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National Geographic said it best when they titled their front page article, "Population Seven Billion.” Writer Robert Kunzig highlights the problems our generation have to face. From water shortages in California, to growing demands for food, how can we best prepare ourselves for such crisis? Especially with the population expected to reach this seven billion mark by 2045? Where do we start?

Kunzig explains that most of the population growth is being seen (and will continue to be seen) in second and even third world countries. Countries that are currently unstable, undemocratic, and are only now being invested into by foreign countries. How will these countries adapt to politics and a world where non democratic states are frowned upon? Will the fighting end before they reach a certain population? Will a lack of resources curb us from the projected population growth?

The resources certainly aren't limitless, but they are still unmeasured. Joel Cohen population biologist researched the idea for years. “I wrote the book thinking I would answer the question,” he says. “I found out it’s unanswerable in the present state of knowledge.” What he found, was an array of  “political numbers, intended to persuade people.” Bringing us to a new question, will we run out of fuel? Certainly our oil reserves have been measured, although ranging drastically from time to time, the world is in agreeance that we will most certainly run out. Which is odd for our politicians, who rarely agree on matters, and we can most certainly use it to solve the problems ahead. Because no matter how you feel we should handle the matters, we most certainly need to make decisive actions.

Their is an old saying that we all must “start small.” For such large matters that seem to be looming over our heads, the words seem to echo from years ago. Just as every dream takes a first step, so does our solution. Economists, writers, and analysts across the globe point towards this idea.Simply, have nations concentrate on issues that can be uncontroversially passed. Reaching out for votes from leaders across the globe, including countries not normally brought to the table, and have them work towards that goal. Pushing for greener industries, passing bills to thwart genocide, and promoting research from scientists across the globe. Simple measures that can teach all countries cooperation, eventually building up to the bigger problems of the present. Allowing fresh ideas, and cooperation across boarders and party lines.

If we start small, the problems that seem to be looming for the “Population Seven Billion” will be insignificant to the strides we make towards a better society. Making the question not; “Where do we start?” but “When do we start.” Because, if we just keep moving forward without a goal in mind, we may be in over our heads before we know it. For as the famous Yogi Bear once stated, “If you don’t know where your going, you will wind up somewhere else.”