Futuof Space Colonization

Population may already be topping out. I just saw a report in the
last few days which stated that a majority of industrialized nations
are now experiencing below replacement rate demographics and that
many developing countries with higher birth rates are bedeviled with
chronic problems of poverty, aids mortality, poor health,
subsistence farming, high rates of child death, poor education,
etc . . which in a cruel fashion are also acting to limit birth
rates.

The report went on to say that the cultural trends at reducing birth
rates in the West have been very successful and governments will
have to confront the issue of reversing the trend if they wish to
continue to finance pensions, health care, etc. for an increasingly
elderly population. More troubling, the report noted that no country
has yet been able to increase its birth rate after it has fallen
below replacement level.

So, the earlier projections of 10 billion may be erroneous if
present trends continue unabated.

--- In spacesettlers@y..., Al Globus wrote:
> Best current estimates is that world population will top out at
under 10
> billion within about twenty years -- without space colonization.
>
> On Thursday, April 25, 2002, at 03:37 PM, Ed Schonert wrote:
>
> > Hello-o-o-o is anybody out there-e-e-e?
> >
> > I maintain that within 50-100 years the earth's population will
have
> > topped out. That is the rate of emigration to live in the "tin
cans"
> > will start to exceed earth's population increase rate.
> >
> > Where will the money come from for such a venture?
> >
> > All we have to do is convince the investors that human nature has
> > not changed since 16th thru 19th centuries. Families will still
spend
> > their life savings for passage & getting started in a new
environment
> > just like they did coming to Americas.
> >
> > Costs to operate & maintain a mass transit space shuttle +
construction
> > of the new space colonies + a handsome return to the owners will
come