A long time ago, people began working in groups. When the groups exceeded subsistent levels of food production then some members of the group could specialize in non-food production activities. These specialists went on to develop writing, mathematics and music amongst many other advances.

While the idea of a food surplus sounds not only reasonable but also necessary, people have taken this idea to the extreme. Groups of people expanded to villages then grew into cities which now have become conurbations. Such human contrived living conditions can now encompass over 82 million people. That is, these 82 million people rely upon the surplus of food production from far away regions so that they can continue to pursue their specialties.

In a certain way these conurbations act like an inter-stellar black hole. The conurbations consume vast amounts of resources; food, energy and material, while very little comes out from its ‘event horizon’. Should we question the wisdom of increasing the number of and expanding the size of conurbations? If a conurbation relies upon external resources, as presumably does a black hole, then what happens when the supply of resources fails?