BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?

Subject: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 04:24 AM

A Serious Problem

The link speaks for itself, so out of modesty I'll not add any commentary.

John

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 05:19 AM

I've seen 'holes in the ground' latrines in W. Africa (and used them!) They don't flush, and the contents stay down in the hole for usually about a month, until the concrete tank is emptied. The stench is beyond description, and of course they harbour cholera, typhus and many other dangerous germs. Most people I met often had diarrhea and those germs too stay in the tank. Rats, cockroaches, even snakes love those latrines, and during the night you risk being bitten if you need the toilet. There's no such thing as toilet paper, you take a little plastic kettle-shaped pot of water in with you, and rinse yourself. If it rains (which in those parts it does, torrentially) the whole latrine is under about six inches of water mixed with the contents of the tank. When the lorry arrives to empty it, using a large vacuum pipe, everyone vacates the area or puts a cloth over their face. No-one is interested in keeping the surrounds of the hole clean, so any faeces or urine which lands there, stays there. My husband used a toilet like this all his life. They just don't have the funds to create a whole sewage system, such as Joseph Bazalgette designed for the London area in the 1860's. People also urinate and defecate in the street. I don't know what the answer could be without a large investment of money. Most Africans are not worried about toilets, they're trying every day to find enough to eat for themselves and their children.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 08:47 AM

I figured that as soon as he read the article, Bobert would be here to tell us he's cornered the market on corncobs and is studying how to recycle them like sody pop bottles to double his money.

I guess he didn't think of it 'cause he's still usin' up that 1946 Sears & Sawbucks catalog. (Prob'ly still studyin' the tractor section.)

John

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 10:18 AM

Unfortunately, few people seem to understand the implacable equations which rule the universe. One of these relates to exponential functions. An exponential function looks sort of linear to start off with but, almost imperceptibly, it starts getting steeper and then, effectively, goes vertical. Such an exponential function describes human population growth. Soon we'll be expanding out from the Solar System at the speed of light (well we won't because massive over-population will kill us all off long before we get to that stage).

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 10:35 AM

Heard/saw this on the morning news this morning...soooooooo...

Whenever life get you down, Mudcatters
And things seem hard or tough
And people are stupid, obnoxious or daft
And you feel that you've had quite enough.......

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving
And revolving at 900 miles an hour
That's orbiting at 19 miles a second, so it's reckoned
A sun that is the source of all our power
The sun and you and me, and all the stars that we can see
Are moving at a million miles a day
In an outer spiral arm, at 40,000 miles an hour
Of the galaxy we call the Milky Way

Our galaxy itself contains 100 billion stars
It's 100,000 light-years side-to-side
It bulges in the middle, 16,000 light-years thick
But out by us it's just 3000 light-years wide
We're 30,000 light-years from galactic central point
We go round every 200 million years
And our galaxy is only one of millions of billions
In this amazing and expanding universe

The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding
In all of the directions it can whiz
As fast as it can go, at the speed of light you know
Twelve million miles a minute and that's the fastest speed there is
So remember, when you're feeling very small and insecure
How amazingly unlikely is your birth
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space
Because there's bugger all down here on Earth

source - Monty Python's Flying Circus

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 10:55 AM

I `ad that JohnInKansas in my cab the other day looking quite pleased with `imself.
`e said, "Good morning Jim. Take me to the usual please."
I said, "Rightaway John. You`re looking `appy as Larry today."
`e said, "I just started a new thread on that Mudcat entitled "World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week". I reckon it might go on a while."
I said, "Blimey!. Seven billion? Thats` a lot of POOP!!"

Whaddam I Like??

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:17 AM

Excessive population WILL be controlled...........by us, in a reasonable way, or by natural forces in an unpleasant way.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:25 AM

Bill D just opened the Mudcat worm can....

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:27 AM

BTW...watched a program on BBC America just last night on the problem of fresh water. They focused on Jordan, whose population has doubled (for various reasons) in the last decade, making water so precious that small farmers are buying it--trucked in-- just to keep chickens & rabbits.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:31 AM

World's population soon to hit 7 billion Bill, Listening to the news this morning and heard that India will be the country to watch in the near future as far as population growth is concerned

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:47 AM

It will be a major one to watch...indeed.

