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Peter Emer

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Where will we be in 2050?

Our population is rising and we are using more and more raw resources. And we do not have an endless supply of these materials and eventually they will run out. My question is that would we have adapted in time to face with that potential catastrophe or will we see a turn around in civilization as we know it? The UN has been accurate in the past when it comes to predicting the global populations, and it has predicted the population to reach 9.1 billion. Can earth as it is sustain such a number considering the rate that we we use our natural resources that are very essential to our survival?

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Topics: Global Population Natural resources affordable technology future survival
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  • Random Chance 30+

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    Jul 31 2012: Probably not around
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    Gerald O'brian 50+

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    Jul 30 2012: It's hard to tell. I just saw a TED talk with a laser beam in goddamn slow motion.
    Where will we be next week?
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    Jul 30 2012: Having raised a large family on a limited income, I am not as worried about this as some might be because housewives have been facing this for ever. If you have limited resources to ensure everyone's needs are met, you use everything very wisely. It sounds simplistic and undoable but people everywhere have been doing it forever and often produce healthy and productive members of society who know how to consume in proportion while looking out for their 'sibling". Failing that we call in Lawren's suggestions below and go 'off world" for resources.
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      Peter Emer

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      Jul 30 2012: Hi Debra, its always great to read your input(: I am taking it as you are quite confident that we will adapt our wants to suit our needs so that everyone's needs are met?
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        Debra Smith 200+

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        Jul 30 2012: Hi Peter, I think 'quite confident" might be overstating my feelings a tad but for the most part yes and here is why. I, like you, see all that is wrong but I also see that the mass of people are quite tolerant of the bs of this world that permits selfish people to waste and destroy. Humanity will start yelling 'STOP THAT' as soon as those entitled people are impacted. Unfortunately people suffer in the mean time and that is utterly galling but until the people of the world get sick of this suffering and unite to yell 'STOP THAT' in one unified voice many will think they can continue to get away with this crap because they think it does not matter or that they can hide behind pretzel logic. It has to end and I hope it will be sooner than later. I had 5 kids in a time of abundance but even now I see that it was a lot and even now, I realize it could not have been repeated in this time and circumstance, so even I would have adapted to keep them loved and fed and to give them my optimized best. I raised five on a cop's salary after paying off my house. It was my greatest life's pleaure so far BUT in order to do it I was content to have nothing but that at the time. Few people would be willing to make such sacrifices and even that would turn things to the better. People can only economize so far and then they look up and say "HEY. that's not fair!" and that is powerful because it embarasses the cheaters and cheaters always like to look noble in front of the world.
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    Lawren Jones 10+

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    Jul 30 2012: I came to this conversation expecting to link to two recent TED videos, and I find that you've already chosen the very same videos in your topic. Outstanding!

    Beyond that, let me suggest that we need not rely on Earth alone for our resources. They are readily available in near-Earth space. For further reading, I highly recommend

    Mining the Sky, by John S. Lewis
    The High Frontier, by Gerard K. O'Neill
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_solar_power
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      Debra Smith 200+

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      Jul 30 2012: Now that is what I call helpful. For some reason my thumbs up is not working but you shall have one as soon as it is and I will seek out these books. Thanks, Lawren!
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      Peter Emer

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      Jul 30 2012: Hey Lawren, i completely agree the idea of mining out of space(: But i have always wondered if we can pull that off in time. I know technologically we are advancing exponentially and we will continue making progress. And with advances like Space Port America, its only a matter of time. But can we pull it off? Just a little side note...we can also pursue this on Mars and potentially making it habitable. I dont remember the link, but there was this special documentary about how we can do that and it would take 15-20 years to give it at atmosphere that can sustain basic life.
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