Comments - Population pressure in Africa - Social and Economic impacts (Part 2) - Urgent Evoke2024-03-29T09:49:22Zhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=4871302%3ABlogPost%3A38925&xn_auth=noWe think of having more peopl…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-23:4871302:Comment:574032010-03-23T03:43:09.465ZDaniel LaLibertehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/DanielLaLiberte
We think of having more people as a problem but that is true only because each person requires a certain amount of resources, and we are still stuck in a non-renewable, wasteful economy.<br />
<br />
But what happens when we build more renewable energy production than we need, so that then we can take the extra energy and clean up all our mess? We have enormous quantities of renewable energy available to us, but we have to build stuff to get it, which at this point, still requires some non-renewable…
We think of having more people as a problem but that is true only because each person requires a certain amount of resources, and we are still stuck in a non-renewable, wasteful economy.<br />
<br />
But what happens when we build more renewable energy production than we need, so that then we can take the extra energy and clean up all our mess? We have enormous quantities of renewable energy available to us, but we have to build stuff to get it, which at this point, still requires some non-renewable resources.<br />
<br />
We can soon switch over to 100% renewable energy, and recycle (almost) 100% of materials. If we do that, then we have reduced our ecological footprint to zero, or even less than zero. If we do that, then it doesn't matter how many people we have, at least regarding resources. We still take up some space, but ... by that time we can move to outer space.<br />
<br />
It still matters how productive each person can be, because it is people who have to build all this stuff, and maintain it, and improve it over time. Yes I believe that that's wha…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-23:4871302:Comment:572452010-03-23T02:15:06.837ZComelia Tanghttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/CHT
Yes I believe that that's what I mentioned in my 1st blog...infant mortality rate decreased due to increased in standard of living but people continue giving birth at the same rate, the population just keeps on increasing. Overpopulation = resources being depleted and that's one of the reasons for concern. Hmmm I dong get your last part, dan... What was the question again?
Yes I believe that that's what I mentioned in my 1st blog...infant mortality rate decreased due to increased in standard of living but people continue giving birth at the same rate, the population just keeps on increasing. Overpopulation = resources being depleted and that's one of the reasons for concern. Hmmm I dong get your last part, dan... What was the question again? When you post a blog, you hav…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-23:4871302:Comment:572192010-03-23T01:57:55.201ZDaniel LaLibertehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/DanielLaLiberte
When you post a blog, you have those options at the bottom as to whether comments are open. Maybe she closed comments accidently. Or maybe she didn't want the noise. Probably can be changed by an admin after posting.<br />
<br />
I also wanted to reply, so will do it here, since it is related to this blog as well.<br />
<br />
I believe that, somewhat ironically, population growth is almost inevitable in order to <b>promote</b> development. The reason is that development will lead to a decrease in the number of…
When you post a blog, you have those options at the bottom as to whether comments are open. Maybe she closed comments accidently. Or maybe she didn't want the noise. Probably can be changed by an admin after posting.<br />
<br />
I also wanted to reply, so will do it here, since it is related to this blog as well.<br />
<br />
I believe that, somewhat ironically, population growth is almost inevitable in order to <b>promote</b> development. The reason is that development will lead to a decrease in the number of childhood deaths and lengthened lives, and so an increase in population. People will not reduce the number of children they have until sometime <b>after</b> they are confident that fewer children will survive. Education can help shorten the lag, but it requires a change of culture, and that can take a generation or more.<br />
<br />
The increased number of surviving children is an additional burden on the environment, at least until we learn how to reduce our ecological footprint to zero, or less. But if we do, then what? Wow, I admire your work. Very…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-18:4871302:Comment:451732010-03-18T20:55:10.079ZFelix Albushttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/FelixAlbus
Wow, I admire your work. Very nice!
Wow, I admire your work. Very nice! @Jenn, I know, me too and I g…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-18:4871302:Comment:448922010-03-18T19:09:54.654ZComelia Tanghttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/CHT
@Jenn, I know, me too and I guess most of us has something to say about it. maybe I should ask Shakwei.
@Jenn, I know, me too and I guess most of us has something to say about it. maybe I should ask Shakwei. I don't know, I really wanted…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-18:4871302:Comment:448602010-03-18T19:01:24.681ZJennhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/Jenn
I don't know, I really wanted to comment because I thought it was an amazing post!<br />
<br />
Pan, will do.
I don't know, I really wanted to comment because I thought it was an amazing post!<br />
<br />
Pan, will do. @Jenn, why were comments clos…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-18:4871302:Comment:448392010-03-18T18:52:13.047ZComelia Tanghttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/CHT
@Jenn, why were comments closed for shakwei's post?
