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Jake Maddox

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How can we sustain infinite growth on a finite planet?

Human population growth is a serious problem that is growing by ridiculous geometric progression. Everyday approximately 200,000 people die, and in contrast 450,000 are born. That is a staggering 250,000 new mouths to feed everyday! We cannot support infinite growth on a finite planet! We're running out of land. Thousands of square miles of rain forest are gutted every year for palm plantations to produce palm oil so that masses can be sustained. Fresh water supplies are in limited quantities. Polution and contamination abound. Why do people ignore the realities of where we're headed? It frightens the crap outta me. It appears as though the discovery of oil is when things really took off. Oil ultimately led to the internal combustion engine so that huge amounts of land could be cultivated. Pesticides and fertilizers were also made possible via oil to enhance production yields. As well as affecting the pharmeceutical industry to produce vaccines. It's not natures way.

Check out this human population growth chart: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/images/Popn_Graph2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/themes/keytheme1.htm&h=324&w=524&sz=49&tbnid=YSJSr0mYU4gonM:&tbnh=77&tbnw=124&zoom=1&usg=__kIp3FdU9ydMckYq62HCWmiEmqXc=&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2nk9UOvmL8vsigKdhIGwDg&ved=0CCUQ9QEwAQ&dur=655

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    Peter Emer

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    Aug 31 2012: There is a lot to say about this topic and it can addressed from a number of different angles so i am just going to take the general route. The only way we will cope with this legitimately underrated problem is through technological advances. Changing human psyche is not a "number of years its going to take" but more of a "generation" thing. i like to think optimistically and that we will overcome this but sometimes i worry about whether we will adapt in time. Because to me, society today seems to be a "me" society.
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      W. Ying 10+

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      Sep 6 2012: I think:

      (1) "Changing human psyche" is much easier than quitting smoking. It is just to quit the silly INVALID HAPPINESS by resoning.
      (2) "Through technolgical advances" is difficult and unreliable. It is a big gamble.

      Be happy validly!
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        Peter Emer

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        Sep 6 2012: I agree, but to "quit the silly invalid happiness" by reasoning is just what i am referencing. That would be a tough hurdle to over come because the world is not unified enough, everyone does things for themselves, with the exception of a few that live to benefit society. Yea technological advances would be a big gamble and frankly after thinking about it, i would go that route either considering how far we have come with it.

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