Futuof Space Colonization

From: "Al Globus"
To:
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 7:54 PM
Subject: Re: [spacesettlers] Future of Space Colonization

> Best current estimates is that world population will top out at under 10
> billion within about twenty years -- without space colonization.
[snikt]

Indeed. Also, even though for some reason world population goes beyond that
level and you have a problem of surplus population, there are cheaper and
more immediate venues for accommodating that surplus other than space
colonization. Simple things like putting everyone into a vegetarian diet or
(not so simple) building floating cities in the oceans (Savage's idea).

However, even though population is likely to stabilize, I would say that
energy and raw materials needs are likely to increase as the world economy
grows - while the *offer* of energy and raw materials is likely to decrease.
And exploration of space resources should be targeted at that, I think.

Lucio Coelho