@Jenn, why were comments closed for shakwei's post? Wow, great conversation! I go…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-18:4871302:Comment:448212010-03-18T18:46:20.859ZJennhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/Jenn
Wow, great conversation! I got a lot from Shakwei's post related to this one as well, which I'd encourage anyone interested to read: <a href="http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/fact-or-fiction-1" target="_blank">http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/fact-or-fiction-1</a>. It strikes me that LAND REFORM could also play a big part of the answer here!
Wow, great conversation! I got a lot from Shakwei's post related to this one as well, which I'd encourage anyone interested to read: <a href="http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/fact-or-fiction-1" target="_blank">http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/fact-or-fiction-1</a>. It strikes me that LAND REFORM could also play a big part of the answer here! In BE 117 Trajan's Empire, at…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-16:4871302:Comment:393422010-03-16T20:28:46.130ZWintermutehttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/Wintermute
In BE 117 Trajan's Empire, at it's height had provinces in Northern Africa which formed the bread basket of the Roman Empire. Europe to a greater or lesser degree has always been involved in Africa. The two are inextricably linked because mankind as we know it, developed in East Africa.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RomanEmpire_117.svg" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RomanEmpire_117.svg</a><br />
<br />
The history of Africa is a very interesting subject; The Dry Phase ca…
In BE 117 Trajan's Empire, at it's height had provinces in Northern Africa which formed the bread basket of the Roman Empire. Europe to a greater or lesser degree has always been involved in Africa. The two are inextricably linked because mankind as we know it, developed in East Africa.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RomanEmpire_117.svg" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RomanEmpire_117.svg</a><br />
<br />
The history of Africa is a very interesting subject; The Dry Phase ca 5000 BCE expanded the Sahara Desert, scattering the populations of that region. The Sahara then became a natural barrier to travel and trade, which, combined with the rise of the Mediterranean empires (which moved the center of civilization north), effectively isolated lower Africa. Due to this isolation the development of Africa halted. There was no need to develop, because their was no large foreign population to compete against for resources. To answer your question, Yes had the Europeans not come back to lower Africa I believe it would have developed along it's natural course. Was that course parallel to other European or even Asian nations? That's a hard one to call, but lets think about it.<br />
<br />
For the sake of argument lets say that in the race for civilization the gun goes off at roughly 16,000 BCE when Agriculture is believe to have emerged in East Africa. The race ends with European Exploration by the Portuguese in 1434 CE.<br />
<br />
In the 17,434 years that passed between those two events think of the great chasm that developed. Mass systems of Agriculture that keep millions fed. Great ships that would soon circumnavigate the globe. Gun powder, modern society, mass education. Not only technological developments but progress in mathematics, economics, science, medicine, philosophy.<br />
<br />
It's fair to believe that at some point their would have been some revolutionary event that would have launched Africa into the modern era. I also believe that it's fair to say that since the change didn't happen for 17,434 years, that it wasn't going to happen.<br />
<br />
So what? So what that Africa didn't develop the the rifle, the sexton, consider the benefits of the crossbow vs the longbow. Just because Europe developed those things and Africa did not, doesn't make them any better. The true measure of a country will always be it's people. The developments of the Europeans have allowed for lower infant death rates, higher education rates, and an over better quality of life.<br />
<br />
In conclusion I am for European intervention--but not the plundering kind of the 1400s. I want to go to Africa and bring back to our birth place all the wonders we have discovered. To give and to teach so that they too can enjoy the quality of life that so many of us enjoy. Its one of those question's w…tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-03-16:4871302:Comment:392892010-03-16T19:56:39.723ZRadhika Darbarihttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/RadhikaDarbari
Its one of those question's we'll nver know the definate answer to underfotunately. My opinion though I think they would have developed better had colonization not occured. They would look different from what the western cultures look like today but it would I believe strongly have prevented a lot of conflict and internal conflict and instablitily which resulted of an outside coming and enforcing something completely different without completely considering the people there. People have…
Its one of those question's we'll nver know the definate answer to underfotunately. My opinion though I think they would have developed better had colonization not occured. They would look different from what the western cultures look like today but it would I believe strongly have prevented a lot of conflict and internal conflict and instablitily which resulted of an outside coming and enforcing something completely different without completely considering the people there. People have different ways and cultures, even within a nation but most nations still have a unity. Colonization made people fight over that unity and made this hunt for power which I believe is a big reason we see so many rebels and internal corruptions in Africa for example.