6,999,999,998 … 6,999,999,999 … 7 billion people … 7,000,000,001 …
Apparently we are counting down (up?) to person-number-seven-billion expected to be born on 31 October.
Our population has increased at a phenomenal rate. We reached:
3 billion in 1960,
4 billion in 1974,
5 billion in 1987, and
6 billion in 1999.
And now – 2011 – we shall reach 7 billion.
Just how many people can this little planet of ours support? As John Feeney succinctly put it growth is madness. Why we should countdown as if it is a celebration is beyond me. And if the above pattern is anything to go by we should reach 8 billion by 2022.
Will we be counting down then again? Will we be thinking this is a momentous occasion?
http://earthsky.org/human-world/joel-cohen-top-10-key-population-trends-on-earth-with-7-billion
Saw this article and recalled this population-related post.
Kind Regards, dn
dominic724
31 October 2011 at 0907
Thanks for the link. Great read.
signature103
31 October 2011 at 2114
[...] think, though, our imaginary Adam and Eve has given 7 billion of us. They would be very proud great great great gr… …reat great grandparents. [...]
Study shows Adam and Eve were African … « tang clang
3 November 2011 at 0617