A couple things. World population is not 6.5 billion, it is 6.8 billion. China had exemptions for farmers with its so-called one child policy, and the lowest TFR they got was 1.6 in 1986. Originally, their scientists wanted the Chinese population to top out at 1.1 to 1.2 billion then decline, to prevent eco-collapse. Chenyu reports the actual Chinese population at 1.5 billion now. India has a TFR of 2.6 which could eventually put that country at a higher population than China, but with deforestation so complete and aquifers nearly dry, and extreme river pollution, and lack of dung fuel for cooking--they will probably crash even before Africa. Then China and other parts of Asia. Migrations from these areas of collapse will collapse other areas, until it is worldwide by the 2040s. It was the start of using coal, then oil, along with decrease in predators and especially the self-predation of warfare, then all the technology allowing better health and much less infant mortality, fertilizers and irrigation on a massive scale, and machinery ripping up land and, with factories and power plants, throwing out huge amounts of pollution in the form of CO2 and mercury. Plastic developed then cast aside when used has caused huge trash gyres in the oceans and an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean and sea on the entire planet. People disconnected from nature, and reproduced like rats. Especially the ones who could not see ahead, the consequences of their actions---the stupid, the ignorant, the greedy, the ones with too much tolerance and compassion, and the ones who could not control their breeding lust. Even before industrialization, the seeds above were in place. Except for in those tribes that were close to nature and could see ahead, and in those elsewhere who could do the same, the wise men. However, they are, and were, way too few in number and their percentage has gone down as the stimulated population insanely went up to way past overshoot. Overcrowding leads to hostility, depression, and anxiety. It used to be cured with migrations to new lands, or wars over territory which killed off the weakest. People that started to get used to crowding were able to far exceed the long term carrying capacity of the region (even before industrialization made it worse), and crowding got worse to the point of even them getting the depression, anxiety, and/or hostility. Mercury and other pollutants also have effects on the brain, and so does malnutrition and mono-or incomplete diets. Various diseases cause mental anguish and forms of insanity, and so does lack of water.
_________________ "With every decision, think seven generations ahead of the consequences of your actions" Ute rule of life. “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”― Chief Seattle “Those Who Have the Privilege to Know Have the Duty to Act”…Albert Einstein
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