A major problem with ANY attempt to limit growth is that 'most' business models are built on growth. Any serious restrictions on reproduction would have very awkward consequences in the financial sector for a couple generations.

Humans simply do not comprehend a 'steady-state' economy. (Studies of how population is controlled on places like Pitcairn Island are... ummm... interesting)

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,John from Kemsing
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:48 AM

To keep things in proportion it is worth considering the article by Tom Chivers in today`s "The Daily Telegraph" on the above subject. It would appear that all the predictions of doomsday and catastrophe by eminent researchers, dating back to the middle 1800`s and up to very recently have proven to be off the mark. It is suggested that man`s ingenuity and technology has increased the food supply for all at a far greater rate than the rising population. Maybe our job is to ensure better distribution. It cannot be that difficult when soft fruits from South America can be in British supermarkets in no time at all.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:55 AM

I watched a short TV article on Zambia, where women have many babies and the population is soaring. An educated Health Worker stated (and I agree) that the answer is to empower women in developing countries, enabling them to make their own decisions about contraception. At the moment, women are mainly under the thrall of their menfolk, who won't permit contraception. If women decided the size of their families, I'd imagine they'd opt for fewer children.
By the way, my husband has thirteen siblings, his father has three wives and there are over 60 people in his family courtyard using the ONE 'toilet' I described above. If there had only been one wife and, say, two children, the amount of excrement etc would have been very much reduced!

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 12:01 PM

".. that all the predictions of doomsday and catastrophe by eminent researchers, dating back to the middle 1800`s and up to very recently have proven to be off the mark."

The predictions have been the result of inadequate information and bad math...not of basic flawed theory.
My father used to ask us boys: "If you were carrying all the feathers you could carry, could you carry one more?" We were confused how to answer...just as the world is now unsure how to answer whether "If the world can support 7 billion, can it support 8? or 10? or 49?

We boys knew we could not carry 4 tons of feathers...or even 300 lbs, but I have gradually learned that it was the way the question was phrased that was confusing.

The earth will not support 467 Billion.... and a little study will show that it is not really 'supporting' 7 billion now.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 12:18 PM

Tom Chivers article in today`s Telegraph is one source of information just as the link I posted above, to CBC Canada is another source
here's another one

World's population soon to hit 7 billion

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 12:27 PM

Yes...and one link inside that article is this:

http://populationmatters.org/2011/blog/population-crash-kill-economy-good-news-planet/ ... which provides some details to my mention of the economy. One issue IS that as we live longer and birth rate declines in 1st world countries, there are not enough young to care for... or pay into Social Security and other support for the elderly.. (and *I* am 72!) Even in 3rd world areas, many children were always the rule to do the necessary work.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 12:35 PM

No shit?

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 12:36 PM

At risk of having my motives misunderstood, I was wondering if the fecal output from politicians and news reporters is higher per capita than from the rest of the population.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 12:40 PM

No...it just seems that way!

- Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 12:56 PM

Hmmmm...here we go....

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 01:04 PM

The chimp often pops in to deflect serious discussion....maybe it's spoiled bananas. Or, perhaps some topics are just to uncomfortable to look at directly for many. 'Humor' is often a way of easing some ideas.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 01:28 PM

I've taken shit seriously for years. The situation reminds me of a story I read decades ago--can't recall title or author--in which people had to find a way to deal with a similar situation. Wasn't about shit, per se, but rather about a company using raw materials and having all this garbage left over. Someone had the bright idea to find a use for the garbage and offer it for free to anyone wishing to start a business. Someone did and the problem in the story was solved.

Shit has minerals and other chemicals that are valuable. Why waste time mining for those minerals or fabricating them when they have already been pre-processed?

Shit has humourous potential also. GASP. Humour and shit in the same sentence?

