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The global population, which has reached seven billion, is growing at about 80 million a year. Developing countries will need to build the equivalent of a city of a million people every five days for the next 40 years because of urban migration.
"Human impact on the Earth raises serious concerns, and in the richest parts of the world per capita, material consumption is far above the level that can be sustained for everyone in a population of seven billion or more," the report says.
The increased demands this will place on the Earth's limited resources means that people living in rich countries will need to consume fewer natural resources so that poorer nations can consume more, the scientists say.
It recommends a "decoupling" of economic activity from the natural resources of the global environment so that economic growth and human wellbeing are no longer linked with the increased utilisation of the finite goods and services provided by nature.
Expanding the availability of contraceptives to the poorest people in the world will not on its own solve some of the most difficult problems associated with an increase in human numbers and a depleted natural environment, the report concludes.
The Independent
Originally posted by DestroyDestroyDestroy
How dare these socialist communist terrorists tell the rich what to do! We don't live in a nanny-world, if the poor want resources they can sail over across the ocean on their little rafts and just try to take them from our cold, dead hands.
Tighten your belts, scientists tell the world's rich
Originally posted by ollncasino
I'm not sure how this could work. If rich countries have to stop using resources so that poor countries can, wouldn't that mean a major shift in economic, political and military power?
No, there are other options. Like agenda 21 for example.
Originally posted by stanguilles7
Originally posted by ollncasino
I'm not sure how this could work. If rich countries have to stop using resources so that poor countries can, wouldn't that mean a major shift in economic, political and military power?
More or less, yes. Of course, the alternative is the Rich can continue to live a life of opulence for a little while, until entire continents begin to starve and dehydrate, causing even greater upheaval.
Originally posted by ollncasino
The world's wealthiest people must urgently reduce their consumption to save the Earth from a "vortex of economic, socio-political and environmental ills", a major report by Britain's leading scientific academy concludes.
The global population, which has reached seven billion, is growing at about 80 million a year. Developing countries will need to build the equivalent of a city of a million people every five days for the next 40 years because of urban migration.
"Human impact on the Earth raises serious concerns, and in the richest parts of the world per capita, material consumption is far above the level that can be sustained for everyone in a population of seven billion or more," the report says.
The increased demands this will place on the Earth's limited resources means that people living in rich countries will need to consume fewer natural resources so that poorer nations can consume more, the scientists say.
It recommends a "decoupling" of economic activity from the natural resources of the global environment so that economic growth and human wellbeing are no longer linked with the increased utilisation of the finite goods and services provided by nature.
Expanding the availability of contraceptives to the poorest people in the world will not on its own solve some of the most difficult problems associated with an increase in human numbers and a depleted natural environment, the report concludes.
The Independent
I'm not sure how this could work. If rich countries have to stop using resources so that poor countries can, wouldn't that mean a major shift in economic, political and military power?
edit on 2-5-2012 by ollncasino because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Starchild23
It's time to take it easy on the consumption. No one is taking it away from you...you're taking it away from them. You don't need those 5 cars in the garage, you don't need a fully stocked wine cellar, and you sure as hell don't need those 12 ending machines in your hall way. You don't even need that figure-8 swimming pool.
Originally posted by Starchild23
You don't need those 5 cars in the garage
Originally posted by fictitious
reply to post by ollncasino
Besides the obvious communist tones, feeding poor people makes them more fit to have even more children. Then those children have more children. Not that I'm all for letting starving people starve, but from a biological perspective, feeding them doesn't make any sense at all. It just exacerbates the problem.
Originally posted by stanguilles7
Providing people with options and opportunities lowers birth rates. Poverty raises them. It's more than just feeding people. It's allowing them to thrive.
Originally posted by fictitious
reply to post by ollncasino
Besides the obvious communist tones, feeding poor people makes them more fit to have even more children. Then those children have more children. Not that I'm all for letting starving people starve, but from a biological perspective, feeding them doesn't make any sense at all. It just exacerbates the problem.
Originally posted by Mythfury
reply to post by fictitious
I would love for my children to have children! I'm not immortal and neither are you. Starchild has the best explanation, it's a spiritual aspect of looking over the material to see that the material is made right, so the spirit can be made right. And currently, I'm scared to eat and processed foods, drink coca cola. I stick to water and I eat a filling meal about once a day, and all I have is a bad cough due to cigarettes and bronchitis I can't afford medicine for. Had bronchitis for like 6 months now, and might have some horrible reprecautions due to lack of funding. Imagine that, in every underdeveloped place and them slap that criticism at them again. I thought it says deny ignorance, not ignore them and tell them to come here. Try to be interested not interesting.edit on 2-5-2012 by Mythfury because: (no reason given)