David Attenborough - Humans are plague on Earth

[Crisp]

David Attenborough - Humans are plague on Earth

Humans are a plague on the Earth that need to be controlled by limiting population growth, according to Sir David Attenborough.

The television presenter said that humans are threatening their own existence and that of other species by using up the world?s resources.

He said the only way to save the planet from famine and species extinction is to limit human population growth.

?We are a plague on the Earth. It?s coming home to roost over the next 50 years or so. It?s not just climate change; it?s sheer space, places to grow food for this enormous horde. Either we limit our population growth or the natural world will do it for us, and the natural world is doing it for us right now,? he told the Radio Times.

Sir David, who is a patron of the Optimum Population Trust, has spoken out before about the ?frightening explosion in human numbers? and the need for investment in sex education and other voluntary means of limiting population in developing countries.

?We keep putting on programmes about famine in Ethiopia; that?s what?s happening. Too many people there. They can?t support themselves ? and it?s not an inhuman thing to say. It?s the case. Until humanity manages to sort itself out and get a coordinated view about the planet it?s going to get worse and worse.?

Sir David, whose landmark series are repeated from Monday on BBC2, starting with Life on Earth, has also spoken out about the change in wildlife documentaries during his lifetime.

The 86-year-old said commentary from presenters like himself are becoming less necessary as camera work is able to tell a story.

?I?m not sure there?s any need for a new Attenborough,? he said. ?The more you go on, the less you need people standing between you and the animal and the camera waving their arms about.

?It?s much cheaper to get someone in front of a camera describing animal behaviour than actually showing you [the behaviour]. That takes a much longer time. But the kind of carefully tailored programmes in which you really work at the commentary, you really match pictures to words, is a bit out of fashion now ? regarded as old hat.?

Source

[_neutrino Veteran]

sounds about right.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

An incredible man. I 100% agree with him, although I choose to refer to mankind as a virus rather than a plague. Obviously not in day-to-day conversation, but on the topic of our over population and consumption of resources without much (if any) thought to sustainability.

[theyarecomingforyou]

It's interesting to hear someone of his stature and expertise say this. I've long been opposed to famine programmes for countries like Ethiopia and Somalia, which have completely unsustainable populations and are entirely dependent upon foreign food aid. I'd much rather see money invested in education and infrastructure.

[ahhell]

It's interesting to hear someone of his stature and expertise say this. I've long been opposed to famine programmes for countries like Ethiopia and Somalia, which have completely unsustainable populations and are entirely dependent upon foreign food aid. I'd much rather see money invested in education and infrastructure.

Those programs would be as necessary if the local warlords didn't steal everything.

[Kriz]

Well its true, if the same was happening with a different species, we would control the population.

Lock up all the Jeremy Kyle-ites, stop them having 1 kid every year until they're 60, crime will drop and no doubt majority of them will turn into crack heads or benefit scammers.

[Richteralan]

It's interesting to hear someone of his stature and expertise say this. I've long been opposed to famine programmes for countries like Ethiopia and Somalia, which have completely unsustainable populations and are entirely dependent upon foreign food aid. I'd much rather see money invested in education and infrastructure.

The eternal problem of these kind of programs is: it is very hard to make sure all the food aid been distributed as intended. It happens all over the world.

[threetonesun]

Yeah, Malthus said this too. Just, 200 years ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Robert_Malthus#An_Essay_on_the_Principle_of_Population

He also said humanity was basically self regulating, which has been true.

[Fish]

The global population explosion will be followed by the global population implosion. Nature always finds a balance, it's just a matter of time.

[osm0sis]

An incredible man. I 100% agree with him, although I choose to refer to mankind as a virus rather than a plague. Obviously not in day-to-day conversation, but on the topic of our over population and consumption of resources without much (if any) thought to sustainability.

I prefer "a cancer" since we're all about uncontrolled growth.

[Crisp]

The global population explosion will be followed by the global population implosion. Nature always finds a balance, it's just a matter of time.

[Hum]

Smart man. At least someone is awake.

[Phouchg]

Humans are a blight on galactic purity.

[exotoxic]

Humans are plague on Earth

truth (Y)

[Anibal P]

"Sir" Attenborough and people that believe like him are idiots

We've had crackpots making these same comments for centuries and it hasn't happened, crap like this falls under the "It's a Conspiracy" forum

[Walrush]

He's obviously watched Agent Smiths excellent speech about humanity in The Matrix then.

"Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet....you are a plague".

[Original Poster]

well duh ... only people like me should be allowed to breed (tall, strong, high IQ and funny as hell ) ;D

[shakey]

100% agree.

[Charisma Veteran]

Mmmm... I don't really care what he says, I will still blissfully fall asleep to the sound of him saying it :wub:

[Lamp0]

I am sure WWIII will come around soon, if not a zombie apocolypse...

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Humans are a blight on galactic purity.

You sir, you are a blight.

[mzta cody]

Clearly Mr. Attenborough is a manboon in manpants pretending to have a functioning brain. Some sociopaths have a hard time pretending to be an actual, feeling human being. Just too much acting ability is required, so some don't even bother anymore.

Why doesn't Mr. Attenborough live up to his convictions and remove himself and all of his progeny from the Earth? Go take ride a rocket to Jupiter or something. That's good start and a great demonstration of leading by example!

"Population control for thee, but not for me"

[Xoligy]

This has always stuck in my mind...

Agent Smith:

I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague, and we are the cure. --The Matrix

I dont remember it all just the ending really and i think its pretty true.

[spaceelf]

Overpopulated or not, we adapt. The time may come when we won't be able to, but that's what we've been doing and will continue to do.

I don't see the point in even talking about it. If science can't provide for us then people will have a difficult time sustaining themselves and the population levels will control themselves, one way or another.

Everyone dies in the end, no point making it happen faster.

[DrakeN2k]

"Sir" Attenborough and people that believe like him are idiots

We've had crackpots making these same comments for centuries and it hasn't happened, crap like this falls under the "It's a Conspiracy" forum

So you are saything that we have not re shaped the world , by clearing all the land for farms, which is not natural. over 90% of the UK and euro is man made as how can the conteryside be natural.