Compressed Earth Perspective

**PJYelton** · 11-14-2003

What is it about Australia to be leading in this catagory? I'm really curious.

>>This compares to the somewhat harder to live with lion, elephant and rhino which are mostly still around.<<

Well this is a little misleading since if humans had their way they would be extinct. They only exist because they are protected and because people think they are cool. Compatable animals tend to get pushed around a lot more by humans since we don't notice we are infringing on them until it is too late.

Likewise since most of Australia is uninhabitable for humans and most animals, the three people per square is misleading as well. Take the population density of habitable regions and this number goes way up.

**bennyandthejets** · 11-14-2003

Yay, finally my country is famous for SOMETHING! I didn't realize that we were this bad though. And it's true, most of the country is uninhabitable. On the eastern seaboard, where most of the population is, it is fairly dense, but still not as dense as other parts of the world.

**anonytmouse** · 11-14-2003

>>Take the population density of habitable regions and this number goes way up.<<

Yes, but... The size of NSW, Australia's most populated state is 800 642 km^2 while the population is less than 7 million. That compares with Germany at 357 000 km^2 and a population of more than 82 million. (NSW is actually bigger than Germany, Italy and the Netherlands combined, a population in excess of 150 million.)

Yet, Germany has a higher percentage of protected areas.

>>most of Australia is uninhabitable for humans and most animals<<

Most of the extinct and endangered animals inhabit(ed) the arid areas of Australia.

According to the CoA (1998), we have 33 endangered mammals and 21 vulnerable mammals, or a total of 54 nationally threatened mammals. This is 20% of our extant native species. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals (1996) we have 58 threatened mammals, which ranks us 6th in the world - we have more threatened mammals than 97% of the world's countries. We also have 19 extinct mammals (CoA 1998) - more than any other country (CoA 1996a) or continent (Strahan 1995) on Earth. In the arid zone, about 33% of mammal species in the sandy and stony desert ecosystems are known to be regionally extinct and 90% of mammal species weighing between 35 grams (mouse size) and 5,500 grams (small wallaby size) are either extinct or endangered (NSW Government 1997, p.328).

http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaig...icy/biodivsum/

Note, from the list above at the above site, many developing countries also have a higher proportion of protected ares than Australia (while we're laying the boot in!).

**PJYelton** · 11-15-2003

All I am saying is that just because Australia has a low population density doesn't prove that it isn't the increase of populations fault that there are so many extinctions on the continent. Perhaps Australia's ecosystem was so precarious that only a small population increase in humans sent it on a tremendous tailspin that affected the entire continent like dominoes.

Maybe it does have nothing to do with population increase, I don't know. I'm curious what scientists think.

**anonytmouse** · 11-15-2003

In summary, most authors agree that the introduction of exotic predators, especially the European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Feral Cat (Felis catus), the introduction of exotic herbivores, especially the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Sheep (Ovis aries) and Cattle (Bos taurus), and changed fire regimes, particularly in the arid grasslands, have contributed to the decline and extinction of an array of species in Australia.
...
Land clearing has been the major factor in the demise of one species and the decline of others.
...
In summary, it appears that the interaction of three factors changes to habitat caused by introduced herbivores, homogenisation of habitat following changed fire regimes and, particularly, the spread of exotic predators has been mainly responsible for the high extinction rate of marsupials since European settlement of Australia. Habitat clearing has also affected the extent of occurrence of many species.

http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/t...supials/9.html

**~~Silvercord~~** · 11-16-2003

i think there should be some sort of international birth control law or something. I mean, the earth can only sustain so many people. china already needs to do it

**Sayeh** · 11-19-2003

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for aid, acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent.

Wrong. The answer is _not_ another giveaway, handout, financial band-aid on the part of the US. We've already given away 14 times more money than is necessary to raise the educational and living level of every human on earth to America's "middle class" status.

The reason people are in a mess is because of their corrupt governments or their own laziness, selfishness, or plain greed. Their governments horde the money and food and medicine we send, making their people starve so they can control them.

