It struck me when I was watching the great migration in Masai Mara. About 2 million zebras and wildebeest cross over from Serengeti in Tanzania in search of grass. It brings along the predators to the place. About 10% die in the process due to various reasons. Almost an equal amount ( in fact some 5% more) of calves are born during the course of the year, maintaining the population in balance thereby sustaining the ecological balance.
Coming to human beings there are 6.6 billion now compared with 1.6 billion in 1900 and projected to grow to 10 billion in 2050! The Earth really cant handle it. Given our apathy towards environment (or in general anything other than our own selves) and the advances in medicine that have brought down death rates I could not even fathom the world that will be inhabited by people two generations later. Advances in genetics might even further cut down death rates. Unless we find a planet outside the earth that can provide asylum the people in the 22nd or 23rd centuries are going to live a super miserable life and curse us in the process. (Or may be they will live in cocoons or sth.). Wtf I can run imaginations wild.
BTW why do we get passionate about the death of human beings and not as much as the death o the death of animals. Is it possible to look at all species with equanimity from the power vested to us in the form of the sixth sense? I am not an alarmist but these thoughts are seldom discussed
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
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