How can the human race survive the next hundred years?

[metta]

Even Stephen Hawking gets stumped once in a while. He posted the following question to Yahoo Answers: "How can the human race survive the next hundred years?"
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AtjblpXOSMXPaKrJ2N9lui8jzKIX?qid=20060704195516AAnrdOD

How would you answer this question?

I think that the human race will probably still be here 100 years from now. I think people will look back at how we are living now and will be disgusted at the energy waste, the intollerance for gay people, the corruption in the US government, and the lack of public transportion options.

We will have to live more efficiently. Cities will be taller and not so spread out. People will have less children. I don't think that the US will be a World power 100 years from now. I think that power will go to China, India, and possibly the European Union. This may change depending on if/how opinons change for Americans in the US. The average age will be older than what it is today. There might not be such a thing as retirement for the average person. I would hope that it would be a more humane and empathetic World.

I think that the major churches will have a lot less power unless they all of a sudden become more humane, spiritual, and empathetic and less dogmatic.

Depending on the choices that we make as individuals and as the human race today, this will effect the quality of life for the future of the human race.

 

[dpnice]

Metta I congratulate you on your optimism and have a slight hope that you are right.

Personally I believe the complete opposite. Mankind will finally use up all the natural resources of the planet causing a huge division in populations between those who have the means to buy the necessities of life and those who don't.

Those with money will be living in security compounds guarded continually.

The churches will have become even more powerful taking over government and society, drawing its support from the masses of "have nots".

If by then a general war has not been declared nor the arab countries devasted by a nucular holocaust there will be at least a complete breakdown of all diplomatic contact and terrorism will be rife worldwide.

Violence will be the normal part of everyone's life and protecting yourself and your family will become the one priority for everyone.

As you see my faith in human nature is extremely low and seeing the attitudes of people in present society I have a horrible impression that my forecast is nearer the truth than yours.

 

[NineOfClubs]

metta & dpnice.

Great posts! I wish I knew which of you to believe or side with. Either of you might be exactly right....

I lean a little more to the optimistic side. After all, we got through the Cold War--a time when everyone was sure the world would become a giant cinder.

 

[Nonimus]

I think the Rich/Poor divide will become greater - more and more businesses given over to giant monopolies - as for the Environment factor, human being rarely learn their lesson before its too late - and even then, they forget and repeat their mistakes.

 

[ronnie_h]

certainly an interesting question. however, since i'm surely not around anymore in a hundred years, there are a lot more important things i would spend my time on thinking about.

quite frankly said, i don't give a ...

 

[pausanias_usa]

A cheap alternative to oil might make the big difference between rosy and dark.

Overpopulation will eventually bite us in the ass, though. No animal that overpopulates is without consequences -- we're long overdue a plague (of the fast-killing type; HIV is very slow-motion but will have its effect too in the long run).

 

[NineOfClubs]

we're long overdue a plague (of the fast-killing type; HIV is very slow-motion but will have its effect too in the long run).

I have to agree. I think the one huge unknown out there is a plague. If millions, or billions, die of disease; it will take decades or centuries to recover. All geo-politics will change.

 

[Nonimus]

I have to agree. I think the one huge unknown out there is a plague. If millions, or billions, die of disease; it will take decades or centuries to recover. All geo-politics will change.

Tis true, look at what the black death did in Europe, a modern-day equivalent would radically change the geo-political face of the globe.

 

[NineOfClubs]

Tis true, look at what the black death did in Europe, a modern-day equivalent would radically change the geo-political face of the globe.

I was thinking of Europe's Black Death as I was typing. It had huge economic consequences, as I recall. Was it massive deflation? Or inflation?

 

[NineOfClubs]

Just went to Wikipedia. The plague caused inflation. Of course, all the dead folks, the same amount of cash around=more money chasing fewer goods.

Between 1/3 and 2/3's of Europe's population died.

The way we are creating more and more resistant strains of virus and bacteria, the more likely we are to see some worldwide plague in our own time....

 

[Nonimus]

Just went to Wikipedia. The plague caused inflation. Of course, all the dead folks, the same amount of cash around=more money chasing fewer goods.

Between 1/3 and 2/3's of Europe's population died.

The way we are creating more and more resistant strains of virus and bacteria, the more likely we are to see some worldwide plague in our own time....

Probably one of the major economic changes was that serfs tilling the lands of their 'Lords' just upped and left, ruining the financial security of the land-lords and thus vastly changing the political face of Europe.

The Black death had a huge impact on the socio-politcal status quo as well as the economy - Thousands rebelled against the church and the laity - they demanded answers for their suffering which the church could not provide.

People turned on Doctors - who were unable to provide a cure

Then of course, the worst in human nature came out - The 'Bechini' - people dressed in red robes with just the eyes visible went around raping, pillaging and plundering all they could.

All from a simple flea bite.

 

[NineOfClubs]

I don't think anyone has an answer........ certainly not those in authority at present. It's sad what we have done to the world and each other in one century!

Au contraire! In the last century there has been tremendous progress.

Think of the quack medicine of 100 years ago. No vaccines. No penicillin, or even sulfa drugs.

No indoor plumbing, or electricity for most folks. No modern roads.

Women couldn't vote. Blacks in the South were mistreated.

There was little social welfare or help for the poor. No food stamps.

I could go on....

 

[NineOfClubs]

All from a simple flea bite.

Thanks, Nominus, for that and everything else you added.

Wasn't the Black Death also the precurser to the 100 Years War?

A plague in our own time could unleash the military in ways we couldn't imagine...

 

[dpnice]

since i'm surely not around anymore in a hundred years, there are a lot more important things i would spend my time on thinking about.

quite frankly said, i don't give a ...

Excuse me for quoting you like this but this is exactly what I meant when I said looking at attitudes in present day society. I believe that the majority can't give a damn and thus will continue to follow selfishly the road which will lead us to total collapse and devastation.

After all, we got through the Cold War--a time when everyone was sure the world would become a giant cinder.

Again attitudes were different in those times and enable us to survive that period of history.

 

[NineOfClubs]

Again attitudes were different in those times and enable us to survive that period of history.

Well, excuse me, but I was there. The "attitudes" were very negative.

The popular press was full of "doom and gloom". So many best sellers were all "end of civilization" themed. We really thought we were going to go "BOOM". And we didn't. So maybe there's some hope for the present....

 

[dpnice]

Well, excuse me, but I was there. The "attitudes" were very negative.

That isn't what I meant, though as I was there too I do agree with you on that point.

I meant there wasn't this apathetic attitude to the world and your neighbour. Yes people were terrified but that was becaused they cared. Do they now? Or have we gone too far down the road of "me and my priorities first , sod the rest"?

 

[wit_afrika]

oops, double entry...

 

[wit_afrika]

How can we?....

....by surviving South Africa!

1 person is murdered here every 25 minutes. 100 000 slaughtered since Jan2000.

Such a beautiful land....such savage people!

 

[micklader]

Have babies?

 

[metta]

Have babies?

Actually, having less of them would be better for the quality of life on this planet.