Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Chapter 15 Population, Global Inequality and the Environmental Crisis This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Population Growth as a Problem The world’s population: Is more than 6 billion Has doubled in the last 50 years Will double again in the next 50 years, if trends continue Concern: Can the earth’s resources support this growth?

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Population Growth Growth rates vary among nations  High-income nations (i.e. US) have lower growth rates  Low-income nations (i.e. Africa) have higher growth rates Population  All people living in a specified region Demography  Study of size, composition, and distribution of populations

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Factors that Affect Population Growth Fertility  Actual number of children born to an individual or population  Associated with social and biological factors Mortality  Number of deaths in a specific population  Infant mortality rates & life expectancy Migration  Movement of people from one geographic area to another to live

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Population Growth and its Effects on Society Population growth affects the biological and social characteristics of a population Age, sex, race Marital status Education, occupation, income Size of household Example: In the U.S., age distribution of population affects the need for schools, employment opportunities, health care, and age-appropriate housing.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Major Theoretical Perspectives on Overpopulation Malthusian Perspective (1798) Population expands geometrically (1,2,4,8,16...) while food supply increases arithmetically (1,2,3,4,5...) Disaster can be averted  Positive checks (e.g., famine, disease, war)  Preventive checks (e.g, sexual abstinence, delayed marriage)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Major Theoretical Perspectives on Overpopulation, Cont’d. Neo-Malthusian Perspective The earth is a ticking time bomb because population exacerbates environmental problems Demographic Transition Theory Societies move from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a result of technological development

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Solutions to World Hunger Green revolution  Growing of high yield “miracle” crops Biotechnological revolution  “Improving” plants or animals or using microorganisms in innovative ways Note: Some social analysts believe the solution is not to produce more food but to control fertility

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Figure 15.1: The Circle of Malnutrition Source: Based on United Nations, 1995

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Immigration and the U.S. Population Composition Proportion of immigrants in the U.S. population is the highest since 1940 Immigration will account for two-thirds of the population growth in the next 50 years Immigration leads to higher taxes but also brings substantial economic benefits US population policies focus on immigration – particularly illegal immigrants

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Map 15.1: Urban Population as a Percent of Total National Population Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004c.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Environmental Degradation and Causes Environmental Degradation  Disruptions to the environment that have negative consequences for ecosystems Causes  As humans pursue economic development and growth, they cause environmental degradation  Removing natural resources and increasing pollution

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Major Source of Air Pollution and its Effect Acid Rain  Rainfall with large concentrations of sulfuric acid and nitric acids Greenhouse Effect  Environmental condition caused by excessive carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere leading to global warming Causes  Fossil fuel pollution, mostly from vehicles but also from industry

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Water, Soil, and Forest Problems Water scarcity is increasing on a global basis Water pollution further diminishes the supply A major water polluter in the U.S. is the paper- manufacturing industry 15 million acres of forest are lost to desertification  Overgrazing  Harmful agricultural practices  Deforestation (greatest in middle- and low-income nations)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Solid, Toxic, and Nuclear Waste Problems High income nations are running out of space for solid waste produced by “disposable societies”  16 billion diapers, 2 billion razors, 220 million tires are disposed of each year in the US Toxic waste from hazardous by-products of industry causes death and disease if not disposed of properly  Love Canal Nuclear waste remains deadly for a long time

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Functionalist Perspective on Population and the Environment Latent dysfunctions of technology cause problems, but new technologies can solve them Social institutions, especially education and government, can cooperate to solve the problems

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Conflict Perspective Classic Marxist If poverty were alleviated, there would be enough food for all Poverty exists because capitalists skim workers’ wages for profit Contemporary conflict Corporations and government make economic decisions that result in environmental problems Eco-feminism Patriarchy is a root cause of environmental problems as nature is viewed as something to be possessed and dominated

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Through socialization, children learn core values that are often detrimental to the environment However, there is some indication that concern for the environment is becoming a core value in the U.S.