4 HN users recommended this talk4 months2013–2024score 4.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
Recommended whenever population growth comes up, as a data-driven correction to common assumptions.
Hans Rosling's TEDxSummit talk asks whether some religions have higher birth rates and how that affects population growth. He charts data across time and religions and reaches a surprising conclusion about fertility.
“Then watch this video to understand the real trends in population growth.” (HN, 2019)
Funny thing is, we "know" relatively good, what the maximum of earths population will be and why. And we know (also relatively good) how fast we will lift people from poverty, given the actual and historical numbers. Hans Rosling showed it quite well in a TED talk he gave: [this video]
Shows projected population limits and poverty reduction.
> You are right, what nature actually cares greatly, is about exponential population growth with no regard for future sustainability. Perfect, I was waiting for you to say this. Now I have the chance to educate you (which should have been done by your "superior western education" but anyway). Read these articles and you will find that exponential growth is a myth. We are already close to replacement levels. The population is high in India and China only because of historic reasons - they are one of the most fertile lands on the planet. [link] [link] Then watch this video to understand the real trends in population growth. [this video] Great! You finally rid yourself of these myths.
It's not. We need a sustainable size of population. Unlimited population growth is not sustainable. It doesn't mean that we are going to die out. It just means that there are as many newborns as old people dying. Check out this good old Hans Rosling video: [this video]
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