Reducing The World's Population

World Clock by Poodwaddle.com

I'm only just over 4 decades old and yet in my lifetime the population of the world has increased from just over 3 billion people to 7+ billion, and this growth is unrelenting. Just take a look at the clock above to see the neverending explosion of new humans being thrust into existence and think what will happen in 10, 20 or 100 years.

The current estimates for my lifetime are that the world will be home to over 9 billion people, so in my estimated life of 85 years the worlds population will have almost tripled, something that I find highly disturbing.

Why disturbing? Well let me explain.

We currently live in a world where poverty is rampant, even in first world countries such as the United States, and yet we continue to breed as though food will be available for all those new hungry mouths.

The natural world is currently experiencing a rate of extinction estimated by the WWF at between 1,000 to 10,000 times the natural rate (if humans weren't on this planet), a figure that can only increase as humans expand across the planet to invade the natural habitat of more and more creatures.

Where will all the water come from to quench the thirst of all these new arrivals? Are we to drain the oceans and desalinate the water to ensure that there will enough for just the basic hydration of the 9 odd billion.

And of course where will the food come from to feed them all?

As an example of the unsustainability of the current population explosion, lets take a quick look at India (which on current trends will be the most populous nation on earth in the next 30 years). There are currently 1.2 billion people in India which will expand to 1.5 billion by 2030. After spending some time in India you cannot be anything but taken aback by the standards of living in the country as well as the abject poverty, yet over the next 20 years they will be adding around 300,000,000 mouths, and in this they are not alone.

Country after country will be growing their populace and with each new born will come the need for not only the basics of life, but a desire to better that life and consume all the associated resources such as fossil fuels etc.

There is no doubt that a tipping point is coming for the human race and yet mention the words "population reduction" and you are suddenly thrown in with groups such as the unseen, but apparently all seeing New World Order (NWO). Yet without some restriction on the breeding habits of the human race we will bring about a world that will be, at best, somewhere akin to a "hell on earth".

Yet the solution isn't as easy as just restricting the breeding habits of every man and woman on the planet. You only have to look at China's one child policy to see that even in a strict communist state that the population is still growing.

This is an area that I will be exploring and sharing what I find, as well as expounding on my opinions as to how we can stop this spiral to oblivion.

I would also love to hear what other peoples thoughts are as this is such an emotive issue.

Oh and as my first disclaimer, I am currently childless and wish to remain so. The last thing I think this world needs is another mouth to feed. Maybe I can inspire others to think before they too add to our populace.