Taoism: Shit happens.
Confucianism: Confucius say, "Shit happens."
Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn't really shit.
Zen Buddhism: Shit is, and is not.
Zen Buddhism #2: What is the sound of shit happening?
Hinduism: This shit has happened before.
Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah.
Islam #2: If shit happens, kill the person responsible.
Islam #3: If shit happens, blame Israel.
Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it.
Protestantism: Let shit happen to someone else.
Presbyterian: This shit was bound to happen.
Episcopalian: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve the right wine with it.
Methodist: It's not so bad if shit happens, as long as you serve grape juice with it.

(The above can be found on the www. First saw it in pre-computer days. There are lots more 'religions' on the list, lest anyone of a particular persuasion feel left out. Just google it.)


I take some shit seriously, and other shit less seriously. I tend to decide which is which for myself. Have a nice day, all.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 01:39 PM

no one forced anyone to read any of this, now did they?

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 01:54 PM

You're absolutely right, BTNG. Well said.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Amos
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 02:54 PM

I think the 7 billion milestone represents a really terrific opportunity to develop new and better ways to operate in communities.

We've only done a half-assed job of it so far.


A

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 02:56 PM

we'd have to actually work together to achieve that, and for many that's well nigh impossible

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 03:06 PM

I think we have been over this before, but...the issue is *sustainability.* When the world was younger, there were perhaps so many millions of humans. And they had a much smaller appetite for resources. Now there are a several thousand multiples of that number. And our appetites are also thousands of times what the earlier humans used. The earth simply cannot provide for us at this rate.

Water is a lurking crisis. Any minute now. It takes something like 3,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. Is that the best way to use this precious and limited resource? And that "miraculous" agriculture is based on petroleum. Is petroleum infinite? Yes, of course. There are dinosaurs dying and decaying as we speak to supply us with new petroleum. The seas are about 80% fished out. And so on...

For starters. With so many people and such out of balance resource demands, we are basically f***ed. We can slow down the process of our destruction, but the wheels are in motion, a big ole freight train going down the mountain, faster, faster. Nature and evolution will take care of the job since we have proven ourselves unable to do it.

Hava nice day.

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 03:42 PM

A serious look at shit.

'Mankind's food chain may become a loop

Mankind has come up with all sorts of ideas for new meat sources from cloned animals to chowing down on insects, but this idea may be the most outlandish yet.

The Tokyo Sewage service in Japan serves over 13 million people over approximately a 2,200 square kilometer area. It approached Mitsuyuki Ikeda, a researcher from the Okayama Laboratory, with an unusual problem -- it had too much "sewer mud" (also known as human excrement).

It turns out human excrement is a breeding ground for scores of bacteria. So Mr. Ikeda cooked up an unusual solution -- make food [video] out of the feces.

The first step is to cook the bacteria, killing them, and to extract their proteins via separation techniques according to Yahoo News. Soy protein is added to enhance the flavor. The meat mixture travels to a "reaction enhancer" (likely a chemical reactor of some sort) where it turns into a textured "meat" and is then extrude through an "exploder".

The delicious "steak" is even finished with red food color to give it a comforting hue. Mr. Ikeda claims that in initial testing people found the feces steak to taste somewhat like beef.

Mr. Ikeda is afraid the main obstacle to deploying excrement meat to the masses is the "psychological barrier." He states, "I admit that few people would be keen to eat it knowing its made of human excrement."

Indeed, the concept of "fake" meat alone is hard for some to swallow. Taco Bell was recently sued when diners discovered that its beef mixed "fake meat" filers with real meat.

How much would the "meat" cost? Mr. Ikeda comments, "As far as the cost is concerned, because at the moment it includes the cost of research our artificial meat is 10 to 20 times more expensive than normal meat. But once the research is complete and it's put on the market, we'll probably be able to price it at roughly the same level as normal meat."

The new "meat" is also healthier than traditional meat as it's an ideal mix of 63% proteins, 25% carbohydrates, 3% lipids and 9% minerals. The small fat content, in particular makes the feces steaks healthier than their animal counterpart.

The new meat would also cut down on the greenhouse gas emissions, which traditional livestock produce. In that regard it could even earn "carbon credits" helping its price to be cheaper than animal-derived meat.

The idea may sound crazy, but consider that Japan is no stranger to fine meat products. Its Kobe region beef is renowned by connoisseurs worldwide for it's delicious flavor.

