Welcome to Earth: Population 0

History Channel explores a world without humans

Posted by Sarah van Schagen at 4:09 PM on 22 Jan 2008

Read more about: population | extinction

What would the earth be like if we finally manage to bring about our own extinction?

Find out Wednesday night.

For story: Welcome to Earth: Population 0
7 Comments | Post a Comment

Already premiered on Monday...

...Still, wednesday for those who didn't catch it the first time 'round.

by Tasermons Partner at 6:22 PM on 22 Jan 2008

Population $000,000

It was not until I looked out over a Mountain Top Removal and Valley Fill that I could watch this program with the author's vision of life after people being prophesy instead of science fiction. I see whole eco systems destroyed to get at dinosaur shit "I know wrong period" Cambrian, whatever! It matters not, if only cockroaches exist afer us, they would be better stewards of the land and more deserving.

The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.

by Pompey Road at 7:04 PM on 22 Jan 2008

Saw some of it on Monday...

...notice how they highlight how much attention infrastructure and buildings require to remain standing -- which has great relevance to population 6 billion.

by Jon Rynn at 8:31 PM on 22 Jan 2008

One Of Those Times I Wish I Had Cable

This would be a great companion to Alan Weisman's "The World Without Us"! He started by describing how much attention infrastructure requires to remain standing. I once imagined a more passive system for draining water from urban areas... please see my remarks at the weekend book club thread... http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/12/14/114455/73/#10 ... ... if you have not seen the History Channel program or read the book I just mentioned.

I guess I'll look for the DVD. Thinking about what the world would be like without us really brings home just how much damage we are doing to the biosphere. The only good news, perhaps, is that what is left MIGHT actually recover quite quickly given an opportunity. What's left...

Corporations... tear down those walls!

By the way, according to Weisman, our common pesky cockroach is from the tropics and will not last long in northern areas. They are dependent on warm human habitations for survival. I think raccoons might inherit the Earth. I wonder whether their heirs will make te same mistakes we have.

by wiscidea at 9:38 PM on 22 Jan 2008

Weisman

Those interested in what would happen to the world without humans should definitely read Alan Weisman's book. It is one of the best I have read in years. (Review)

a sibilant intake of breath

by sindark at 7:52 AM on 23 Jan 2008

we are very ego-centric

I loved watching this program, as it showed that really it is not the earth that needs us, but really we need the earth. We seem to forget that. We are so involved in our self-centric and ego-centric that we treat all other life form and the planet like sh!t.

Its humans that need to realize that we are not some great indestructible beings that get to rule everything, infact we are very week and depended on this earth.

by javaearth at 7:53 AM on 23 Jan 2008

Raccoons

I think raccoons are the main reason we aren't allowed to commit suicide. If we give the raccoons free reign, plus the tools we leave behind, they will not only finish what we started, but may well take out this whole side of the Galaxy before they're done.

Come on, people. We have a responsibility not to inflict sentient raccoons on the rest of the universe.

Eat what you grow, grow what you eat

by PermieWriter at 3:46 PM on 23 Jan 2008

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