Discovering Language, Culture and Society

(Comm 1060) Assignment 3: Research Paper

How does the rapid growth of the worlds population effect natural resources and how can overpopulation be resolved?

By Melat Abebe 110092859

Introduction Every second the Earths population increases by more than 2 people, 200,000 people every day and nearly 80 million people each year (Attenborough, 2009). Each additional

person needs food, energy, water, shelter and preferably other basic human needs. The Earth is facing a serious overpopulation problem, and the effects can be felt throughout the world, especially in developing countries such as Africa and Asia (Pimentel, 2012). This research paper will attempt to discuss the issue of overpopulation while identifying gaps within current research to recognize additional research that needs to be conducted. The huge increase in populations occurred in the 1800s due to reduced death rates with the help of medicine and the reduction of diseases, the increase was also aided by improved agriculture (Attenborough, 2009). Since the 1800s the Earths population ha s increased by 6 billion people (Worldometers, 2013). One of the major challanges of overpopulation is the limited amount of resources. As the worlds population increases so does the demand for resources such as food, water, energy and other basic human needs, eventually the demand for resources will outweigh the supply available. Thomas Malthus predicted the power of population is infinitely greater than the power in the Earth to produce subsistence for humans (Malthus, 1798). This prediction is still relevant today, when Malthus stated his concern there were around 1 billion people on earth, now our population is over 7 billion (Earth Talk, 2013). Fertility rates in many developing countries may continue to be amongst the highest in the world, poverty and health problems due to poor sanitation, lack of food and drinking water will have a heavy effect on the populations of these countries and displays that there are food shortages in present times and this trend will continue to be a problem in the future. If the worlds population does not decrease then, by 2050, the world will be struggling to sustain 9 billion people (Attenborough, 2009). Even in 1996, the Ecological Society of America hosted a major conference on population growth which concluded: There is general agreement throughout the scientific community that growth of the human populations, and the resultant increase in consumption, is exerting an unsustainable amount of pressure on the globes ecosystems. (Kates, 2013) This warning has been echoed throughout the past few decades, humanity is possibly approaching a crisis point in relation to the interlocking issues of population, natural resources and sustainability.

Every time the subject of overpopulation is raised controversy and debate is not far behind, it is controversial because it touches on the personal choices we make. This can be easily seen from governments that have attempted to encourage or incentivise people to have fewer children; this policy has always caused controversy. An example includes Chinas one

child policy that was introduced in 1979, families were encouraged to have fewer children and those who didnt were fined (Gilland, 2008). Without this one-child rule, China would have 400 million more people than it does today (Nakra, 2012). In the 1970s the Indian government also tried to reduce its birth rate. At first the government offered vasectomies in return for small incentives, and then in 1977 the government introduced an emergency program that entailed punishing every crime with sterilisation (Attenborough, 2009). In 1977 alone 8 million people were sterilised, the public outcry was so great it helped to bring down the government. Strategies such as these do not always have the desired effect, birth rates fall only when the circumstances are right. If contraception is taken advantage of and people reduce their fertility, if that happens then amongst other things the worlds population will level out at a lower rather than higher number, and that is a good thing (Dyson, 2009). This concept works most successfully in societies where girls and women have access to education, because they tend to have smaller families, this exact example can be seen in Kerala, a long coastal state in India (Attenborough, 2009). This concept is also brought up by Rajeswar (2009), who stated that in the Third World nations, in the absence of economic, social security and sufficient education, poorer people tend to have more children who they hope will be the breadwinners and will act as insurance in their old age.

The other side of the argument of overpopulation is that it is a myth, that it is not a threat to the Earth and our species as humans. The major issue of overpopulation is the lack of resources, however according to Kainz the food supply on the Earth is steadily increasing in geometrical proportions; with the help of agriculture technology and human ingenuity, food supplies can and will continue to increase despite the huge growth in population (2008). Food production has surpassed population growth, on average, by 1% per year since the 1940s, which means that there is currently enough food to feed everyone in the world (Osterfeld, 2003). Kainz resources like water have become more abundant over time, however according to data collected from NASA, the impact of human demands on the fresh water systems are so massive they can be seen from space. According to Attenborough: The Aural sea, a fresh water lake in central Asia once covered 65,000 square kilometres and in the last 50 years it has lost 90% of its water, the rivers that feed it have been diverted to irrigate cotton lake Chad on the southern edge of the Sahara has also been drained to the tenth of its former size by overuse; yet 30 million people depend on it. (2009). However, Professor Dr. Osterfeld argues that resources are not things we find in nature he contradicts Attenborough, by asserting that ideas are what make things resources and that knowledge is more important than physical substance itself (Osterfeld, 2003). As

