"Eric Chomko" wrote in message
...
Paul F. Dietz ) wrote:
: Eric Chomko wrote:

: Could the world's population of today (~6.3 billion) fit inside the
world as we
: knew it back in 1492 (Asia, Europe and Africa)? Or, did we need to
find the New
: World to expand mankind?

: Easily. Africa alone could feed 15 billion people at currently
achievable crop
: yields.

What? 15 billion people on what? Most people in Africa eat much worse than
the rest of the world. If what you say is true (and I doubt it), then it
is a sad statement about humanity in general regarding our ability to feed
ourselves.


Unfortunately it is a sad statement about humanity. Witness Ethopia, a
country once known as Africa's breadbasket. It was a next exporter of grain
before the Communists came to power. Then it became a net importer as much
of the population starved to death.


: Tell me about that crystal ball you own that lets you see a decline in
the Earth's
: population. When is the population going to start decreasing and at
what rate?
: Also where?

: The UN gives population projections quite frequently; go look at them.
While
: rediction is always difficult, there are strong trends around the world
toward
: lower birth rates, falling below replacement in nearly all
industrialized countries.
: As the populations age (and this happens automatically after the birth
rates
: decline) the death rate begins to increase, so after coasting on
"demographic
: momentum" the population will begin to fall.


I have heard about this decline. But I have never actually seen an example
of it.

Look at the median age in Japan.

: This fall is starting in Japan, will start soon in Europe, and will
likely
: happen elsewhere as economies develop.

Yes, the CIA prediction.

: The big long term problem appears to be how to keep industrial societies
from
: suffering population collapse.

We shall see. As of yet I see the earth increase in population like a
clock!


Then learn to tell time.

Eric