthetic.

The current population would probably rather die in mass than suffer the huge increase in urbanization. God, they’d probably even bring back that crying Indian advert.

Why would you want the US to have 1.5 billion people, so the US could compete with China and India as the world's most populous country, in that situation the whole of the East Coast would probably look like Coruscant, but then having 50 CBGs roaming the 7 seas would probably be very impressive, assuming that a US with 1.5 billion people will have the same standard of living as of now, and the the percentage of GDP for defense spending remains at present levels.

[59Diesel]

Is everyone forgetting about sources to survive. Thats why population is a big thing.

We need Water Land Food etc. To survive. When you keep pushing out and the Government Crooks using Eminenet Domain to allow houses for the "greater good"

We are getting overpopulated and cause everyone wants their houses with a yard and etc keep pushing further out.

Sorry build up not out like Japan.

I love my land it provides me with extra income by renting it out to a farmer.

People think Population is not that big.

Mother Nature will run her course and thin the heard again. She always does. We don't really need a population increase we need a decrease.

[ren0312]

Is everyone forgetting about sources to survive. Thats why population is a big thing.

We need Water Land Food etc. To survive. When you keep pushing out and the Government Crooks using Eminenet Domain to allow houses for the "greater good"

We are getting overpopulated and cause everyone wants their houses with a yard and etc keep pushing further out.

Sorry build up not out like Japan.

I love my land it provides me with extra income by renting it out to a farmer.

People think Population is not that big.

Mother Nature will run her course and thin the heard again. She always does. We don't really need a population increase we need a decrease.

Have you looked at satellite pictures of Japan, every piece of land that is not mountainous is either built up or filled with farm land, except for Hokkaido which is located in the north.

[59Diesel]

Have you looked at satellite pictures of Japan, every piece of land that is not mountainous is either built up or filled with farm land, except for Hokkaido which is located in the north.

I have been there. I am saying build up in the city's much like they have done.

Without ways to provide for ourselfs we will not survive.

Everyone wants everything big 9/10 times the can't afford it. Big houses and three bathrooms etc for one guy.

We need land and resources to survive. All I am saying. if it continues to grow they need to build up and not out.

[ren0312]

I have been there. I am saying build up in the city's much like they have done.

Without ways to provide for ourselfs we will not survive.

Everyone wants everything big 9/10 times the can't afford it. Big houses and three bathrooms etc for one guy.

We need land and resources to survive. All I am saying. if it continues to grow they need to build up and not out.

How about not growing or trying to reduce the popualiton by 1/3s so that everybody could have that house and lot, of course, if the US population had stayed at 1970 levels, that would mean that its military would be considerably less than it is today, since a smaller population means a smaller economy, and a smaller GDP means a smaller potential military budget, all things being equal.

[vryhpyammoadded]

Why would you want the US to have 1.5 billion people, so the US could compete with China and India as the world's most populous country, in that situation the whole of the East Coast would probably look like Coruscant, but then having 50 CBGs roaming the 7 seas would probably be very impressive, assuming that a US with 1.5 billion people will have the same standard of living as of now, and the the percentage of GDP for defense spending remains at present levels.
I don’t know why anyone would want over a billion people in the US. Personally I love the current level of population density where my .308 can be fired in about any direction with little chance of hitting anyone and the guberment has little hope in hell disturbing my privacy should I desire to vanish. This is one big mostly empty country and I love it!

Then again, the fantasy of an East Coast Coruscant sprawl, evil power grubbing emperors, preferably me, commanding vast legions of storm troopers and 50 CBG’s to subjugate the planet sounds like loads of fun. I’d most likely enslave humanity to kick it off this rock to colonize space, demobilize the military, nuke all government, change my identity and retire to a nice Philippine beach with hot and cold running women to attend my every lecherous desire.