Overpopulation Myth [video]

[richmarr]

Regardless of how small a physical space the world's population could conceivably fit into, there's still the biodiversity cost, energy use, and other knock-on effects of increased population. I do wonder where these figures come from, and what the agenda is here.

[khafra]

We could all still Stand on Zanzibar(1), but I'm also reminded of a Harlan Ellison short story I can't locate that had a very large number of humans living in cramped, vertical dwellings with the rest of the Earth given over to intensive farming. It might be possible to support many more people, but that doesn't mean it's a pleasant or admirable objective. There's also the deletorious effects of the "green revolution"--when the natural gas for making nitrogen-based fertilizer runs out, the shock to the minimal remaining topsoil will be famine-ifying.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_on_Zanzibar

[iamwil]

Yeah, I was wondering how one would have schools and businesses. Unless we go to school and mcdonalds can operate in your house, we need something a little bigger than texas.

[onreact-com]

It's a "pro life" agenda as I've found out on their website. Nonetheless there are really human rights abuses due to the overpopulation assumption. In China forced abortions are common. Lately they rather fear overaging of the population though.

[kp212]

Here you go

Here you go, check out who funds them...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_Research_Institute

Global warming, its a myth, its a myth.

Birth control, its a sin, its a sin.

Please...why is this even here?

[anc2020]

Global warming is a myth - not the fact that it exists but rather that it's caused by humans, and people die because of it.

State birth control... what, are you in favour of it?

Edit: why is this here?

Because lots of dictator wannabes like the idea that there's only enough space in the world for them, and that there is this really big problem of population that only someone as calculating as them can grasp. I'm sorry but this really pisses me off. We have lots of energy and lots of space, go and play with a ball and have fun.

Edit: yes a typo, thanks.

[theschwa]

The wikipedia article on Overpopulation does seem to mention some controversy over the carrying capacity of the earth, with the U.N. saying it should be in between 1 and 2 billion.

Does anyone have any good research papers that might say something counter to that?

[tocomment]

I wonder how much of our technological growth is based on rare genious and special insight and luck? If it's a lot then that's a good argument for getting as big of a population as possible.

Actually is technological advancement is instead just based on hard work by normal people, then I guess that might also be an argument for a larger population. Not sure what my point is ...

[sant0sk1]

Population control is a convenient agenda for those already alive.

[lsd5you]

Its funny, i'd have said its exactly the opposite. Its morally and ideallogically convenient to believe that no hard decisions need to be made and it will all end for the best.

Biological reality is an inconvenience to humanist and libertarian ideologies.

[thras]

The problem with overpopulation is that we generally need more kids from the sort of people that worry about overpopulation, and fewer kids from the sort of people who don't. Instead, we get the opposite.

Graduate education is the world's most effective contraceptive.

[kp212]

Funny, that you posted this.

To that point, rent this movie, I think you'll like the beginning...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/

[onreact-com]

I submitted the original video instead: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=732090

[keltecp11]

Where does he get the math for 'we can all fit in the state of Texas'

That seem a little off to anyone else?

-P