And as the band Pink Floyd famously sang, "If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?!"'

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 03:44 PM

I think we'll soon have to ask ourselves some hard and searching questions, such as: "Are we rational beings who can make wise choices? Or are we some sort of mindless plague organism which is presently infecting the biosphere?"

I've been talking recently with several groups of people who consider themselves to be 'Green'. What strikes me about them is that all of their thinking and actions are completely human centred; they appear to have no conception, whatsoever, about the rest of the biosphere and how it works and how they relate to it - apart from being aware of and 'concerned' about climate change, of course (until the next fashionable thing to be concerned about comes along). They talk (mainly talk) about solar panels, community allotments, rickshaws, re-cycling etc., etc., etc. I suspect that they really want something resembling 'business as usual' with trendy, home-knitted yoghurt and sesame seed shoes standing in for conspicuous consumption. If even 'greenies' are more interested in fashion than in facts and realities, then our species really is f***ed!

Sometimes I despair - but I'm 63 now, so, soon after I've 'popped my clogs' someone else will have to sort 'it' out (or, more probably, stupidly succumb to 'it').

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 03:56 PM

Triple 9, did you research that at all? It is a hoax. Something one might read on "The Onion," methinks.

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 04:15 PM

DailyTech - Japanese Make "Delicious", Nourishing Steaks From ...

That is the article it's from Saul--you'll have to google it--, although The Onion IS the first site I visit when I turn on the computer each day. The Onion gives me a laugh and sometimes an outright guffaw.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 04:18 PM

"Sometimes I despair - but I'm 63 now, so, soon after I've 'popped my clogs' someone else will have to sort 'it' out (or, more probably, stupidly succumb to 'it')."

Shimrod, I feel as you do (I'm 64), and what bothers me a great deal is the thought of my kids and their kids being left with the mess. Y'ain't alone.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 04:42 PM

"taste somewhat like beef"... I don't give a shit. I am BBQg a steak.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 05:12 PM

and another thread that showed promise is headed down hill

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 06:09 PM

Good link on the topic of human feces and safe uses for it (aside from slinging)

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 06:29 PM

The population is moving beyond the plant's sustainability. If mankind was rational, steps would be taken to stop breeding.
Postponing the inevitable collapse by whatever means is not a solution.
China' one-child effort is a stop-gap; even if adopted by all, may still be too late.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 06:35 PM

I worked on a special project for the EPA back when it was brand-new, and my partner on that project just retired after 35 years as a high (GS-15 supervisor) at EPA. Our concern originally was to relate the various environmental problems to each other-- to gain some perspective about what was most important and how to even define the categories of problems.
With that beginning, I have followed the debate since 1969 (and read a lot even earlier...Rachael Carson, Paul Ehrlich...etc.) It soon became evident..(to me, anyway)... that there was a changing analysis and rating of serious problems, depending on advances in technology, unforeseen issues and 'popular causes of the moment' (often linked to some new book or celebrity). No surprise there.

   What gradually dawned on me was that in all this, there was one overriding, eternal concern which, if not dealt with, would make all other solutions to various problems merely temporary band-aids.
I mean, of course, population. IF we conquer various diseases, develop non-polluting energy, make amazing new advances in crop research, and find ways to recycle waste(including shit!), we still face the math that says the Earth will not support 157 billion people.

   Saulgoldie mentions *sustainability*. In our EPA project, we used the term "carrying capacity". We studied that regarding the Anasazi culture in Utah. When you have to carry food & other supplies & down wooden ladders and create villages on narrow ledges, you are limited in how many people can live there---even when weather and supplies are adequate. Same thing on small islands, as I mentioned before. Even when the fishing is good and you are lucky with storms, you can't over breed! There are 'natural controls' if the tribe doesn't have some cultural controls.
So... the Earth is simply one VERY big island whose limits are really hard to predict and visualize. We HAVE done wonders with agriculture and irrigation and such...but as in Jordan, there are limits showing up.
We gotta face it.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 06:57 PM

I met Dr Erlich in Hershey, PA, back in the 1960s. He was warning about the problem then. Some of his predictions were way off, but others are coming true.

