The Power of Exponentials
Dr. Albert Bartlett, a professor emeritus of physics at the University of Colorado, regards overpopulation as “The Greatest Challenge” facing humanity. Like every great teacher, he explains in simple terms why overpopulation is so problematic:
The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.
At a growth rate of 7%/year, a population doubles in 10 years! You can watch his poignant lecture below:
Arithmetic, Population & Energy by Dr. Albert Bartlett
Overpopulation & Global Warming
Ginosar has a well-rounded compilation of quotes from some of the great minds of our time speaking on over-population.
We must face overpopulation, some quotes
Democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people into the world, the value of life not only declines, it disappears. It doesn’t matter if someone dies. The more people there are, the less one individual matters.
- Isaac Asimov
I am convinced that some political and social activities and practices of the Catholic organizations are detrimental and even dangerous for the community as a whole, here and everywhere. I mention here only the fight against birth control at a time when overpopulation in various countries has become a serious threat to the health of people and a grave obstacle to any attempt to organize peace on this planet.
- Albert Einstein, letter, 1954
If government knew how, I should like to see it check, not multiply the population.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Population growth is the primary source of environmental damage.
- Jacques Cousteau
Short of nuclear war itself, population growth is the gravest issue the world faces. If we do not act, the problem will be solved by famine, riots, insurrection and war.
- Robert McNamara, Former World Bank President
Unlike plagues of the dark ages or contemporary diseases we do not yet understand, the modern plague of overpopulation is soluble by means we have discovered and with resources we possess. What is lacking is not sufficient knowledge of the solution but universal consciousness of the gravity of the problem and education of the billions who are its victims.
- Martin Luther King, Jr., May 5, 1966
The greatest form of contraception is development.
- Mahatma Gandhi
Overpopulation is one of the greatest threats to human nature.
- Joe Rogan
In the last 200 years the population of our planet has grown exponentially, at a rate of 1.9% per year. If it continued at this rate, with the population doubling every 40 years, by 2600 we would all be standing literally shoulder to shoulder.
- Stephen Hawking
Sometimes we, as a society, fail to realize that the greatest thing we can do to reduce our footprint on the planet – more so than driving hybrids, recycling, and having resource efficient homes and businesses – is bearing fewer children.