PART 30: The 7th billion human on Earth—Fifty Million Farmers

By Frosty Wooldridge

Part 30: Farmers and food

In October of 2011, the 7th billion human being will land on this planet.  From that threshold, humans will continue multiplying by 1.0 billion every 13 years to reach more than 10 billion within 39 years at the mid century.  The ramifications stagger the mind of any thinking American.  This series will give you an idea of what our civilization faces. 

“We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

This continuing series brings you, a concerned American, more information on what this civilization faces and what we can do to change course toward a viable and positive future for our children and all living creatures.

Richard Heinberg said, ““…the discussions in Denmark took place in a conceptual fantasy world in which climate change is the only global crisis that matters much; in which rapid economic growth is still an option; in which fossil fuels are practically limitless; in which a western middle class staring at the prospect of penury can be persuaded voluntarily to transfer a significant portion of its rapidly evaporating wealth to other nations; in which subsistence farmers in poor nations should all aspire to become middle-class urbanites; and in which the subject of human overpopulation can barely be mentioned . It’s no wonder more wasn’t achieved in Copenhagen.”   http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=311db31977054c5ef58219392&id=1853646c28&e=411677039a 

Peak Everything: Waking Up to a Century of Declines By Richard Heinberg, New Society Publishers,   ISBN-10: 086571598X ,   ISBN-13: 978-0865715981, www.postcarbon.org; www.richardheinberg.com

“There was a time not so long ago when famine was expected, if not an accepted, part of life,” said Heinberg. “Until the 19^th century, whether in China, France, India, or Britain—food came almost entirely from local sources and harvests were variable.”

Today, yes in 2010, in America, we enjoy plentiful food for most citizens.  Although, over 13.4 million American children live in poverty and food scarcity. Also 43 million Americans live in poverty.   But, as you can imagine, once the Peak Oil begins its methodical decline of oil, Heinberg and others say we will need 50 million farmers when we don’t  enjoy oil’s ability to produce food for us in the quantities that 6.8 billion humans require.

SCARCITY OF WATER, OIL, FARMERS, CLIMATE IMMINENT

What we face:

1.      Looming fuel shortages.

2.      Looming shortage of farmers.

3.      Looming water shortages.

4.      Looming climate change.

Hey folks, how you gonna’ feed 310 million Americans with no gasoline to run tractors?  How are you gonna’ feed an added 77 million humans added to the planet annually?  We already do not feed the 18 million humans that starve to death annually around the planet today!

As the Age of Oil wanes, our civilization will be forced to de-industrialize.  Across the planet, as you read this, www.transitionUSA.org is an international organization showing people in over 100 countries how to grow food in their back yards, window sills, in pots, on decks and more.  They’re not waiting for the government to figure out the Peak Oil predicament.

What does Heinberg mean by needing 50 million farmers?  What he means: probably, at some point, whether you like it or not, you will become a farmer to some degree.  Get ready to get your hands grimy with dirt and enjoy being a part of your own breadbasket!  May be good for your soul to get your hands back into the earth instead of treading on concrete!  Just a thought!

OUR FORTHCOMING FUTURE

The new aesthetic:

1.      Workers will incorporate no or minimal fossil fuels.

2.      Construction of buildings will go back to muscle and handcrafts.

3.      Develop respect for and use natural materials.

4.      Durability will be a ‘must’ attribute for all products.

5.      Products must be repairable.

6.      They must enjoy enduring artistic quality.

7.      Inject themes from nature into products.

8.      Draw upon vernacular design traditions.

9.      Use of ironic or nostalgic comments into their artistic output.

10.  Use of universal principles of harmony and proportion.

11.  Engage leanness and simplicity.

FIVE AXIOMS OF SUSTAINABILITY

1.      Tainter’s Axiom: Any society that continues to use critical resources unsustainably will collapse. In other words, remain within the carrying capacity as to population, resource use and pollution.

2.      Bartlett’s Axiom: Population growth and/or growth in the rates of consumption of resources cannot be sustained.  In other words, we either stabilize population or we use less and less as we grow more and more.  In the end, we cannot continue growing more and more no matter what.

3.      To be sustainable, the use of renewable resources must proceed at a rate that is less than or equal to the rate of natural replenishment.  In other words, we must use resources within the limits of their existence.

4.      To be sustainable, the use of non-renewable resources must proceed at a rate that is declining, and the rate of decline must be greater than or equal to the rate of depletion.  And, at some point, we will not be able to use a resource that no longer exists.  Example: gasoline can only be used once.

5.      Sustainability requires that substances introduced into the environment from human activities be minimized and rendered harmless to biosphere functions.  It might be a good idea to stop injecting over 80,000 chemicals into the land, air and water 24/7.

As you grow in the knowledge of our future, take heart and more, take action.  No matter how much you appreciate what we face, it’s your action that must turn it toward a sustainable future.

“Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day.” Thornton Wilder

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In a five minute astoundingly simple yet brilliant video, “Immigration, Poverty, and Gum Balls”, Roy Beck, director of www.numbersusa.ORG, graphically illustrates the impact of overpopulation.  Take five minutes to see for yourself:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE&feature=player_embedded

“Immigration by the numbers—off the chart” by Roy Beck

This 10 minute demonstration shows Americans the results of unending mass immigration on the quality of life and sustainability for future generations: in a word “Mind boggling!”  www.NumbersUSA.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muw22wTePqQ

This is the best website to start:  www.numbersusa.org ; watch Roy Beck’s “Immigration by the Numbers” at 14 minutes. Bi-partisan and very effective. Become a faxer of pre-written letters to your reps to make positive  change.

Visit www.TheSocialContract.com for the best information on what we face as a civilization as to overpopulation, energy, immigration and much more.

Canada www.immigrationwatchcanada.org ; in Australia www.population.org.au and[email protected]; in Great Britain www.populationmatters.org ; and dozens of other sites accessed at www.frostywooldridge.com.   In Florida, www.flimen.org .

Must see DVD: “Blind Spot” www.snagfilms.com/films/title/blind_spot/ , This movie illustrates America’s future without oil, water and other resources to keep this civilization functioning. It’s a brilliant educational movie! www.blindspotdoc.com

Must see: Rapid Population Decline, seven minute video by Dr. Jack Alpert-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTWduFB_RX0

Must see and funny: www.growthbusters.org ; www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXSTrW_dARc
Dave Gardner’s Polar Bear in Bedroom:

growthbusters.org/2010/03/save-the-polar-bear-in-your-bedroom ; Dave Gardner, President, Citizen-Powered Media ; Producing the Documentary, GROWTH BUSTERS; presents Hooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperity, Join the cause at www.growthbusters.org ;760 Wycliffe Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 USA; +1 719-576-5565

Check out this link with Wooldridge on bicycle and Lester Brown and panel discussion:

www.upnorthmedia.org/watchupnorthtv.asp?SDBFid=1631

Tomorrow’s Americaproject on www.youtube.com/contemporarylearning.

Producer: GEORGE A. COLBURNwww.tomorrowsamerica.com

DC: 202-258-4887

Email: [email protected]

Link to www.tomorrowsamerica.com for more discussions on America’s predicament.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.starbrightmediacorp.com

www.tomorrowsamerica.com

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Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents – from the Arctic to the South Pole – as well as six times across the USA, coast to coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece. He presents “The Coming Population Crisis in America: and what you can do about it” to civic clubs, church groups, high schools and colleges. He works to bring about sensible world population balance at www.frostywooldridge.com He is the author of: America on the Brink: The Next Added 100 Million Americans. Copies available: 1 888 280 7715