Are Humans Destined to Be Extinct Within 100 Years?

Ninety-five year-old Australian microbiologist Professor Frank Fenner is world renown for bringing the myxomatosis virus to rabbits in Australia to control their population in the 1950's.  He's also the man who announced to the World Health Assembly in 1980 that smallpox had been eradicated.  Now, Professor Fenner has made another startling announcement.

In an interview with The Australian, Professor Fenner has revealed his fears that "we're going to become extinct" and that "whatever we do now is too late."

According to Fenner, "Homo sapiens will become extinct, perhaps within 100 years.  A lot of other animals will, too.  It's an irreversible situation.  I think it's too late.  I try not to express that because people are trying to do something but they keep putting it off."

Fenner feels that despite efforts to control global warming and overpopulation issues the fate of humans is already sealed.

According to experts, the world population will rise past the 7 billion mark next year.  Fenner believes this will end up leading to "food wars" as the world's nations struggle to cope with the strain on food and water supplies caused by the population boom.

Climate change is also a great worry to Professor Fenner.  He feels we've already passed the point of no return despite the fact we have the scientific ability to fight global issues.  The lack of political will is the problem.

No one can really argue with Professor Fenner that a staggeringly large population and global warming are serious issues that affect all life on this planet.  It does seem that some humans have done more to destroy the planet than preserve it.

But does that really mean we are all doomed within 100 years?  Some feel that Fenner is being a tad rash in his estimations that all humans will be extinct in a mere 100 years.  They feel that unless there is a string of catastrophes that lead to literally every single human being dying that, at the very least, there will still be a few humans left on the planet to manage a meager existence.

Regardless of who is wrong or right in this situation, the fact remains that we are still living on an increasingly warming planet, we're killing off certain species of animals at an alarming rate and have already pushed some to extinction.  If the shocking words of Professor Fenner do nothing, they should, at the very least, cause some to stop and think about what we are doing and, hopefully, lead them to change their ways and help the planet rather than destroy it.  Before it really is too late.

Follow this link to read the original The Australian article.