Overpopulation:Overpopulation:Are we repeating Are we repeating Maya’s great civilization downfall? Maya’s great civilization downfall?

Scientific evidence and technological solutionsScientific evidence and technological solutions

bybyStudent Name(s)Student Name(s)

__________________European Class 2011European Class 2011 _________ _________School of BiologySchool of Biology

Aristotle University of ThessalonikiAristotle University of ThessalonikiSpring 2011Spring 2011

I have decided to talk about “Overpopulation:I have decided to talk about “Overpopulation:Are we repeating Maya’s great civilization downfall?”. In this work Are we repeating Maya’s great civilization downfall?”. In this work I am stating the ………..I am stating the ………..

I chose this topic ……..b/c….I chose this topic ……..b/c….

My topic relates to the materials presented in class…………My topic relates to the materials presented in class…………

IntroductionIntroduction

Message from the past-the Maya Message from the past-the Maya CivilizationCivilization

StatisticsStatistics ProblemsProblems SolutionsSolutions ConclusionConclusion

Message from the past-the Maya Message from the past-the Maya CivilizationCivilization

Background information about the reportBackground information about the report Relevance to class materialsRelevance to class materials

Location and time: Belize, Guatemala, and Location and time: Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico in the period from 1000 BC to 1525 AD Mexico in the period from 1000 BC to 1525 AD

Peak and major accomplishmentsPeak and major accomplishments

__________________________________________________________________Rice (1984)Rice (1984)

LocationLocation

______________________________________________________________________Rice (1984)Rice (1984)

Research projectResearch project

Started in Guatemala in 1972 by the Started in Guatemala in 1972 by the Department of PetenDepartment of Peten

Natural “experiment”Natural “experiment” Yaxha and Sacnab Yaxha and Sacnab Tropical forest Tropical forest OverpopulationOverpopulation Exponential growth of the populationExponential growth of the population Impact on the environmentImpact on the environment

____________________________________________________________________Grekinis (1997)Grekinis (1997)

StatisticsStatistics

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Dioscourides, P. (2006) Introduction to basic anthropological research” J App Anthropol 23:234-239Dioscourides, P. (2006) Introduction to basic anthropological research” J App Anthropol 23:234-239

791 978 1,262 1,650

2,521

5,901

8,909

0

1,000

2,000

3,0004,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

PO

PU

LA

TIO

N I

N M

ILL

ION

S

1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 1998 2050

YEAR

GLOBAL POPULAT ION

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mayipoulos et al. (1999)Mayipoulos et al. (1999)

Annual world population increase Annual world population increase based on estimates from based on estimates from Mayiopoulos et al (1999)Mayiopoulos et al (1999)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mayipoulos et al. (1999)Mayipoulos et al. (1999)

Annual world population increase Annual world population increase by birth rateby birth rate

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)

Problems (examples)Problems (examples) Extensive ProductionExtensive Production Greenhouse WarmingGreenhouse Warming Climate Change & Food SecurityClimate Change & Food Security Acid Rain Acid Rain Depletion of the Ozone LayerDepletion of the Ozone Layer DesertificationDesertification Capital DepletionCapital Depletion MigrationMigration Vulnerability to EpidemicsVulnerability to Epidemics

__________________________________________________________________________________________________Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)

ImpactImpact

= =

Population * Affluence * Technology Population * Affluence * Technology (I=PAT)(I=PAT)

____________________________________________________________Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)

SolutionsSolutions Information in schools/rise people's awarenessInformation in schools/rise people's awareness ContraceptivesContraceptives discourage people to immigrate from poor to rich discourage people to immigrate from poor to rich

countriescountries Decrease the average person's consumptionDecrease the average person's consumption Industries should become more socially responsibleIndustries should become more socially responsible People should become more socially responsiblePeople should become more socially responsible People should not depend on the biotechnologyPeople should not depend on the biotechnology RecyclingRecycling Decrease deforestationDecrease deforestation

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)Ehrlich & Ehrlich (1990)

ConclusionConclusion

The message from the past-the Maya The message from the past-the Maya Civilization indicates….Civilization indicates….

Statistics indicate…Problems Statistics indicate…Problems (summarized…..)(summarized…..)

Solutions may address this Solutions may address this problem…problem…

How well are we treating these How well are we treating these symptoms of the Earth's disease symptoms of the Earth's disease

of overpopulation?…of overpopulation?…

The answer is obvious…The The answer is obvious…The patient continues to get sicker.patient continues to get sicker.

-Paul R. Ehrlich-Paul R. Ehrlich

ReferencesReferences

1. Ehrlich, P. and Ehrlich, R. (1990) The population explosion. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990, New York.

2. Dioscourides, P. (2006) Introduction to basic anthropological research” J App Dioscourides, P. (2006) Introduction to basic anthropological research” J App Anthropol 23:234-239Anthropol 23:234-239.

3. Grekinis (1997). “Introduction to May ethics” Society for Anthropological Research. Vol.22. pp 56-59.

4. Rice, S. “Lessons from the Maya.” Latin American Research Review. Vol.19.3. 1984, pp7-34.

5. Mayiopoulos, C. (1999) Anthropological issues related to South American civilizations of the 17th century. Retrieved on February 23, 2008 fromRetrieved on February 23, 2008 from http://www.dhushara.com/book/diversit/bomb