Weber (2005) believes overpopulation is an elitist propaganda onslaught to convince people that population growth is bad. Weber attacks the authoritarian mentality that he believes reinforces so much of the populationist campaign (2005). In fact according to Mosher (2011), the real threat that faces the world today is under population, not overpopulation. Around 80 countries that represent over half of the worlds population are suffering from low replacement fertility, which is defines as less than 2.1 children per woman (Mosher, 2011). If this population implosion continues to happen, it may have catastrophic consequences, amongst other results, there will be more work shortages, which will eventually bring economic growth to a standstill (Weber, 2005). There is only one permanent, long-term solution to the population problem, which is to increase total fertility rates so that population continues to grow rather than fall (Weber, 2005).

Conclusion As David Attenborough stated We are living in an era in which the biggest threat to human well-being, to other species and to the Earth as we know it, might well be ourselves (2009). The subject of overpopulation may be seen as bleak and depressing, an ever increasing population with an ever decreasing supply of resource. However as human beings, we have the ability to think rationally and to plan for our future and future generations. The number of people on the planet in coming years depends on the personal choice of how many children we decide to have, as well as the amount of resources we consume on a daily basis. Changes can be made in order to stabilise the population and to maintain our current standard of living while also keeping available the resources that heavily depend on.

Literature Review

Overpopulation is not an issue that is popular to discuss especially since as a species we are created to reproduce, but this rapid reproduction has created major environmental issues, food and water shortages and has caused other resources to become extremely limited. The literature used in this research paper were clear in their positions, they either acknowledged that overpopulation was a problem and that humanity needed to take immediate actions or they claimed that overpopulation was a myth and that we should continue as we are. The literature will be divided into their positions on overpopulation; this will make the analysis easier to understand. The literature has two major gaps which are the role of technology in reducing population growth and the innovations that could increase food production. In his documentary, How many people can live on Planet Earth, Attenborough investigated the impact our huge population is having on the planet and possible solutions to reduce humanities negative impact and to minimise the human population. Attenborough stated that in order to maintain our quality of life as it is at present, as a whole our species needs to stop consuming so many resources, change our technology and reduce the growth of our population (2009). Kates (2004) argues that by using the ecological footprint as a measure of the environmental impact of human population and consumption, the aggregate human load (resource harvesting and waste generation), already exceeds, and is steadily eroding, the carrying capacity that as humans we depend upon for our continued existence. Both Attenborough and Kates argue that the Earths supply of resources are rapidly declining and cannot continue to sustain the ever growing human population. The strengths can be seen in how both Attenborough and Kates are professionals in their chosen areas and have several publications. However, in both sources their focuses were very limited and covered a small amount of information. Pimentel explores the definite possibility of the worlds population to double in coming decades and how even now the current population is affecting oil production and how it will be depleted due to exhausted reserves which is projected to occur in the next 30-40 years (2011). Pimentel only briefly discusses the issues that were brought up in the essay, which weakens his argument, especially since his publication was a mere 2 pages. Rajeswar concentrates on the education of girls and women along with the importance of contraception and sexual education. The empowerment and education of women...at the grassroots level is a prerequisite for controlling population growth and achieving sustainable development (Rajeswar, 2000). The source used from Rajeswar discussed different perspectives of overpopulation, which gave the source a more balanced quality. It would seem that increases in agriculture productions and in food and feed imports alone will not suffice to solve the overpopulation issue (Gilland, 2008). Nakra investigated Chinas one-child policy that has been in place for more than three decades and how the government diligently enforced this policy, which limited most urban families to a single child, while farmers are allowed under certain conditions by encouraging couples with

