A professor at the University of Texas at Austin believes planet Earth would be better off if Mother Nature simply killed off 90 percent of the human population?and he predicts that is exactly what will happen in the not-too-distant future.
According to Professor Eric Pianka, a specialist in herpetology and evolutionary ecology who was named the 2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist by the Texas Academy of Science, human beings have strained Earth?s natural resources to the breaking point, leaving the planet ?parched.?
Pianka believes the solution to this crisis is to eliminate the cause, by decreasing the number of human beings living on Earth from 6.5 billion to around 700 million?a 90 percent reduction.
Pianka is convinced that Nature eventually will exterminate the majority of humans through widespread disease or other effects of global warming?and he seems delighted at the prospect.
?This is really an exciting time,? he told the audience at a recent presentation of his ?doomsday talk,? which is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of overpopulation and excess demands on the environment. ?Every one of you who gets to survive has to bury nine.?
Not everyone is quite so gleeful as Pianka at the prospect of widespread death and destruction. Some critics have called Pianka a ?loose cannon? and have slammed him for advocating what they consider ?worldwide genocide.? According to a Wikipedia article about Pianka, a report to the Department of Homeland Security that he was ?fomenting bioterrorism? led to an interview with the FBI.
What do you think? Are Pianka?s ideas sound, silly or dangerous? Join the forum discussion and share your thoughts with other readers.
More information:
Doomsday: UT prof says death is imminent ? Seguin Gazette-Enterprise
Earth needs a 90% decrease in human population, Texas professor says ?Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
According to Professor Eric Pianka, a specialist in herpetology and evolutionary ecology who was named the 2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist by the Texas Academy of Science, human beings have strained Earth?s natural resources to the breaking point, leaving the planet ?parched.?
Pianka believes the solution to this crisis is to eliminate the cause, by decreasing the number of human beings living on Earth from 6.5 billion to around 700 million?a 90 percent reduction.
Pianka is convinced that Nature eventually will exterminate the majority of humans through widespread disease or other effects of global warming?and he seems delighted at the prospect.
?This is really an exciting time,? he told the audience at a recent presentation of his ?doomsday talk,? which is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of overpopulation and excess demands on the environment. ?Every one of you who gets to survive has to bury nine.?
Not everyone is quite so gleeful as Pianka at the prospect of widespread death and destruction. Some critics have called Pianka a ?loose cannon? and have slammed him for advocating what they consider ?worldwide genocide.? According to a Wikipedia article about Pianka, a report to the Department of Homeland Security that he was ?fomenting bioterrorism? led to an interview with the FBI.
What do you think? Are Pianka?s ideas sound, silly or dangerous? Join the forum discussion and share your thoughts with other readers.
More information:
Doomsday: UT prof says death is imminent ? Seguin Gazette-Enterprise
Earth needs a 90% decrease in human population, Texas professor says ?Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
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