overpopulation hoax

That is correct, comrades. Our world is in fact capable of supporting a greater population at a higher standard of living than that we currently enjoy. Consoder the Antarctic continent, virtually empty but much easier to make habitable and to reach than even Mars! Much of what we learn in creating a self-sustaining society in that unexploited region would be of value in our conquest of the solar system, as well. PER ARDUA AD ASTRA!

[Irinka_ukraine_dot_com]

Key words: standard of living

[Steve-In-Hotlanta]

The problem is not that the earth is now overpopulated. It's that the rate of growth is too great. The human population didn't reach 1 billion until around 1900. It's now close to 6 billion and continues to grow exponentially. This ever increasing population creates an ever increasing amount of waste and an ever increasing demand for earths finite resources. However, I must agree to some extent that there is no problem now. Necessity is the mother of invention and somehow mankind will come up with solutions when true population problems do arise.

But living in Antarctica sounds horrible to me. It get a little cold down there.

And to the Leafs fan. GO WINGS

My point exactly, comrade! Eventually we will need to conquer environments much more inhospitable than Antarctica, and the sooner we start, the better off we will be. Antarctica has breathable atmosphere at 1 atmosphere of pressure and abundant water, with nuclear power it could literally become a garden paradise (inside a correctly insulated dome or similar structure, of course!), and there is already a tourist industry of sorts, in the sunny season! Imagine nuclear powered submarine shuttles ferrying goods and travelers back and forth under the ice shelf regardless of the season! It will also provide the opportunity to confront the administrative challenges of international colonization efforts. Like the exploration of space, it could be a paying proposition via its untapped mineral wealth. Injured explorers could be evacuated much more conveniently than Lunar or Martian explorers- in short it represents an ideal stepping stone to the conquest of other worlds.

[rikbe]

Imagine nuclear powered submarine shuttles ferrying goods and travelers back and forth under the ice shelf regardless of the season!

Under the ice shelf? What happened to the continent?

But colonisation is a good idea. Maybe we could send 1 billion Muslims to cool off.

Good one, Comrade Rikbe nimble! As far as I know, the continent in question is still firmly connected to the Ross Ice Shelf and very much still in the vicinity of Earth's South polar region- at least, last time I checked. As for cooling off hotheads on other planets, Neptune would not be cold enough for certain Americans of incendiary temperament. I was at a mosque today and was gratified by the friendly response I received, I recommend the experience to my fellow Americans who desire to lead a life pleasing to God. Not necessarily to convert, but to seek understanding and to show compassion. Before September 11, 2001 no police had to be posted at our city's mosques, you know? Today I saw them and did not know whether to be glad or sad that they were stationed there.

[rikbe]

Yesterday I saw a doc on TV about colonization of Mars. They think it is possible by burning the surface first to turn it black so it keeps more warmth and to free CO2, then put plants to turn CO2 into oxygen.
ANother candidate is Europe, one of the moons of Jupiter that has the same size as Earth. But this was more in case the sun would heath up. Not for an immediate future.
For other solar systems, only hibernation could be a solution.