Originally Posted by Barefootsies

Population control is at the heart of this problem. Open up a history book, and look at the world's history up until roughly 1890-1900's and the insane spike in population coupled with people living longer. You will see that is when most of the 'world's problems' of today had began. Population, food shortage, jobs, handouts, etc., etc..

With the dawn of the industrial revolution (i.e. less manual labor needed) and petroleum, you have an enormous spike in population that continues for some 120+ years now, and the rape of the planet began. At the rate the population is growing, they say in another 50 years that the western world will have to start eating bugs as there is not going to be enough land left to support the cattle and the traditional diet of today.

Only 1% of the entire planet's water is "fresh water", and you have large areas of the planet losing their traditional water sources. The next world war is going to be over food and water. Not just energy.