I am all for new technology and greater equality/equity in resource consumption. But it is hard to escape the conclusion that at some point the sheer increase in population also has to be tackled. If we can't do this by rational and humane birth control methods it is difficult to see how huge scale wars, poverty, famine and disease can be avoided.
However birth control also requires that a universal social security safety net be provided for the aged, because the primary function of high fertility rates in poverty stricken countries is to provide for the security needs of the elderly.
If we do not act quickly, this will become an ever more vicious exponentially escalating cycle - increased rates of poverty leading to increased fertility rates leading to.... "It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
The lack of water is going to wreck ecosystems, just think how many people are in imminent danger of losing their water supply in the US SW. Think about Northern china which is rapidly desertifiying now and government efforts to prevent this are simply spreading the bad news south. that's without thinking about how pollution is srecking their agricultural capacity.
India is facing a real crisis from half a century of water mismanagement and corruption.
East Africa starves so that Egypt can send soft fruit to British supermarkets.
These things are happening now. Right now. Even as we speak. By 2020 these events won't be beginning, they'll be in the end phase and 100s of millions may well be dead.
I get scared sometimes, really scared, about what is going to happen. keep to the Fen Causeway
