The author suggests the metaphor "Spaceship Earth" has difficulties within a world that has no captain nor an executive committee. He suggests an alternative metaphor, that of a lifeboat. The lifeboat metaphor is applied to various nations and effects of policies related to population growth, food production, food distribution, immigration and…

Presents an open ended list of delusions about population which are based on expansionist economics and contends that dispelling these delusions, and others, will allow us to come to grip with the population problem. Some of the delusions presented concern birth control, sharing the wealth, and energy shortages. (BR)

In discussing the human and cultural implications of scientific discoveries and knowledge, the biological concept of carrying capacity is explored. Maintaining that human beings are truly animals answering to principles that govern all animals, the author addresses the need for human populations to work within the context of culture and carrying…