Do you think this world is overpopulated?

1. 57

   harmony155posted 11 years ago

   Do you think this world is overpopulated?
   
   Dan Brown's book has got me thinking...

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2. 61

   tirelesstravelerposted 11 years ago

   Flying across the US there are broad expanses of unpopulated areas. Flying across Africa there are broad expanses of unpopulated areas.  Flying up and down California there is lots of open space.  Flying over cities one could come to the conclusion that the world is over populated. It depends on your perspective.
   Following my G.P,S.(shortest route option) there is always a crowd.  Following the (stay away from the freeway option) there isn't much traffic.
   Look at all the land in China that isn't populated. 
   Perspective is a curious thing.

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3. 0

   Ghost32posted 11 years ago

   Yes, I believe the world is overpopulated and due for a crash, probably sooner rather than later.  I did some research that indicates the planet's habitable land--not "all land" but only that which is capable of supporting human life--and concluded that if every bit of terra firma were equally distributed right now, each of us would only have a couple of acres on which to stand, live, sleep, breed, grow food, etc.
   It also looked to me (I put all this in a Hub) like we're currently on track to double our population again in 50 years or so and that even China with its 1 child policy will double in 153 years.
   Dan Brown's book got me thinking, too, but in my case it was revisiting the issue.  I've been convinced we (as a species) were headed for big trouble by the time I was out of high school, 52 years ago.

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4. 79

   bethperryposted 11 years ago

   Oh yes; the earth is overly populated with mosquitoes and fleas! If it is a question of humans overpopulating the world, I really don't have a lot of fear what with the carriers of disease still abundant, breeding and possessing the ever-present ability to develop immunity to man-made insecticides. They are stronger than we are and they will survive, even if they succeed in obliterating our own species. And I wouldn't put it past them

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5. 82

   BraidedZeroposted 11 years ago

   Right off the bat, no this world is not overpopulated. We have a lot of free space that could be used but instead we just let it sit there as open space. I think this comes down to one simple concept and that is people like to be surrounded by other people. We "could" start new cities in some of these open areas but instead we remain trapped in the familiar cities that have been established for many many years. This world has a TON of space left open for us, we just refuse to branch out and take it.

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   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Definitely. The world is over populated and as the days pass it becomes more and more over populated. There are many problems caused by overpopulation such as global warming, ozone depletion, destruction of natural habitats, extinction of many species and cutting down of forests. There is no solution to over population as with the increasing technology in medicine, more lives are being saved and so the death rate is decreasing and the birthrate is increasing. What can be done is that more family planning programs can be set up and people can be educated about having smaller families and less children so that the birth rate can slow down. Moreover, many things can be done to stop the effects of over population like planting more trees, not using deodorants or things which contain CFC's which harm the ozone. Natural reserves can be set up to preserve species. Natural alternatives such as sun, wind, water can be used in the place of fossil fuels which are finishing and upon which the economy of many countries rely on.

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7. 92

   FlourishAnywayposted 11 years ago

   Sadly, yes.  Overall, the rate of reproduction threatens to outstrip available  resources ... unless there is a major correction.  Unfortunately, war, natural and human disasters have often been that "major correction."  Sorry to be Debbie Downer.

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8. 76

   ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years ago

   Not overpopulated, but hopelessly politically divided. The number of people wouldn't be a problem if land and resources were distributed more equitably and people weren't so prone to double standards. The Earth could sustain a much much greater number of people than what currently exists.
   
   The overpopulation idea is usually promoted by sinister political interests that seem a step away from committing genocide and other acts of atrocity. I'm not sure what book you are referring too, it isn't one of the Dan Brown book that I've read, but I don't think he'd be a proponent of population control. Is it a villain character that has you thinking?

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      Ghost32posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      ParadigmEnacted:  It's Dan Brown's newest, titled Inferno.  Great read.  Yes, it's a "villain" character that pushes the concept, BUT by the end of the book the reader is left wondering if said villain might not have been onto something.

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   2. 76

      ParadigmEnactedposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What a surprise! Could it be that the art of storytelling is lost on somebody if only the villain gets them to think and not the other characters or the narrative itself? Very selective thought process, for some reason.

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9. 56

   lostohanababyposted 10 years ago

   I believe it is slowly getting there.  Here in American, many of us practice family planning and use birth control !  But there are many countries in our global community of the world today, that do not, or haven't the right to do so!  Going on that thought, I would say its a matter of time, we will have to make other possible ways for our building places for shelter.  As I know of now.  Its a toss up between China and India, having the most population at this time!

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