Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
2 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,817 Year: 3,074/9,624 Month: 919/1,588 Week: 102/223 Day: 0/13 Hour: 0/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Monsanto - Bad Food, Good Capitalism
Genomicus
Member (Idle past 1942 days)
Posts: 852
Joined: 02-15-2012


Message 25 of 46 (687179)
01-08-2013 11:37 AM
Reply to: Message 22 by nwr
01-04-2013 3:45 PM


If we could cut the world's population to 1 billion or less, that would solve many of the problems of pollution and global warming.
I would want to see this done gradually, by reducing birth rates, rather than with a program of mass slaughter.
Yes, I think we would all prefer a reduction in birth rates over mass slaughter. But these are not the only choices, are they? The space frontier has incredible potential, so instead of trying to stem human growth (after all, from an evolutionary perspective, the more replicators we have, the better), why not colonize space?
Edited by Genomicus, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by nwr, posted 01-04-2013 3:45 PM nwr has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 27 by nwr, posted 01-08-2013 9:06 PM Genomicus has not replied
 Message 28 by xongsmith, posted 01-08-2013 10:12 PM Genomicus has not replied

  
Genomicus
Member (Idle past 1942 days)
Posts: 852
Joined: 02-15-2012


Message 26 of 46 (687181)
01-08-2013 11:49 AM


More on topic, in some circles there has been concern over rice that is being engineered with human genes.
See, here, for example:
Human genes engineered into experimental GMO rice being grown in Kansas - NaturalNews.com
What a lot people do not realize, however, is that plant genomes contain what are basically "human genes." E.g., there are quite a few plant genes that share close identity (some that are nearly 100% identical) with human genes. So eating plants that have "human genes" is not something new, and so there is no need to say things like:
"Unless the rice you buy is certified organic, or comes specifically from a farm that tests its rice crops for genetically modified (GM) traits, you could be eating rice tainted with actual human genes."
OMGZ they are making rice with actual human genes

  
Genomicus
Member (Idle past 1942 days)
Posts: 852
Joined: 02-15-2012


Message 29 of 46 (687446)
01-10-2013 5:45 PM


I don't have any problem with that. However, it will be very difficult and very expensive. I don't see it happening in time to relieve the pressures of increasing population.
Given the rate that nanotechnology and similar lines of tech are developing, I don't think space colonization is too far in the future. Vast regions of the world are uninhabited, so currently the population problem is not one of space but of resources (e.g., food). This is where technology like genetic engineering comes into play.
Re:
I would want to see this done gradually, by reducing birth rates, rather than with a program of mass slaughter.
But given that the human species is not unified under one government, how are we going to regulate the population in places where we are not in control (whoever "we" might be)? Actually, I think the biggest population problems do stem from those areas of the world in which we have but little control.
Xongsmith mounts a more formidable case for birth rate reduction:
Problem is that population increases GEOMETRICALLY. Even the exploration and colonization of space is basically a change from close to a 2-dimensional world (the surface of the earth) to a 3-dimensional world (surfaces of terraformed planets and lots and lots of space station artificial worlds).
In light of this consideration, I think it is necessary to take measures to gradually reduce the exponential growth of the human population.
The argument for colonizing space is so that an earth-destroying asteroid won't wipe us out.
That has never been my main interest in colonizing space. The conquest of space opens up a whole new world (a whole new space) of opportunity for advancement. Surely, the interest in space colonization isn't merely because of the threat of an earth-destroying asteroid?

Replies to this message:
 Message 30 by AZPaul3, posted 01-10-2013 6:58 PM Genomicus has seen this message but not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024