I was still in diapers when The Population Bomb came out. Ehrlich was wrong on his specific predictions, but his general thesis still remains valid, I think. I also think that old timers like me and you will be able to watch the entertainment. When it starts--and by all accounts it has indeed started--we all become caught in a self-reinforcing feedback loop and it just tends to snowball from there. And then most of us die. No one in any position of authority has exhibited any foresight to take corrective measures. Thus, as you point out, Mother Nature will gladly do it for us.

I can definitely understand your attitude of disdain and apathy at the plight of the human species. I have to say that in my opinion, your attitude of selfishness is the same attitude which is at the root of all these problems. I suspect that deep down you really do care about other people, but feel helpless to do anything. It is a pretty hopeless situation no doubt.

But I believe that we will all create a future heaven or hell based solely on our willingness to help others or our propensity to only help ourselves. If we all (or even just most of us) decided that we really do care about others, and we started living our lives with that attitude, then our species would have a fighting chance to not only survive this coming tsunami, but we would in the end create a sustainable society which would be based on justice, mutual respect, and equality. If on the other hand, we, (as a species) continue with our self centered way of seeing the world, then we will definitely kill ourselves off.

I think in the end, it all boils down to, how much we really care about others. Whether we as individuals can keep our big capitalistic party going or not, doesn't matter. If we can see that others are human beings just like ourselves, and they want to live and be happy, just like ourselves, then we will have truly accomplished something good in our life.

I believe that this care for others is contagious, and is in the end will be exponentially transformative, so although it may seem like there is no use in even caring, there really is.

Also, If you think that just because we are wealthy compared to most of the rest of the world, and this wealth will save us from the pain thats coming, then think again. We are all connected, and we will all sink or swim together. So if you can find some way to start helping, then please do so. Sending money, to starving kids in Africa, or even just consuming less yourself can help. It will feel good to do that too. You may say, 'whats the point in trying?', but its just as easy to say, 'whats the point in giving up?' The path is far more important than the goal. Caring about others is the path. If we can do that, the goal will take care of itself.

Yes and for those of us who are going to be performing in this theater spectacle that you'll be missing out on, I can honestly say that we're thrilled! What a blast it will be trying to correct the innumerable problems in this world caused by decades of short-sightedness. I can't wait to be dealing with continuing economic decline, tremendous resource strains, erratic and chaotic weather, and who knows what else.

Granted, not to be too sarcastic, I am aware that what is happening is really to be expected give natural human behavior, sociology, and economics. But at least I can naively hope that my generation will learn from at least some of the mistakes of former generations (of course only after their consequences have grossly manifested themselves) and that we can begin to shape a social structure that values humility, critical thinking, and a little bit more prudence. What else can we do?

While I'm sure it must be convenient to know you will likely not live long enough to see some of the effects of such crises, your lack of concern for your descendents is amusing. As with a previous comment this comes from a college age perspective and I can assure you it is wonderful to know my lifetime will be spend dealing with the carelessness of previous generations. While it is true that decades ago the world may have been unaware of many of the problems it would face that does not excuse these previous generations from merely relegating themselves to the sideline to 'watch' due to old age or retirement. The use of such excuses indicates that the same apathy and carelessness which led to such mistakes still persists in your generation. I also highly doubt the 'Four Horsemen' will spare your descendents because of where they live. I suggest you reconsider your positions on such matters before you die and rethink equating problems of warfare and starvation to entertainment.

You said it; I didn't. My descendents are easily capable of taking care of themselves. I'm calm and relaxed about the future because I know how competent and effective they are. It doesn't matter where they live; they will succeed whatever the circumstances of their environment.

Someone had a bad life...

@FIRST ADVISOR: Thank you for that well thought-out and insightful comment. However, you don't give much indication of action. How about if we were to alleviate the problem by selectively removing some of the need for food? The generation that are now nearing retirement, in the west, have squandered a large portion of Earth's resources and appear the least grateful for it. It seems as though it would be a small inconvenience in order to reallocate a large portion of resources to more appropriate area (i.e. the younger generation in developing countries).
Instead of sitting around analytically watching swathes of children dying on the news while eating a steak dinner, it could be our generation's way of actively creating change

I must congratulate you on your insightful post. Perhaps the only point that was lacking is that the root problem is one of overpopulation.

The cure is of course to simply mandate euthanasia for all persons over 60, especially in developed nations. In such countries, the old eat up an inordinate share of resources via medical health insurance and retirement benefits while no longer being able to contribute to society.

The US and Europe are facing massive debt problems in the coming years because of their old, fat baby boomers. Rather than leaving it to natural forces--which would simply be disorderly and chaotic--a systematic and organised cull of the aged is in order. I trust you agree.

Dear Friends,

If you wish to grow food, it is helpful to grow some dirt first. The best way I know to do this is to apply the ormus sea minerals to your soil. One farmer in Vermont has reported eight inches of new topsoil in one year using these minerals.

Ormus enhanced soil has grown tasty oranges the size of cantaloupes, walnuts the size of tennis balls, tasty grapes in mid winter in Amsterdam, two foot long carrots in Michigan and quadrupled the harvest of plums from the tree in my front yard.

These minerals have also allowed me to water my indoor plants once a month instead of twice a month while maintaining their exceptional health and growth.

Links to documentation of all of the above and the description of a cheap and simple way to concentrate the ormus minerals from sea salt or sea water can be found at:

http://www.subtleenergies.com/plant-lynx.htm

I cannot imagine a better and more humane solution to the combination of problems that Lester Brown describes in his article. Growing soil and doubling plant growth is the best option to sequester enough carbon to quickly stop global warming. Growing more food locally despite drought or unseasonable freezes is the best option to quickly reduce fossil fuel use and to help compensate for the loss of food purchasing power.

The best part is that this solution does not depend on existing corporate or government structures and can be implemented by anyone with access to wood ash and sea water or sea salt.

With kindest regards,
Barry Carter
bcarter at igc dot org

Thank you for posting one of the few educated comments here. Former Soviet Union has huge potential. UN specifically has talked about how Ukraine has the biggest gap between it's yield potential and it's current production. The infrastructure situation in FSU is bad and prevents high yields and makes it difficult for farmers to get good prices for their wheat which in turns means that they don't have money to invest in their farms.

Additionally you're right on in saying that political will for ethanol will evaporate if we do get this commodity crisis.

All this food crisis articles seem to assume inelastic demand for meat in emerging markets like China. Sure people in EM like switching to meat but they aren't going to if their food price inflation hits 30%.

Sure there are upside risks but this article is very one-sided.