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Matt Ridley: Deep Optimism

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Matt Ridley: What Drives Human Evolution and Innovation?

06 min 04 sec

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Matt Ridley, journalist and author of The Rational Optimist, examines the driving force behind human evolution and technological innovation, especially over the past 100,000 years. Ridley argues the answer lies in the development of exchange, or trade.
Can the Earth Feed a Population of 9 Billion People?

03 min 07 sec

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Matt Ridley, author of The Rational Optimist, proposes a plan to feed a global population of 9 billion people.
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01 hr 39 min 56 sec

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There are 11 comments on this program

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Previous FORAtv comments:

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Trevar +
FORA.tv Staff

Posted: 07.26.11, 09:12 AM

@Stephen: Apologies, the download was indeed corrupt. We've replaced the file. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Stephen Darden +

Posted: 07.24.11, 09:39 AM

The video download file is defective. I've downloaded 5 times in both Chrome and Safari. The downloads complete leaving a file 2011-03-22_ridley-lnf-13331_download.mp4 which will not display.

ahab666

Posted: 06.18.11, 11:47 AM

well that's not optimism - it's negating reality ! in my primary school days the census was that there are 3.6 billion people on our world (1968) and even at that time some peps asked if that is not enough. in 1976 the 200th year of the independence of the US there was the estimation that 4.2 billion were reached. again people asked if that was not enough. Today (2011) we are at about 7 billion (9.96) and i ask isn't that too much by 1.5 to 2.5 billion. The question should not be are we capable to feed X billion people rather than how can we reduce the number, or at least quickly stop the growth of the world population without thinking of catastrophes, wars or other crazy solutions. i am quite sure that trebling the crops again (3x3=9!) could only be done by ignoring anything humanity learned so far about ecosystem, evolution or consequences of misusing agriculture technologies (from DDT to Seveso, later Bophal and beyond like GMOs a.s.o.) - at the time when humanity runs out of oil there will be a short period of biological created combustion fuels to keep the higher developed nations=economies running - then ???

farber2

Posted: 06.17.11, 08:12 PM

on the subject of feeding 9 billion, yes till the oil runs out, then game over, we are better off focusing on feeding people with out the use of oil, because that scenario is coming.

CiaranK

Posted: 06.04.11, 01:13 AM

Seems to me that Matt has crossed the line between Deep optimism and Blind optimism.

lmfg

Posted: 05.05.11, 09:45 PM

This guy is or was a board member of Northern Rock and is considered a libertarian. He is very much a capitalist rather than a humanist. I don't think he really cares that the ecological damage overall will kill humans, regardless of our wonderful abilities in health care. Optimism is a good thing,but beware those who discount humanity.

far_spam

Posted: 04.20.11, 12:11 PM

This guy is just an opportunist and found an original idea for a book. If tomorrow there is a war dont worry in general, statistically speaking, mankind is on the up. Regardless of whether billions of people die. Its just a blip on the chart.

Eric25001

Posted: 04.17.11, 07:14 AM

What is your point? Do you have anything constructive to say? Just when did the worlds sea level and temperature average meet your approval? Name the decade or century! Please! Are you claiming 8/10 of 1 degree is abnormal FLUX? If not which model based on which data do you support! As a true believer you should be able to enlighten all of us on the farm as to just what is the correct belief! Maybe the ice age? Maybe 8,000 years before the present? Are the sea levels and temperature of 6,000 years before the common era OK? The best? Too hot, too cold? Sea levels to high or too low Please tell us.

theknopfknows

Posted: 04.16.11, 02:54 PM

WELL DONE MATE! REMEMBER #NONE OF US ARE AS DUMB AS ALL OF US"! THE CORPORATIONS MUST LOVE THIS GUY PUSHES POLLUTION AHEAD; I FEEL HE IS SUFFERING FROM THE SOCIAL DISEASE PROCRASTINATION; ALSO HE SPEAKS NOT OF PREVENTION. HIS WEATHER RECORDS ARE VERY BAD, Hanson explained Global warming yet Matt missed out. Dr. James Lovelocke, Matt Missed out. Sorry Fora TV, this is corporate MIND control or perception management, soft power inn action. VERY POOR INFORMATION! EASY FOR THOSE WHO KNOW NOT To get sucked into Matt´s Myths!

Eric25001

Posted: 04.14.11, 03:35 AM

Can we ask and compare carbon trading schemes and the peddling/scheme of papal indulgences to a starving German peasantry in order to build St Peter's? Why do some always want to dictate to all what should happen or be allowed on the farm? Bully everyone into agreement? Thanks for the talk. Yes better in the long run! Yes better than our yesterdays! Just say no to bullies! Mind dictators! and the ilk!

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