"If you were to observe an orange with mold growing on it, what would you guess
would come to an end first, the orange or the mold? The mold will consume the
orange, until the orange is gone. The mold will either find a new source of support, or
itself will come to an end. This is the way I look at what is happening to our planet. Do
we think that we should live or die? Or simply refuse to realize our potential?
Okay, Skipper, the analogy of the mold on the orange to the people on the earth is an interesting one. While the orange is already in an advanced state of decay before mold starts taking it over, even before this begins the end result is inevitable--total rot! In order to survive, the mold must consume the orange and then look around for another good opportunity, because it has consumed its prey, so to speak.
While I think the earth could get this way as the result of overpopulation, I don't believe it is inevitable. People can act rationally, either to destroy or rebuild. They are not always moldy!! Also, the earth is huge and very solid, and nature is very powerful. People are not inherently opportunistically parasitic, I guess I am trying to say!!
I certainly believe we will need all the reason we can muster to solve these urgent problems, but what I see as disturbing is my fear that once there is a perceived alternative like outer space (no guarantees we can really get much of our population sustained there), the earth does seem disposable. I think the realization that leaving is not very probable for a very long time for large populations is the only thing that will keep us from destroying nature. Father Terrence or his decedents may be affluent enough to ride a spaceship out of here, but for most of us that will be too expensive, for hundreds of years in my opinion.
Also, I guess I do believe in natural processes. I wish someone who knows this subject well would come over and discuss the various natural means by which populations (of people, or cells, the theory is the same, I think) regulate their own numbers. I think epidemics, famines, and several other processes would fairly quickly ensure that a stressed population never gets totally out of control. |
