Is the world getting better?

[entropy]

I meant no offense. I meant that there are muslims all over the world, in non-muslim countries, demanding special treatment. I didn't mean that all muslims demand such things or all immigrants demand such things.

I took no offence at all. I backed your statement by the example of myself.

[Ironduke]

I for one don't believe there's enough resources in the world to go around for everybody to enjoy a Western standard of living. Population growth needs to be checked then reversed.

In the future I see any number of small wars arising as a result of conflict over land and resources in regions where conditions are marginal. A prime example would be Darfur, which is masqueraded as an Arab-Black or Muslim/non-Muslim conflict in the media, but is actually a conflict over land for farming and grazing, as are countless other conflicts in Africa, probably most.

I see a possibility of Balkanization in Indonesia, with East Timor, Aceh, and West Papua in mind.

[entropy]

I for one don't believe there's enough resources in the world to go around for everybody to enjoy a Western standard of living. Population growth needs to be checked then reversed.

In the future I see any number of small wars arising as a result of conflict over land and resources in regions where conditions are marginal. A prime example would be Darfur, which is masqueraded as an Arab-Black or Muslim/non-Muslim conflict in the media, but is actually a conflict over land for farming and grazing, as are countless other conflicts in Africa, probably most.

I see a possibility of Balkanization in Indonesia, with East Timor, Aceh, and West Papua in mind.

I foresee a war with Ethiopia soon. Their lands are fertile, and Sudan and/or Eritrea probably want to do something.
I wonder what would happen to Somalia.

[JAD_333]

I for one don't believe there's enough resources in the world to go around for everybody to enjoy a Western standard of living. Population growth needs to be checked then reversed.

Glad to see someone raise that issue. Definately worth a separate thread.

Some experts say not to worry; there's plenty to go around for the foreseeable future. I find that hard to believe.

[glyn]

Glad to see someone raise that issue. Definately worth a separate thread.

Some experts say not to worry; there's plenty to go around for the foreseeable future. I find that hard to believe.

Zero population growth, on a world-wide basis should be a major priority.

[entropy]

Zero population growth, on a world-wide basis should be a major priority.

You guys had the Maxim gun while the others didn't, why did you not solve the problem for us?

[Parihaka]

we can feed the world right now with current production levels, 3 square meals a day. Give everyone access to clean water. It's not a population problem. Cut the population of the earth in half, and you'd still have the same stupid 'leaders' starving and driving out their people. The same famines, the same wars. It's about use and abuse of power, not numbers.

[JAD_333]

we can feed the world right now with current production levels, 3 square meals a day. Give everyone access to clean water. It's not a population problem. Cut the population of the earth in half, and you'd still have the same stupid 'leaders' starving and driving out their people. The same famines, the same wars. It's about use and abuse of power, not numbers.

No doubt you are right when it comes to food and water, but when it comes to a car or two in every driveway, a full set of kitchen appliances, and the whole range of consumer products, what then?

You not only have to provide the natural resources for all these things, but the resources to build the factories and distribute the products. It adds up to an enormous amount of material and energy. How much I don't know.

When I was a kid no one had air conditioning; we sweltered thru the summer, but managed. Now nearly every home, office, car and store in the western world has it and the far east seems to be catching up. The energy to run the units adds up to the annual output of X power plants which impose on us the sight of more and more overhead power lines. Imagine the whole world demanding air conditioning. What will the cost be on the environment in terms of natural resources? Common sense tells us the drain on finite resources will be huge. And that's just one western luxury.

[Parihaka]

On the button. Energy resources are the greatest challenges facing us this century. We've been lazy over the last 500 years in developing where and how we generate and use power, using antiquated systems because it's been readily available at little immediate cost. Not least because of our reliance on oil and all the fighting that it has caused, we need to concentrate on other sources. The universe is jam packed with energy, in fact is nothing BUT energy, but the way we utilise it, what sources we use, and the waste we generate are all central issues.
As an example: or all the appliances in your house, how many have a transformer to reduce the level of power to a level those appliances actually use, and waste the rest in heat?
Why does every cell phone or computer have a different transformer and plug, so when you update your phone or laptop, you have to buy a new transformer as well?
We need to get a lot smarter in how we generate and how we use energy.

[entropy]

On the button. Energy resources are the greatest challenges facing us this century. We've been lazy over the last 500 years in developing where and how we generate and use power, using antiquated systems because it's been readily available at little immediate cost. Not least because of our reliance on oil and all the fighting that it has caused, we need to concentrate on other sources. The universe is jam packed with energy, in fact is nothing BUT energy, but the way we utilise it, what sources we use, and the waste we generate are all central issues.
As an example: or all the appliances in your house, how many have a transformer to reduce the level of power to a level those appliances actually use, and waste the rest in heat?
Why does every cell phone or computer have a different transformer and plug, so when you update your phone or laptop, you have to buy a new transformer as well?
We need to get a lot smarter in how we generate and how we use energy.

Nuclear energy is the future.

Or a decaying civilization with naked hippies dancing in the Sun is the future.

[Parihaka]

Nuclear energy is the future.

Or a decaying civilization with naked hippies dancing in the Sun is the future.

Nuclear energy is just a baby, but that is about the size of it. Take your pick.

[entropy]

Nuclear energy is just a baby, but that is about the size of it. Take your pick.

Sir, could you please paraphrase your post? My English is already asleep while I'm still awake.

[Parihaka]

Sir, could you please paraphrase your post? My English is already asleep while I'm still awake.

Sorry, I was simply saying that while nuclear energy isn't the simple answer, I agree with your statement that the choice between using new energy sources or as you say "a decaying civilization with naked hippies dancing in the Sun" is the stark choice we now have.
Develop or die.

[gunnut]

We can feed many more people than what we have now. We also have enough resources to provide everyone on this earth with decent living like clean water, adequate food, and keep infectious diseases in check.

The problem is with distribution of said resources.

[JAD_333]

Why does every cell phone or computer have a different transformer and plug, so when you update your phone or laptop, you have to buy a new transformer as well?

Often wonder about that myself, expecially since I have a zillion of them languishing in a box in my garage. Lack of standardization or universality seems to be the problem. Do you notice how much heat they put out...waste, I suppose.

Marketing is a bedfellow of waste; one example; you can buy 6 and 8 foot kits for porch rails made of vinyl. If you only need 5 ft or 6 ft 2 ", the rest is waste, the top and bottom rail and all the unused ballesters-all scrap...it takes oil to make them! Why do they do it? Fits in box; truck loading is easier and no loose inventory and they sell more goods by selling waste.
There are hundreds of schemes like that in just my trade. You should see the wire wasted after an electrical rough in or the metal and ducting materials after an HVAC one, or have you already?

We need to get a lot smarter in how we generate and how we use energy.

And fast.