GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR
Population numbers are not well understood, even though the BBC article linked from the Fact #4 text gives a good indication of where we are now - 2007 - and hence the need to limit numbers, like it or not. Besides that, the least we need to reduce is the glaring gap between the rich and the poor countries of our pretty planet. Trade is the way forward, but too many subsidies and protectionist ideals still stand in the way. Hand outs have not made any indent other than enrich the middlemen. Maybe the way forward is by reducing the greed of the rich? Go and visit a poor country and see how you can help!
TOTAL RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUEL
Fossil fuels are marvellous and without them we would not be where we are today (2007). However, just like population numbers running up, fossil fuel supplies are running down, slowly. New supplies are found regularly, but those should be treated as a bonus and not as the 'tomorrow-never-comes' store. Nuclear is nasty, leaving serious pollution for the next generations and it is not cheap either. Solar, wind and wave are fine for small to medium sized supplies. What is needed is a research pot of billions of Dollars for unbiased scientific research, no strings attached. Stop waging war and start searching!
CONSUMERISM AND POLLUTION
Development depends on advancing technologies, but a discrepancy between what is worthwhile technology and what technology can produce for the sake of producing it has now become the norm in the most developed countries. This has resulted in ever increasing and now insane pressure to develop and produce ever faster/smaller/smarter gadgets/cars/whatever, without which we are led to believe we can not possibly live. Fair enough, but it also creates a veritable mountain of perfectly good but now 'obsolete' gadgets that are neigh impossible to fully recycle and thus create vile heavy metal pollution.
SELF IMPORTANCE
Not to be confused with self esteem - which is a worthwhile trait and all too often lacking in our brave new world, where celebrity status and the biggest/fastest/most expensive car/gadget/fashion item is the hallmark of success. Pure materialism makes for low self-esteem and causes jealousy and hatred. Worthwhile values have been thrown overboard in favour of garish and empty materialism. As a species, we would be better off making sure that we all have sufficient of the basics before heading off into the distance with blinding self importance and to hell with the rest - the rest still live in hell.
SCIENTISTS
Just because some 'scientist' says it is so, doesn’t mean to say it is. Many are the occasions where even the best brains of their day have been proven wrong after the passage of time. Only by continuously searching and discussing results and options can we collectively come to conclusions about the most likely state of affairs. Statements, especially if made by politicians, that the "science is settled" and "the debate is over" are the very words that should make us sit up and listen. Hardly anything in our world is settled and debate is the essence of our freedom. Do not be fooled by junk science or scientists!