World Population…
At the time of authoring this, the United Nations estimates that the population of the world is 6,270,574,784 people. In less than 50 years, that number is expected to grow by fifty percent — 9 billion! At what point will we hit critical mass?
There are only so many water, wood, and food resources available on the planet, and we are producing waste products (which include the natural production of carbon dioxide as well as industrial and hazardous wastes) faster than the environment can process and nullify them. When will the planet start striking back? Is HIV/AIDS a form of natural planetary retaliation to reduce the negative impact of our society?
Botswanian life expectancy is expected to be cut in half to 33 years in the next decade, thanks to AIDS. While fertility in African nations is also declining, not long ago Kenyan women would often have up to eight children each, perpetuating the Catch-22 situation — higher population lead to fewer resources which lead to more starvation which lead to lower life expectancy which lead to greater efforts to increase population, and round and round.
The problem is mind-boggling, and there is no simple solution…
As with all things in nature an oscillation will eventually lead to an equilibrium. We’ll level out at the maximum number of people the resources can sustain. Exceed that and the number will be cut down by war (fighting for scarce resources) or disease (too much crowding) or famine (too little food). Cut the number to far and population will recover to excess levels. Eventually it will settle down. Increased efficiency in food production may move the top population limit, but eventually that equilibrium point will be reached.