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Lorien

(31,935 posts)
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 12:24 AM Feb 2016

Unless It Changes, Capitalism Will Starve Humanity By 2050

Capitalism has generated massive wealth for some, but it’s devastated the planet and has failed to improve human well-being at scale.

• Species are going extinct at a rate 1,000 times faster than that of the natural rate over the previous 65 million years (see Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School).

• Since 2000, 6 million hectares of primary forest have been lost each year. That’s 14,826,322 acres, or just less than the entire state of West Virginia (see the 2010 assessment by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN).

• Even in the U.S., 15% of the population lives below the poverty line. For children under the age of 18, that number increases to 20% (see U.S. Census).

• The world’s population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050 (see United Nations’ projections).

More: http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhansen/2016/02/09/unless-it-changes-capitalism-will-starve-humanity-by-2050/#209277704a36

See also; "Earth to expire by 2050" : http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/jul/07/research.waste

And before anyone says "Technology will fix it!" remember; you're talking about a species who couldn't fix a leaking pipe in the Gulf of Mexico for MONTHS. Prevention is a far wiser course than wishing for a cure!

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Unless It Changes, Capitalism Will Starve Humanity By 2050 (Original Post) Lorien Feb 2016 OP
That Some Still Believe In The Scourge Of Capitalism Reflects How Effectively cantbeserious Feb 2016 #1
This is an old failed prediction. former9thward Feb 2016 #2
You need try listening to some smart and to some wise thinkers. SoLeftIAmRight Feb 2016 #4
You're saying that socialism will cut population growth? brooklynite Feb 2016 #13
Educating women is the best birth control SoLeftIAmRight Feb 2016 #16
Nah dimple Feb 2016 #6
I'll make it simple: ocean flora provides SIXTY FIVE PERCENT of our oxygen Lorien Feb 2016 #9
Alarming. SammyWinstonJack Feb 2016 #15
Here's simple: Change always begets change. Hortensis Feb 2016 #18
So do something about it Andy823 Feb 2016 #3
Don't ever presume to lecture me on this topic. nt Lorien Feb 2016 #10
Capitalism kept that from happening each time it was predicted. linuxman Feb 2016 #5
Here's a fitting picture I snagged from facebook earlier... Ghost in the Machine Feb 2016 #7
Yep. That nails it. (eom) CanSocDem Feb 2016 #14
+1,000,000. nt. polly7 Feb 2016 #21
Yep. And non-capitalism in Venezuela and North Korea is working out really, really well (nt) Nye Bevan Feb 2016 #8
Siiiiiiiiiggghhhhh . ... HughBeaumont Feb 2016 #12
BS. nt clarice Feb 2016 #11
whistling past the grave yard tk2kewl Feb 2016 #17
No, reality takes A BITE OUT OF YOUR ASS. NT clarice Feb 2016 #20
Ten million without water in Delhi moondust Feb 2016 #19
They want us dead malaise Feb 2016 #22

cantbeserious

(13,039 posts)
1. That Some Still Believe In The Scourge Of Capitalism Reflects How Effectively
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 12:29 AM
Feb 2016

The Oligarchs, Corporations and Banks have brainwashed Western Citizens.

former9thward

(32,023 posts)
2. This is an old failed prediction.
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 12:58 AM
Feb 2016

Malthus predicted it in the 1800s and Paul Ehrlich (The Population Bomb) said that starvation would end humanity in the 1970s and 80s. Didn't happen. Capitalism is propelling tens of millions of people in the developing countries into the middle class every year.

 

SoLeftIAmRight

(4,883 posts)
4. You need try listening to some smart and to some wise thinkers.
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 01:13 AM
Feb 2016

The oceans are not endless - they just seems so to one that has never sailed them.

brooklynite

(94,595 posts)
13. You're saying that socialism will cut population growth?
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 08:24 AM
Feb 2016

Or will it tell everyone what they can and can't eat?

The oceans aren't being overfished because of a desire for profit; they're being overfished because of demand.

Lorien

(31,935 posts)
9. I'll make it simple: ocean flora provides SIXTY FIVE PERCENT of our oxygen
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 03:14 AM
Feb 2016

and ocean dead zones are spreading at alarming rates throughout the world. Zones bigger than Texas every year, where NOTHING lives. Not flora, not fauna, NOTHING. Google it. The massive dead zones are caused by toxins that are being dumped into the ocean from agriculture, fracking and other industries, and climate change, which is caused by the burning of fossil fuels and meat consumption (deforestation). What makes up the other 35% of our oxygen? The planet's "emerald necklace" of rain forests, which are also being wiped out thanks to meat and fuel production. No forest and no ocean flora = no oxygen= NO US (or most other species). Bury your head in the sand if you like, but you'd damn well better pray that we do find a way to make a U-turn within the next 15 years. Otherwise 30 years from now those of us who remain will be killing each other over scraps!

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
18. Here's simple: Change always begets change.
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 05:53 PM
Feb 2016

Believe me, even if the Kochs manage to bring us to the point of walking less for lack of air, at that point the people living then will insist on BIG change. But, it's happening now, more in other countries than here, but that is our fault.

Andy823

(11,495 posts)
3. So do something about it
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 01:01 AM
Feb 2016

Start at your local level and find people to run for office that will really change things. Find those same kind of people to run for state offices, and then national office. You have to start change from the bottom up, not the top down. Unless you fill the local, state and congressional offices with people who will work to make real changes, nothing will happen.

In the meantime you need to make damn sure that republicans are booted out of office, because one thing is for sure, if they gain control at all levels of government nothing will ever change for the better, but it will change for the worse. Change doesn't happen in a day, and it doesn't happen with just one person, it takes millions.

 

linuxman

(2,337 posts)
5. Capitalism kept that from happening each time it was predicted.
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 01:18 AM
Feb 2016

Capitalism has a vested interest in keeping people alive. It's good business.

Enjoy the Malthusian circlejerk, everyone.

moondust

(19,993 posts)
19. Ten million without water in Delhi
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 05:58 PM
Feb 2016
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35627819

More than 10 million people in India's capital, Delhi, are without water after protesters sabotaged a key canal which supplies much of the city.

I suppose some enterprising profiteer will sell both sides some gunz and violence will break out and...


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