This guy sure doesn’t pull any punches.
There is always something special about science meetings. The 109th meeting of the Texas Academy of Science at Lamar University in Beaumont on 3-5 March 2006 was especially exciting for me, because a student and his professor presented the results of a DNA study I suggested to them last year.
[..]
But there was a gravely disturbing side to that otherwise scientifically significant meeting, for I watched in amazement as a few hundred members of the Texas Academy of Science rose to their feet and gave a standing ovation to a speech that enthusiastically advocated the elimination of 90 percent of Earth’s population by airborne Ebola. The speech was given by Dr. Eric R. Pianka, the University of Texas evolutionary ecologist and lizard expert who the Academy named the 2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist.
One of Pianka’s earliest points was a condemnation of anthropocentrism, or the idea that humankind occupies a privileged position in the Universe. He told a story about how a neighbor asked him what good the lizards are that he studies. He answered, “What good are you?”
Pianka hammered his point home by exclaiming, “We’re no better than bacteria!”
Professor Pianka said the Earth as we know it will not survive without drastic measures. Then, and without presenting any data to justify this number, he asserted that the only feasible solution to saving the Earth is to reduce the population to 10 percent of the present number.
Well, any selection method other than random chance will get corrupted and I disagree with the 10% number, I think we might go as high at 25-35%, but he’s spot on about the rest.
We might as well start with some volunteers, let’s start with the professor and his colleagues.
Sean, you want to join in?
I think the point he’s missing is that nature is a cruel mistress. She doesn’t care if we destroy the earth down to the point only bacteria and cockroaches survive. Life will still go on. We are simply dinosaurs, waiting around for our era to end.
No need to rush the asteroid though…..
We all die eventually. A mass die-off would be painful for the couple of generations that experience it, but it is quickly forgotten. I mean, how bad do you personally feel about the “Black Plague” that wiped out half of Europe. And after the “Black Plague” came the Renaissance.
Religious people can’t wait to die and go to heaven, and Atheists don’t worry about dying since they won’t know about it anyway. So all in all, a mass die-off could be a nice new start for future generations… unless they revert to cave-man like living conditions.
“Planet of the Apes” anyone?
Well the only people that would survive are the uber rich think about it, There the only ones who could afford to protect themself from such an outbreak the common people are doomed.
– “12 Monkeys” was a great movie. Maybe Pianka’s vision will come true, and the future will be like that.
– Don’t we need a cure for Ebola first, to know that we can stop at 10%?
– I was genuinely surprised that there are so many liberal scientists in Texas! I guess the doom and gloom crowd flock to academia (or academics are converted) no matter where you are.
It wasn’t merely a smattering of polite clapping that audiences diplomatically reserve for poor or boring speakers. It was a loud, vigorous and enthusiastic applause.
I think the author answers his own concerns here. They were just overjoyed and thankful that they hadn’t been bored to death.
“We need to sterilize everybody on the Earth.” Well I hope we start with him.
That’s a good answer to the lizard question. I guess he knows just as much about lizards as I do.
Why didn’t he praise Clinton, he had only one child? Also, Al Gore is pro-choice so in effect that does reduce birth rates more than a pro-life politician.
And does he assert that reducing the population by 90% will actually keep humans from destroying the earth?
Some background and context here:
“Mr. Hyperbole” Meets “Dr. Doom”
http://austringer.net/wp/?p=253
Seems he was making (and makes in his classes) an analogy to animal populations, but never seriously advocated purposely bringing about such a population decrease.
Vic says:
Well the only people that would survive are the uber rich think about it, There the only ones who could afford to protect themself from such an outbreak the common people are doomed.
Not quite true, ebola isn’t 100% deadly. Some people would survive it and not all of them would be the rich. It’s entirely possible that poor people would have a better chance of surviving because they tend to live with bacteria more and with less health care so tend to have better immune systems than the rich.
I am most likely wrong but it sure sounds nice doesn’t it. After all, I’m one of those poor.
“Civilization” only exists in the mind where it manifests in the world we build. If 100% of humans died, there will finally be world peace.
This professor is the kind of nut job who would unleash something like that.
LOL He gives the impression that a 90% die-off is just a drastic form of corporate downsizing.
No, no, no … keep the doctor and the chemical engineer, dump the airport screener and psychology professor.
The idiot doesn’t seem to grasp that a 90% die-off would end civilization. Planes won’t fly, trains won’t run, trucks won’t deliver. If you don’t grow your own food, you die. If you live in a city, you die. If you can’t defend your farm, you die. Give it ten years and the survivors would be using horses to plow fields.
Ah, but those Montana militia men would be in seventh heaven.
Just nuke TX and well will be okay after that.
smith that is what these people want.
Great another wacko that will be talked about for years on Fox News. What would Fox News talk about if they didn’t have the five crazies to portray all liberals as?
Is this a late April Fool’s post?
I like how the great George Carlin put his thoughts into all of this “save the planet” non-sense.
The planet isn’t going anywhere….WE ARE! Pack your bags folks, we’re going on a trip. The Earth will shake us off like a bad case of fleas.
There’s that other “Me” again. Time to pick a new handle I suppose.
I’d say we start the population reduction by getting rid of everyone who drive small cars. That’ll leave more room for the rest of us.
“I guess the doom and gloom crowd flock to academia (or academics are converted) no matter where you are.”
Well, academia is a place where these types of opinions are allowed. Business is all “can-do” and only really gives credence to “master of the universe” type of behavior… you have to maintain the illusion for your investors’ sake.
There is no shortage of these types of sentiments, even in popular literature. They all hint at the suggestion that humans can’t sustain their existence, but don’t go as far as this scientist has gone. Academia is very much about creating models and then using those models to shape reality….think first, thoroughly, and then act… engineering a destiny… these comments are an extension of that.
“Well the only people that would survive are the uber rich think about it, There the only ones who could afford to protect themself from such an outbreak the common people are doomed.”
Won’t really matter though will it? They won’t be uber rich afterwards. It’ll be a level playing field, and hopefully some of those uber rich did something worthwhile with their lives, cause it’s going to take people with calloused hands to rebuild the world. Boardroom jockeys will never make it.
The price of a flat in London would finally be low enough to afford.
I hope he’s at least willing to volunteer to be the first to go.
Will
Yes, because we all know that a massive population is the one and only key to high society. Look to the east, then to the west. What do you see? China… way too many people, not so much on the advanced civilization. Switzerland, not too much on the people, huge on the civilization. Too many people on the same job reduces efficiency. I think we could do quite well on 10%. And the rich have no better chance than anyone else, theres nothing doctors can do for ebola. Nothing.
Also, whats with all these “intelligent” people having no feel for satire and sarcasm? Jesus Christ people, get a clue.
Way I look at it, we may be a disease, infesting the universe, but hell, I’m enjoying it.
This seems to be hitting the mainstream media (in Canada at least). Currently the third story on the CBC news site:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/
Link to the story:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2006/04/04/ebola-060404.html