Enough of this "feed the poor" cr@p. They can feed themselves. If those people really wanted help, they'd ask us to teach them how to farm, and build and so forth-- they wouldn't ask for money.

Problem is, America is hated by most of the Earth because they want what we have-- and they don't want to earn it. They want it just handed to them like they deserve it.

-- Wrong. We died to get here, we learned it and earned it. We have open borders in our society because we are _peaceful_ people, not religious or racially motivated zealots.

I'm sick and tired of hearing the minority whine about how badly they are treated. I'm treated badly too-- but I don't get assistance based on racial classification or gender. I don't get tax cuts. I don't get subsidies. I don't get free this that and the other thing. I couldn't afford college today, if I had to do it over. I don't get a fat monthly paycheck for every child I create. No. I'm the little white guy that's scraping and clawing and bleeding to pay for "their fair share".

But hey, I'm used to it. I'm the lowliest, least advantaged person on earth-- the white American male.

IMHO.
[Wow. I didn't realize I felt so strongly about this... hmmm. Opinions, anyone? I'm interested in perspectives from India, Mexico, Middle East.]

**Felix** · 11-19-2003

Originally posted by Sayeh

Enough of this "feed the poor" cr@p. They can feed themselves. If those people really wanted help, they'd ask us to teach them how to farm, and build and so forth-- they wouldn't ask for money.

So true... almost all the food produced in Africa is sent to Europe to feed the pigs that provide our meat

**Clyde** · 11-19-2003

Wrong. The answer is _not_ another giveaway, handout, financial band-aid on the part of the US. We've already given away 14 times more money than is necessary to raise the educational and living level of every human on earth to America's "middle class" status.

I'd love to see the calculation behind that claim.

The reason people are in a mess is because of their corrupt governments or their own laziness, selfishness, or plain greed.

Whilst invariably corruption is a huge problem to the third world, the question is WHY, why is corruption much more of a problem there? Do you really believe the people are inherently lasier, more selfish or more greedy?

Enough of this "feed the poor" cr@p. They can feed themselves

Jesus christ.

If those people really wanted help, they'd ask us to teach them how to farm, and build and so forth-- they wouldn't ask for money

..... are you for real?

Problem is, America is hated by most of the Earth because they want what we have-- and they don't want to earn it. They want it just handed to them like they deserve it.

How do you know what they want? Or what they think?

I'm sick and tired of hearing the minority whine about how badly they are treated

But........ they are treated badly.

'm treated badly too-- but I don't get assistance based on racial classification or gender

Is your bad treatment institutionalised? Or is it just because you're an arse?

But hey, I'm used to it. I'm the lowliest, least advantaged person on earth-- the white American male.

LMAO, yea poor you, damn those lucky females who get born into starving villages governed by religious fanatics.

Get a $$$$ing clue.

**ZerOrDie** · 11-19-2003

Wrong. We died to get here, we learned it and earned it. We have open borders in our society because we are _peaceful_ people, not religious or racially motivated zealots.

typical american... egocentric...

How peaceful you are what you invaded TWO countries in the last year? Heil BUSH! Comming soon the sun never sets on the American empire.

**Felix** · 11-19-2003

Originally posted by Clyde
Do you really believe the people are inherently lasier, more selfish or more greedy?

Erm, it is 'proved' that Africans have less intelligence then others... Ever heard of 'positive discrimination'?

Originally posted by Clyde
Jesus Christ

Read my previous post.

**Clyde** · 11-19-2003

Erm, it is 'proved' that Africans have less intelligence then others...

Bull$$$$.

The bell-curve was ripped apart a long time ago.

**Felix** · 11-19-2003

Originally posted by Clyde
Bull$$$$.

The bell-curve was ripped apart a long time ago.

Then why positive discrimination?

**Clyde** · 11-19-2003

Then why positive discrimination?

What on Earth are you gibbering about?

**anonytmouse** · 11-21-2003

>>Erm, it is 'proved' that Africans have less intelligence then others...<<

Would this tolerated if the word Arficans was exchanged for 'blacks', 'Jews', 'Christians'?

If not, can I ask the moderators why racial hatred is tolerated against Africans while not against other cultures, religions and races.