"What gradually dawned on me was that in all this, there was one overriding, eternal concern which, if not dealt with, would make all other solutions to various problems merely temporary band-aids."

It's too bad it ain't dawning on the whole world, Bill. We may be too late already, short of a mass killing of about 3 billion people.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 06:58 PM

Oh there will be denial, from the usual suspects I have no doubt, but I suspect that we passed the sustainability point a wee while ago

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 07:23 PM

I 'think' the optimum sustainable population (in which we could provide a 'decent' living for almost everyone) was at about 2-2 1/2 billion. At 4 billion we could cope, though with some problems. Anyone can read about the current levels and how it's affecting not only environment, but politics and culture.

Is there an answer? Sure...of sorts. We can't undo 'some' things (extinct species...etc.) but we could get back to the 2-3 billion level in a couple of generations.
I say 'could', but almost no one would agree to take the necessary steps. You think the metaphor "herding cats" sounds like trouble? Try a program of Universal Mandatory birth control involving random implants- some contraceptive, some not... for all 12 year old girls.....

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: pdq
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 07:27 PM

Just for the record, the United States has:

            4.5% of the world's population

            7% of the world's land mass

            produces 20% of the world's food

            enjoys 25% of the world's wealth

Also, all population growth here since 1972 has been from immigration. The American
people took the threat of over-population seriously and we reduuced our birth rate to
achieve Zero Population Growth by free will and not by government intervention.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bobert
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 07:31 PM

Sorry, John, but seein' as Sears don't put out those 600 page catalogs any more I been stockin' up on corncobs... Don't bother trying to find my stash... You won't find 'um but I'm good thru 2030...

BTW, I demand a recount!!! Me and the Wes Ginny Slide Rule have the world's population at a mere 6.8B and don't anticipate the big seven-oh until late 2012...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 08:06 PM

"Also, all population growth here since 1972 has been from immigration."

source? I have no doubt that immigration is a major part...but ALL? Since 72? Remember, some parts of society have a higher birth rate than others

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 08:08 PM

there's always those who'll dispute....

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: BTNG
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 08:15 PM

current U.S population: 312,500,435

my source, you ask?

why it's the U.S. Census Bureau

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 08:31 PM

I can find all sorts of data about the Hispanic % of the population, but nothing yet about immigration specifically. So many PDFs...so little time.

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 11:35 PM

Saulgoldie says "...but...the issue is *sustainability.* "

In the context of the article cited, isn't it more about "pileability"?

Bobert wants a recount: The official estimate by the UN committe on population (whatever its real name is) is that on 31 May 2011 the world population will become three billion.

3,000,000,000 or 3x10⁹.

John

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 27 Oct 11 - 04:29 AM

"...the issue is *sustainability.* "

Another issue is the way that governments and Big Business take legitimate concerns about the environment and subvert them to mask their usual environment destroying activities. For example, the British Government now routinely talks about "sustainable development" - when they really mean just plain old 'development' (i.e. concreting over as much of the world as possible for private gain).

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Oct 11 - 05:53 AM

Although it's difficult to find good figures on where the population growth in the US has come from (without more effort than I want to put into the project) I've noticed a couple of articles that assert that the birth rate in the US has been below "maintenance" level for at least a few years. This means that fewer are born than die in any given year.

The reports quite probably are biased by recent increases in longevity, since reducing the outgo demands a lower input in order to maintain a constant level. People are living longer in the US than even a decade or two ago.

There are some doubts that increases in median age can continue to be sustained at the same level too far into the future, so that at some point the "excess population" represented by those who in past generations "should have died by now" begin to drop out. The expectation would be that with a stable median age, the current birth rate in the US is at least near a zero growth level, and quite possibly significantly lower than is realized, for those "born in the USA."

John

Subject: RE: BS: World Poopulation 7 Billion Next Week?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Oct 11 - 07:06 AM

7 Population Milestones for 7 Billion People By Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer, gives some numbers for those interested, with some chatty blather about what was going on in the world when the "n-billion" marks have been estimated to have occured.

John