In article , Dave
wrote:

On Mon, 8 May 2006 12:47:32 -0400, "Vito" said:

Hmm. Seems like there was a fella with initials TM saying that about 200
years ago. He wasn't such a good prognosticator.

Not sure who TM was but look what we have lost to overpopulation in that
time.

Thomas Malthus. If his predictions had been correct, the entire planet would
have died of starvation long ago.

Yes. The old 'food resourse grows arithmetically, population growth
geometrically (or exponentially, I forget)'.

He's been wrong because technology has enabled us to grow a *lot* more
food, and in 1st World countries, the population is not growing
exponentially. Indeed, it's levelled off at or below replacement rate,
if you ignore immigration. As for the 3rd World countries, really, they
don't count - so far. China's effect is fascinating but predictable,
and was predicted.

Nonetheless, we now *have* to have high tech and a lot of energy to
sustain the population we have. Which is why I reckon we'll go to
nuclear power, because the alternatives are worse.

PDW