Everything I wanted to say about global population (short version)

Now is the time for posting the full, albeit abridged, overview on changes in world population.  Previous posts here were snippets on the subject, foreshadowing the present content.
  
I presented the full version as a talk, and it was a lot of fun.  I handed out numbered questions on slips of paper before the talk, and then asked for the questions to be read by the person holding the paper.  I also used full-size cutouts of T3 and TX from Terminator 3 as stand-ins.  An imaginary string became a timeline. 

My wish is that you enjoy the contents as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Here is the link:
Population: The Unmentioned Elephant in the Living Room



         "How long has THAT been there?

Credit to Debbie Tomassi for the cartoon:  http://www.debbietomassi.com/index.html

But do we really have a population problem?

In a report from the Cato Institute a few years ago (May 9, 1999) and echoed by some others in the time since, the claim is made that quote 'there is no population problem. Population growth is the result of the plunging death rate and increasing life expectancy worldwide. That is progress.'end of quote

These nonbelievers in a population problem say that population numbers will correct themselves and nothing needs to be done.

Most everyone looking at population numbers seems to agree that the growth will stop -- that is, a correction will occur one way or another. So the big question is not whether a correction will occur, but what happens as population correction occurs.

Links:
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=5457

Why the lack of discussion about world population?

My response to this question represents personal opinion. I don’t have ten reasons like David Letterman, but I have two reasons for explaining this to myself.

First is an avoidance of awkward discussions. The anxious human mind converts thoughts about world population into thinking about personal family even though they are not the same.

It’s like converting thoughts about saving an ocean into thinking about a glass of water. They are not the same.

A discussion about world population is a discussion at risk of falling into an emotional debate over family planning or bringing children into the world or maintaining future generations of the family, or defending deep-felt religious beliefs. So people avoid the subject.

A second reason has to do with feelings of powerlessness, such as ‘Anything I do won’t make a difference in the size of the world population.’ -- So people don’t bother with the subject.

Population: Elephant in the Living Room

‘Elephant in the living room’ is a figure of speech referring to an obvious truth that is not being addressed. If someone had an elephant in their living room, they would certainly see it; but if they ignore the elephant, they are likely talking about other matters of lesser importance.

When environment, energy and social issues are discussed, the elephant has too often been in the room. That elephant is the growing world population. The subject of world population is too often ignored, even when it is profoundly affecting other important matters under discussion.

We are experiencing a world human population that is over 6.5 billion. 6.5 billion -- It’s almost craziness to think about what that number means. It’s like trying to think about the dollar numbers for deficits and expenditures of the U.S. government or the equivalent by other governments.

Many people have the personal opinion that the current and growing size of the world’s human population on the earth is a serious problem for the future, but as with any complex topic, all should recognize that world population is a subject for further debate and discussion.

Links:
http://www.populationelephant.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_in_the_room