The UK’s fertility rate is at an all-time low, and many other countries face similar declines, creating ageing populations. But can ecological benefits of fewer people outweigh social problems created?

It’s interesting how different countries are dealing and are effected by the declining worldwide birth rates. The most astounding statistic to me is that wildlife populations have dropped +70% over the past 50 years. Frankly, if humans think that we are in the right to drop wildlife populations by such a staggering amount, a slight drop in human populations only seems like a fair way to balance the scales.

  • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.orgEnglish
    2·
    17 days ago

    as I see both fewer and more is bad. more is bad because of overpopulation, but fewer is also bad because of how the pension system works at most places

    • tetris11
      3·
      17 days ago

      If those pension investments come crashing down, the government will just have to roll out a new pension scheme not tied to money. E.g. mandatory social duty where all young and able people work in rotas to take care of 1 to 2 elderly people per month.

      • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.orgEnglish
        4·
        17 days ago

        that sounds interesting, but in this idea would those people have to pay for the expenses of the eldely? in my understanding the problem is not that the elderly wouldn’t be able to take care for themselves generally, but that they wouldn’t be able to pay for things they need or want.

      • rcbrkEnglish
        2·
        17 days ago

        When i’m 90, wheel me out to the orchard and I’ll watch the chickens. If you give me a stick i’ll wave it to scare the parrots off the apples.

        • tetris11
          2·
          16 days ago

          Grandad, for the last time - those aren’t parrots, they’re people, and that’s not a stick you’re holding it’s a rifle

        • UltraGiGaGiganticEnglish
          1·
          17 days ago

          When I’m 90 give me a ton of heroin and I will put myself in a dumpster before administering an intentional overdose.

    • Manmoth
      21·
      17 days ago

      If you raise a family they can take care of you when you get old.