Computer scientist Stephen Emmott has been causing ripples at London's Royal Court theatre, where he stands in a replica of his office and delivers an uncompromisingly bleak view of humanity's future.

In a nightly one-hour lecture he cites trends in population growth, consumption, water use, agriculture and climate change to argue that the world is facing “Ian unprecedented emergency”, from which, he says, there is no escape: "We are fucked."

And he tells how he asked a scientific colleague what single action he would recommend, given the state of the world, and the colleague replied: “Teach my son to use a gun.”

Last week the theatre tried to organise a Q&A public webcast with Emmott, which was a total failure: when I tried to join in, all I got was the sound of an angry woman swearing, and no other sound or pictures.

Now the threatre is trying to repeat the exercise. If you want a glimpse into Emmott's world, try tuning in at 4:45pm on 9 August.

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