POPULATION Problems

Thomas Malthus Two Key components of Population management: Positive Population checks – keep the population levels down through wars, disease, and famine Negative Population checks- Keep the population levels down through family planning, later marriage, and celibacy

Carrying Capacity Means: The maximum number of people that an environment can support without negative or damaging effects “Doomsayers like Paul Ehrlich and Garrett Hardin seem to think the Earth has already exceeded its carrying capacity while their critics such as Julian Simon seem to believe the carrying capacity of the planet is infinite” http://www.overpopulation.com/faq/natural_resources/carrying_capacity.html

Population Rates Increasing greatly Every minute of the day, 900 people are born That makes about 1.3 million people a day Today the World population is over 6.3 billion The World Population is expected to double by the year 2050

Death Rates Decreasing at a significant rate Better medical treatment Disease control (Malaria, Small pox) Better communication and transportation (we are able to assist those in other countries more efficiently and effectively)

Results Over population We have the same amount of Earth and a lot more people to sustain Famine – people dying of starvation Stricter laws on child birth in some areas Poverty – poor living/working conditions

How can we deal with this problem? Educate people on methods of Birth Control (Family planning strategies) Educate people on the effects of overpopulation Equality for women – in many countries women do not have the ability to gain access to birth control even if they want it. Often they must have permission from their husbands.

China’s Solutions Current population – 1.2 Billion people 1979 – Birth Control Policies introduces 1 Child per couple Later marrying ages for men and women – late 20’s for men, mid-20’s for women Spied on people at work and home Strict Punishment/Reward system for following the rules

Punishments no medical care decreased wage forced sterilizations/abortions benefits cease no university acceptance for children decreased pension pay back financial benefits from first child

Rewards increased wages and bonuses free vacations for sterilizations/abortions preferential housing extra maternity leave and free daycare free medical care free tuition for children extra pension income guaranteed job for child when they graduate

Problems they faced Female infanticide (killing female babies so that they could have another child with hopes of it being a boy) Decreased number of people in the family to support it financially (women did not have the same opportunities as men) Abandonment of female babies (full orphanages) Social problems – more males than females

Present Situation Couples in rural areas can now have another child after 4 years if the first is a girl Couples with a female baby get cash bonuses Girls can now support parents in old age and have jobs and possessions handed down to them. Old age pension is increased for compliance

Successful? Birth rate has decreased by over 200% in the past 40 years Is that enough? What about their human rights? Equality? Forced Sterilization/Abortion issues? Labor force?