Overpopulation

History years ago there where only 5 million people on Earth Today there are over 7 billion! All of these people need to be fed, clothed and housed This leads to many issues…

Population Trends Population growth is very slow or has stopped in North America, Europe and Japan The Earth is still gaining 78 million ppl a year! Most of this is occurring in West Asia and Sub- Saharan Africa What country is predicted to surpass China as the worlds most populous in the next 30 years?

Causes High birth rate/Low death rate - better health care has resulted in fewer babies dying at birth and less people dying in the population. Expensive Birth Control (year’s supply in Ethiopia costs $40; average wage is $120/year) Social security – no welfare, unemployment, or retirement plans; parents rely on kids to take care of them when they retire Religion – according to Hindu tradition, funeral fire must be lit by a son Son Mania – families favoring a son because women’s family must pay a dowry Unequal treatment of women – women not having a say in how many kids to have

Impacts-Food Supply UN study shows that 65 countries population is growing faster than their food supply Less land available to farm ▫2 Billion hectares of arable land has been degraded ▫Size of Canada and USA

Fresh Water Fresh water supply is finite Demand is increasing with higher populations and higher per capita usage Unclean water/poor sanitation kill 12 million ppl a year By 2025 the worlds population is projected to be 8 billion…..3 billion of which may face water shortages

Forests Nearly half of the world’s original forest cover has been lost

Poverty Standard of living in countries with out of control birth rates is often very low

Poverty 22 ooo children die each day due to poverty Gap between rich and poor is widening: ▫poorest 40 percent of the world’s popn accounts for 5 % of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for 75%

Reliance on Developed World

Canada sends 420 ooo tons of food aid to countries in need This is only 5% of the total food being sent as aid world wide

Resource Depletion More people consuming = more resources being used=future shortages? This will impact everyone in the world not just the poor!

It is estimated that we would need five planets if everybody lived like us

Case Study: China One child policy was established in 1979 Has slowed population growth by What are some problems that could come up with this policy? ▫Government hides population stats ▫More children are killed once born ▫More are also abandoned.

Find your animal group! Dolphins Coon Sharks Horses Zebras Lions Parrots Cats

In your groups, come up with 1 solution you feel would help elevate overpopulation. Write your answer along with why on your white board You have 10 minutes

You have 3 votes. Place a star on 3 different boards that you feel are the best 3.