In terms of coping with peak oil, climate change, and other instances of resource depletion, I believe nothing is more urgent than stabilizing the human population. Since reproductive rights are such a taboo topic, what do you think can be done to limit family sizes? Would Plan B require strict laws like China's "only child" policy?

The population of the earth is under control. We will peak at about double the current population.

It is highly unlikey that a system that can support 6 billion can't support 12.

We just need to use energy wisely (which we are not), make good descisions about energy (which we are also not doing) and through the use of energy price let each indvidual act locally, without having to think globally (This is happening now with expensive oil).

I also think population control is important. I would not call it "under control." Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should knobstuner. When populations get out of control things start occuring to take action and reduce the population - plagues and so on. I wish the U.S. would stop giving tax credits for children. Why should people get extra money for having children when a lot, about half, of property taxes go to schools and every homeowner- children or none - pays property taxes. And yet only people with children get child credits on taxes. Maybe property taxes should stay the same and those without children should get the tax credit. (Gee, can you tell I'm not ever going to get a child tax credit?)

Overpopulation implies imbalance - one species swelling in numbers at the expense of other species. But what about farm animals? As is the case for a person, each domesticated animal depends on food grown on land that was once wilderness. How about a move toward plant-based diets as a solution to quickly reduce the number of non-wild beings?

In 1994, the year I did research on this, the combined weight of the world's 15 billion farm animals surpassed the weight of the human population by over one and a half times (and by 4 times in North America). See article here.

I'm curious to know his opinion on the near futures of China and India. These countries are working pretty hard to make the transition into modern society, but their populations are still growing despite the somewhat successful efforts of each country's government to slow that growth. Both countries have experience significant famine conditions within the last hundred years. Will they be able to feed their growing populations? If not, what effect could this have on their status as rising stars in the world economic market?

I am of two minds. I believe that the planet is overpopulated, and I believe that it is not. In the end, it all depends on what and how much we consume and how we consume it. Here is an instructive example of what I mean:

I live in central Spain, and there often are severe water shortages in this country. It is a hot political topic here. But there is plenty of water in Spain for people to drink and clean themselves. Unfortunately, water in Spain is used unwisely, inefficiently and ineffectively. The water distribution network leaks away large quantities of water. City streets are cleaned with high-pressure water. Farmers flood their fields for irrigation rather than use drip or micro irrigation. The tourism industry uses up huge quantities of water at the time of year when we have least and use it to fill pools and water golf courses. And so on and so on and so on. Do we have enough water in Spain? Yes, if we used it wisely. Do we have enough water in Spain? No, because we are humans.

When will our species evolve from one dominated by animal desires and instincts to one that is governed by wisdom and willpower?

For LB:
I loved the book 'Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth' and have been passing the title to friends, family and co-workers. Everyone says it is truly eye-opening.

Beyond sharing or suggesting books and information, what can someone do (easily?) to get others involved in the issues of Sustainability, Energy Alternatives, and Community?

There is ONLY one condition at the root of ALL the problems and that is overpopulation. To be more specific, too many humans.Or as Abraham Lincoln put it, there are too many pigs for the tits.
No amount of conservation will ever make up for ignoring this basic fact. Nothing will help that does not first face this fundimental part of the problem, you cannot get to the answers by ignoring the facts.

You say throwaway products may be priced out of existence,throwaway beverage containers, for example. As a activist who has been campaigning three years for an Arkansas bottle bill, I am wondering if I am wasting my time. At 69, I may not have many productive years left. Perhaps I should be using my time getting ready for the end of cheap oil- build a passive solar home, learn to cook with solar energy, hone my gardening skills, etc. Taking care of myself and my family rather than chasing after law that could become moot even before it is enacted.