financial and material incentives (2012). Gilland stated that in 1959-1961 a fall in food production caused 30 million deaths (2008). The one-child policy has achieved incredible success by reducing the population growth, assisting economic expansion and improving the populations standard of living (Nakra, 2012). Both Gilland and Nakra concentrate on China to support their arguments of overpopulation and what may be done to reduce it. However, on the other side of the argument Kainz states that food production is rising not decreasing and will continue to rise due to advanced agriculture and technology (2008). in spite of the fact that if the population of the entire world were relocated just in Texas in the United States, each person would have approximately 1300 square feet of space (Kainz, 2008, pp. 367). Kainz like many other scholars believe that the worlds population could fit in Texas with the help of vertical spaces such as multi-story building etc (2008). Osterfeld also argues that food production has out spaced population growth by, on average, 1% per year... and that we have the capability to feed 40-50 billion people (2003). Concerns of overpopulation have become more frenzied, with the help of the media publishing stories with headlines like Earth Near the Breaking Point and Population explosion Continues Unabated, however this prediction has been present for centuries and has not reached the catastrophic consequences that were presented by scholars such as Malthus, Ehrlich and Meadow. Both Kainz and Osterfeld argue that food production is rising and that we are capable to feed more people. Weber (2005) discusses the consequences of population implosion, and how this will lead to work shortages and an economic standstill. Population growth creates a need to change, to improve, and to find better ways of doing things (Weber, 2005). Mosher also argues the benefits of rapid population growth and how it has helped incomes to rise. In 1800, when the worlds population was 1 billion, per capita income worldwide was $100. By 1927 our numbers had doubled, but incomes increased to $500 and today as we pass the 7 billion mark, per capita income has soared to $9,000 (Mosher, 2011). Both Weber and Mosher claim that our huge population growth has benefited our global economy and has increased the living standard for the majority of the population. The sources that were most valuable to the research paper that stated overpopulation was a real issue were Attenboroughs documentary (2009), Kates (2013) and Rajeswar (2000). On the other side, sources that argued overpopulation as a myth, the most valuable were Kainz (2008), Osterfeld (2003) and Mosher (2011). Based on the literature review above, it is possible to see that many factors of overpopulation have been covered including depleting natural resources to the education of women and birth control along as a possible solution, that are factors that support that the issue of overpopulation is a myth. There are several gaps in the literature including the role of technology in the process of reducing the growth of the population as well as innovations in agriculture that could possibly increase the production of food. Research questions can be made from these gaps, therefore further research should go into the following:

1. Is the education of girls and women along with the provision of contraception enough to reduce population growth? 2. What role can technology play in assisting the issue of overpopulation? 3. What innovations can be made in agriculture to increase the production of food to meet growing demands?

Reference List

1. Attenborough, D 2009, How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth?, video, YouTube, 13th of April, viewed on 30th of October 2013, < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN06tLRE4WE> 2. Dyson, T 2009, How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth?, video, YouTube, 13th of April, viewed 30th of October 2013, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN06tLRE4WE> 3. Earth Talk 2013 Oh, the Humanity: Is the Threat of Overpopulation Still a Big Deal?, Scientific American, 17th of October, viewed 1st of November 2013, < http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=human-overpopulation-still-anissue-of-concern> 4. Gilland, B 2008, Overpopulation and Underdevelopment, Mankind Quarterly, vol. 40, no. 2, pp-121-129. 5. Kainz HP 2008, Sexual Mores and the Overpopulation Myth, The Heythrop Journal, vol. 49, no. 3, pp- 361-369. 6. Kates, C 2013, Reproductive Liberty and Overpopulation, Environmental Values, vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 51-79.

7. Mosher, S 2011, Welcome Baby Seven Billion, Human Life Review, vol. 37, no. 4, pp 120-121. 8. Nakra, P 2012, Chinas One-Child Policy: The Time for Change is Now, World Future Society, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 134-140. 9. Osterfeld, D 2003, Overpopulation: The Perennial Myth FEE, 1st of September, viewed 1st of November 2013, <http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/overpopulation-theperennial-myth> 10. Pimentel, D 2012, World Overpopulation, College of Agriculture, vol. 14, no.1, pp, 151-152. 11. Rajeswar, J 2000, Population Perspectives and Sustainable Development, ERP Environment, vol. 8, no. 3, pp-135-141. 12. Weber, JA 2005, Lets Hear It for Population Growth, Human Life Review, vol. 31, no. 1, pp-5-16. 13. Worldometers 2013, World Population, United States, viewed 30th of October 2013, < http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/>