Do you believe the world as a whole is overpopulated and therefore at or close to the absolute limit of what it can support? That’s the question we put to our Underground Knowledge group members in our latest poll on Goodreads.com.
Interim poll results show that 57% of respondents believe planet Earth is not overpopulated, some 37% insist it is, and the balance (6%) are unsure.
Poll respondents’ comments make for interesting reading. Sample abridged comments (names withheld) follow:
I do not believe the world is overpopulated and believe the problem is actually a lack of fair distribution of resources, lack of priority given toward environmentalism and various other issues I’ve outlined in these two discussion threads: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/… and https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/…
If you enjoy living in a world with no wild animals, no wild spaces, not open frontiers but enjoy snuggling up in cramped conditions with billions of people like you eating mass produced food and if you do not care that we are facing a massive decline in variety of specis of flora and fauna, the big species extinction wave, then with all those “if”s accepted, the world is not overpopulated for you.
The world is not overpopulated, the problem is such a wretched distribution of food, of wealth, of the basic necessities of life. Much too much is concentrated in the hands of the few, of the horridly corrupt. What if we stopped these insane endless wars and used that money to put in a well, a roof over the heads of families, food on their tables, medical care? Would we not all sleep better?
The world is not Close to the Limit, it has past it.
If the world had past its limit to support life you and every other human being on the planet would already be dead…
The population of the planet has more than doubled in my lifetime. Clearly this is not sustainable. Already there are many signs of strain, in species extinctions, widespread homelessness and hunger, pollution, climate change, wars over resources, etc. There are other factors involved but overpopulation fuels them all. By any standard the planet is grossly overpopulated now. It is not just a matter of space.
There’s loads of space. That’s not a problem. We could build islands, extend coastlines, utilize currently uninhabitable spaces…We’re not overpopulated but we sure as hell need to sort out our distribution and use of resources.
To view all the comments, or better still to have YOUR say, go to: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/142309-underground-knowledge—a-discussion-group?type=group
Poll ends June 30 PST.
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Our Underground Knowledge discussion group is aimed at those with an interest in the world we live in and a desire to learn or to uncover “underground knowledge” on important issues of our times.
Everyone’s welcome to join! All you need is an enquiring mind. Our members include scientists, social activists, teachers, historians, authors, military and intelligence agency personnel, bankers, housewives, whistleblowers, students, former police officers, journalists, readers and many more.
Visit the group at: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/142309-underground-knowledge—a-discussion-group
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Morcan Books & Films 
The human population is growing by 227,000 people born per DAY on a planet with finite resources. As a result the planet has lost 52% of the animal population in the last 40 years. We are facing water and food shortages on an unprecedented level. 200 million women in developing countries want and need access to birth control. And its not only about population numbers, its also about utilization of resources. It would take 3.5 to 4 planet Earths to meet everybody’s needs for resources if everyone lived the average North American lifestyle. We cannot continue to have family sizes of 3 or more children, for the sake of the future of the children that are already here and the other beings on this planet. “When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money.”
If anyone disagrees with this post and believes the planet is not overpopulated, then please visit this link as the photos say it all: http://www.hefty.co/truth-in-pictures/
Raine – Yes people are dying of malnutrition, thirst and disease; yes nations are fighting over resources; yes there is an ever-widening gap between rich and poor; and yes much of our planet is disgustingly polluted.
However, these problems, or tragedies, need to be assessed in the context of that which is being withheld. For every Yes there’s a No.
No the world’s most advanced technologies have not been released; no there is not fair and proper distribution of wealth and resources; no we haven’t progressed beyond the strong dominating the weak through wars and the like; no the financial system has not been cleansed of corrupt bankers and economic hitmen.
When you balance the No’s against the Yes’s it becomes obvious that if we lived in a fairer world – especially one where there is greater equality and where no technology or information is ever suppressed – the planet could sustain an even bigger population. Perhaps much bigger.
The daily struggle of many for food, water and other basic necessities is more about greed and unfair political and economic systems than population levels.
It’s worth noting that throughout history, population growth has usually spurred technological advances. This was true during the Industrial Revolution, the post-WW2 years and the Space Age era; and we are witnessing it again with the explosion of computer and mobile phone technologies, which can barely keep pace with worldwide consumer demands for those products.
For more on this, check out the debate (and related poll) on “The overpopulation myth” in our Underground Knowledge Group on Goodreads… https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1961414-the-overpopulation-myth-part-1