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Science, technology and the millennium development goals : Comments
By John Zillman, published 19/10/2005John Zillman sees growing co-operation between science and government in developing the Millennium Goals
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Surely science has the mathematical ability to alert governments of the existence of limits in a finite world.
No alarm has been expressed about society's needs expanding at an exponential rate as the world's population increases at greater than 1% per annum - doubling in less then 70 years. And set to double again at the same rate that if there is no change.
And if the present apartheid relating to well-being across the world is to cease, then society's needs, which science is attempting to address, will multiply the increasing burden. To infinity, or in actuality - until nature steps in and takes charge. Reaching that point is accelerated by the current developed world's fetish for economic growth. Science either knows this, or is turning a blind eye to it.
While "hope springs eternal" might be a good thing up to a point, failure to factor the reality of limits into programmes for action is negligent on the part of scientific advisers.