13 Billion

We thought the growth would stop. That it would slow down and plateau before it gets too bad. We were wrong

As the human population increased, the reverse happened for all other animal and plant life, both on land and in sea. The climate did change, again, and again, and always for the worse. Zoo's soon had to grow their animals from petri dishes, or just have artwork of long dead animals and plants. Artificial intelligence only made things worse, since the best computers were made for war. War waged over the small amount of resources that everyone wanted more of. Copper, Iron, gold, silver, oil, food, and water were but a few these resources.

It was not the climate change that did us in, but ourselves. There were simply to many of us. It did not help that some advanced economies, distinctly made it worse by allowing incentives for childbirth. However, I can't blame them, much. Children have always been good for local industry and society. But something needed to be done.

Originally, it was thought that ten billion was going to be the breaking point, but science was able to increase food supply with some planetary sacrifices, up to a point. Thirteen billion was that point, everything came crashing down when we past that number as a species. Due to the lack of food and water, World War IV broke out in mid 2039. This war caused population to drop by nine billion. Not all were killed in direct conflict, but the war indirectly caused it for sure. The war caused disease to spread, and famines to become more common and destructive. It also destroyed the supply chains around that world. A contagious sterility virus, formed and released by the american states, themselve vaccinated against it, was around the globe within 13 months after being released. Nuclear weapons were also used, notably released by the russian republic against the american states in retaliation for the virus. Now, in the year 2051, the war is over, over with no clear winner. The last remaining warring nations were each toppled themselves by civil wars that resulted in only further anarchy.

Most have no hope for the future, the sterility virus affects the entirety of the remaining population, and nearly all modern adavancements are destroyed, or exist with none living having the training required to understand them. However, I still ask myself everyday if it would have even be possible to avoid this fate. I always reach the same conclusion. This was inevitable. Wanting to biologically reproduce is tied to our genes. It is the very purpose of life, evolutionary speaking. We just got too good at it. We were like rabbits breeding without any predators to control our numbers.

However, I still had hope for the future due to my work. My work focused on the study of viruses, I was one of the first european scientists that had discovered the americans sterility virus after it was released. Ever since that discovery, I have focused my work on counter acting the affects of the virus, hoping to reverse it. However, with this last journel recording, I regret all my work. I not only have failed in my purpose, but I've found that my work as only resulted in releasing a new and more deadly virus out into world. I am sorry.

With this, my confession, I must bid you au revoir. The rope waits for me.

Jacques A. Dubois