[Coco] off-topic, space program

[Theodore Evans (Alex)]

On Jan 15, 2004, at 10:14 AM, <jadonaldson at charter.net> wrote:

>   Also remember that the number of people is increasing
> at a alarming rate. The only place left to put people
> will be in space, moon, and mars.

Population growth has eased drastically since the 1970s and most 
reputable agencies who watch population trends now expect that that 
world population will peak sometime in the 21st (this) century at 
between 9 and 12 billion and start dropping off.  In the developed 
world population s are either increasing very slowly or actually 
shrinking, and in the developing world growth rates have reduced a 
great deal.  In addition even a massive colonization program would not 
have a significant effect on world population.  It might be great for 
those who go, but won't have much impact on those left behind.  Think 
about it this way, it would take a million trips of a thousand people 
each to move a billion people.