Will lower birth rates save us from extinction?
“While 'overpopulation-associated human extinction has not come to be', it will happen if we continue to destroy ecosystems and the habitat of other species which we ultimately depend on. More than 47,000 species of plants, animals, and fungi are threatened with extinction, disappearing at rates up to 1,000 times faster than the natural background level. In contrast to our current trajectory, Indigenous Australians thrived on this continent for over 60,000 years by maintaining a relatively small and stable population. Humans are on a dangerous path to self-induced extinction unless we actively align our resource consumption and population levels with the Earth's natural carrying capacity.”
Jennie Epstein, Little River VIC

Does tech make worse drivers?
“I am a member of the generation that learned to drive in old technology cars; manual gearboxes, drum brakes, cross-ply tyres rather than radials, roads that were truly shit, and no modern aids such as those mentioned in the article. I contend that many of our current drivers would struggle to cope with such conditions. Yes, modern technology has certainly reduced the road toll, but at a price. Watching traffic these days leads me to conclude that while many people claim that they are competent drivers, I contend that most drivers do not actually 'drive' their cars; they simply sit behind the steering while the car takes them for a ride, with little or no conscious input from the driver apart from controlling the direction of travel. I don't have a solution, I'm sorry, apart from more rigorous driver training.”
Greg Brodie, Oakbank SA

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