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Re: Gene Tinkering: YOU Are The Mice And They Don't Want You to Know



Mike Zauzig wrote:
> 
> >
> > Unfortunately, no one has told the hungry of the world they are suppose to quietly
> > starve to death. They are NOT going to go quietly but will plow up every acre (or
> > hectare) of habitat for agriculture first. Increasing agricultural yields on
> > existing agricultural lands in proportion to population growth is the only way to
> > protect existing natural habitats from destruction.
> >
> > Blair McClinton
> > b.mcclinton@sk.sympatico.ca
> 
> Isn't it obvious that the real problem is overpopulation.  Even if crop
> yields are doubled using every means available, if the population keeps
> growing, sooner or later there's not going to be enough food.  The Earth
> in only so big.  In the mean time, there will be side effects of our
> attempts to use technology to solve the problem.

Yes, population growth is the biggest limitation to resource conservation. Empirical 
evidence shows that population growth rates drop as standard of living and life 
expectancy increases. Inproving the lives of third world peoples is crucial for 
stabilizing population growth. This will require both political and agricultural 
stability in the third world for this to happen.

In the meantime, technology has helped minimize the negative effects of a growing 
population. Extensive low-yield agriculture results in deforestation and the plowing 
of natural habitats.

Blair McClinton
b.mcclinton@sk.sympatico.ca



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