[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Respenus

The main reason why I did not state this problem is because it is so contested. I know very well and am constantly worried by the large population Earth has to support, even some scientists are turning around and staring to point this problem out. While it may be easy to talk about it, it is nigh-impossible to solve i t. How does someone propose to the Chinese or the Indians that they should reduce 80% or more of their population? Or anywhere also for that matter. That is why you are right that changes will be abrupt and will also pass over quickly, yet the destruction left behind is beyond imagining.

I fear so, but as I said, the global contexts in which man is embedded will take care of the problem their own way sooner or later. And then we will stand aside in helplessness, and will not belief the ammount of suffering. Or we will not care, like we learned to do over the past 40 years and more. BTW, why do you think just the Indians and Chinese must reduce their populations? I do not exclude Europeans and Americans as well, no to mention Africans and South Americans. To me, dear old Gerjmany is an extremely crowded place. I know that it is even worse in other places, say Seoul or Tokyo or Los Angeles, but these nightmares are almost beyond imagination for me. At no cost I want to live there, not even for a million per year.

No need for sympathy Skybird.

Please read my reply to Letum above. It seems I messed up vocabulary. My apology to you, if you had not realised all by yourself what I meant, and took my comment queer. It was my fault.

I pride myself in being a rationalist, someone who takes empirical evidence first and who does not dwell in dreams that things will change just because one wished it to be so. I know that hard work is needed to bring about any change, what I want to do is colossal in nature and I am also well aware that I cannot do it alone or that there is a chance that I newer will. Call it my youthful "irrational" thinking/wishing, yet I still hold the spark of joy inside of me, even though the fire is long out due to what I have seen happen in the world around me. I know very well I am not in control of the forces of life, nor do I dwell in illusions of fairy tales and castles, even though it sometimes appears to be the easiest way out, yet I have yet to the the easy road to somewhere. I know the world is dark, I know the never-ending fire of progress will consume us all, yet is it a crime to hope, to wish and to dare to change ones world for the better. If I add a year of life to this forsaken species, I shall be happy. Adding a generation would be an achievement of Gods and saving this world appears impossible for anyone but Nature and the Universe.

Yet my spark remains adamant and even though its lights does not always shine the brightest, it still lights the path amidst this dark and cruel world, hoping that one day the fire may be rekindled.

It is not so different with me, at least most of the time. Though I prefer to fight, and though I seem to know it will be in vain, I still do so with joy in my heart, maybe a little bit like those famous words that maybe are just put into the mouth of Luther: "Even if I knew that tomorrow was the end of the world, I still would plant an apple tree today!" . Because in the end this is my life, I need to confess to my own conscience, and if fate has placed me in this time and place, I may see the grim things to come, but still have no other choice than to make the best of it and make use of my options to influence the outcome, no matter how limited they may be. To me, this means not to comfortably hand over responsibility to foreigners by making a cross on a ballot, knowing that it is wrong, but trying to influence the individual that I meet face to face. For I am sure that any eventual improvement will only last if it bases on true insight and conviction of people, and is not acchieved by more economical tricks and media cheats. Some may argue it is more economical to work and raise millions, invest in a Tv station or a party and adress the wide public. But we have that - and what has it helped us? I have been engaged in voluntary work, and as a meditation teacher I worked for free over years. I have learned to meet all mass movements with utmost scepticism, and that nothing can replace the individual looking after the single individual person finding himself in search of answers. and where people have no doubts all by themselves, they are unlikely to accept new content. Besides other reasons, these are two of the most important reasons why I am so unforgivingly hostile to mass religions and cults.