THE United States Census Bureau estimates that there are now seven billion people in the world, as of October 15.

It is also estimated that there will be another billion added every 12 years. We cannot feed the people that live here now never mind adding to this number.

I find it very disturbing that mankind is continuing to thrive at an alarming rate when most other animals and birds are in serious decline. Bats, butterflies, birds, fish, turtles and amphibians are all under threat from man-made pollution.

Our own pollution of rivers with oestrogen from the birth control pill will cause it's own serious problems impacting on the fertility of the world's male population. This may solve the birth rate problem for us.

Malcolm Rolling, Durham.