7 billion and counting

The Safari and your good selves are now part of a population of a scary 7 thousand million; more by the time we've finished riting this guff. When will it end, or perhaps more worryingly, how will it end? When we entered the world there were a couple of handfuls less than 3 billion of us and almost 150 years since we passed the 2 billion mark! Another 3 billion within 40 years???

This is the biggest issue facing the planet today and hardly anypne mentions it...as for politicians...well there isn't a barge-pole long enough. China has led the way for some time with therir one child family policy/dictat and India has added something to the  mix trying to ensue each male only fathers two children. A friend who recently visited central China noticed that there were now real social issues due to that policy. The schools were full of boys with very few girls, none of the children had brothers or sisters or even extended fanilies - how is this going to affect how their society operates in the not too distant future? 

How are the Indians going to be able to enforce their new law despite the threat of big fines and even prison sentences? Already the different religious groups have kicked up a stink, each scared that the others' followers won't abide by the rules and they'll be overrun, or worse - forced to convert - flippin religion; causes more trouble than it's worth!

Will any other nation take up the baton? Here's the current league table. Although this one might be more telling.

Every environment, habitat, region has its carrying capacity at any given time, we exceed those limits at our peril and the conditions governing those limits are always liable to change - eg current drought in the Horn of Africa and extensive flooding in Paistan for the second season in succession reduces the carrying capacity in those areas and there are many other regions too. Geldof  hit the nail firmly on the head when he wrote "thank God it's them instead of you". But our cosy Western carrying capacity is still there lurking furtively in the background almost wholly dependent on oil. Without the gooey black stuff would we have enough fertiliser, diesel for the tractors/harvesters etc and the trucks for distribution (that's if we ever distribute it fairly in the first place), electricity for refrigeration and other storage??? All gettin a bit scary so enough of this psuedo-political babbling it's time for you to discuss the issue amongst yourselves.

On a lighter note we got out for half an hour along the North Blackpool Pond Trail (southern half of the southern section). It was worth the effort and discomfort as the first bird we heard was a Water Rail screaming from the reedbed, the first we've ever heard there. From there though the walk went downhill with only a flock of c10 Long Tailed Tits, a grounded Meadow Pipit and a singing Song Thrush making it into the notebook.

Our main objective of the walk was to suss out the alternative vis mig site to Base Camp's 'garden in a hole' and Chat Alley and we have to say it looks good with a slightly raised elevation, some shelter and extensive views of the sky - shame the vis mig season is just about drawing to a close...will we remember it for next year?

Sorry no pics today, too dull and not enough action.

Where to next? Might be back later if any photo opportunities have arisen - don't hold yer breath.

In the meantime let us know what is at carrying capacity in your outback.