The Problems of Overpopulation

Chapter 9

Question:What are some of the factors

contributing to World Hunger?

ANSWER: World Hunger related to…

1.1. PovertyPoverty2.2. Inequitable distributionInequitable distribution of resources of resources(Modern agriculture produces enough food (Modern agriculture produces enough food

to adequately feed everyone, but the to adequately feed everyone, but the food is unevenly distributed.)food is unevenly distributed.)

3. 3. OverpopulationOverpopulation (demand on resources (demand on resources results in environmental damage.results in environmental damage.

Exact causes are unclear…Exact causes are unclear…

http://www.hereinreality.com/deathclock.html

Population and Quality of Life

1. Environmental degradation

2. Hunger

3. Persistent poverty

4. Economic stagnation

5. Urban deterioration

6. Health issues

Primary problems with overpopulation:

Rapid Increase of Population adds to

1.1. human problems (disease)human problems (disease)

2.2. environmental problems environmental problems (environmental degradation)(environmental degradation)

3.3. povertypoverty

4.4. urban problems (crime, quality of life, urban problems (crime, quality of life, homelessness)homelessness)

5.5. UrbanizationUrbanization: Increasing convergence of rural : Increasing convergence of rural people to cities.people to cities.

2 types of overpopulation

1)People overpopulation1)People overpopulation

2)Consumption population.2)Consumption population.

People overpopulation

Environment suffers due to too many peopleEnvironment suffers due to too many people

Usually occurs in developing countries.Usually occurs in developing countries.

Consumption population

ConsumptionConsumption: the human use of : the human use of materials and energy.materials and energy.

Consumption OverpopulationConsumption Overpopulation: occurs : occurs when each individual consumes too when each individual consumes too much in highly developed countries.much in highly developed countries.

Consumption population

Voluntary SimplicityVoluntary Simplicity: attempts to reduce : attempts to reduce consumption.consumption.

““Live simply so that others may simply Live simply so that others may simply live.”live.”

National Research CouncilNational Research Council: examines U.S. : examines U.S. consumption.consumption.

Worldwatch InstituteWorldwatch Institute: calculates the quantity : calculates the quantity ofof materials consumed annually in the U.S.materials consumed annually in the U.S.

http://www.poverty.com/index.html

The highest fertility rates are found The highest fertility rates are found in the countries with the greatest in the countries with the greatest

shortages.shortages.

According to the United Nations about 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. This is one person every three and a half seconds.

Numbers at a Glance from Ethiopia Numbers at a Glance from Ethiopia

•  6 percent of births are attended by a skilled health professional;

•  1 in 4 women dies in pregnancy or childbirth; •  4 million children are orphaned, nearly 1 million

by AIDS; •  Only 18 percent of children reach grade five.

Total fertility rateTotal fertility rate is the average number of is the average number of children born to each woman.children born to each woman.Example Egypt in 1960 TFR was 7.0 Example Egypt in 1960 TFR was 7.0 was reduced to a was reduced to a

TFR of 3.3 in 2000TFR of 3.3 in 2000. . 55% of married Egyptian women now use 55% of married Egyptian women now use

contraception.contraception.

St. Lucia TFR declined from 3.8 in 1990 to 2.2 in 2004St. Lucia TFR declined from 3.8 in 1990 to 2.2 in 2004

Egypt now allows use of contraception due to a reinterpretation of Mohammed’s teachings by Islamic scholars (Grand Mufti)

Contraception is OK by me!

It contributes to the social welfare of Muslims.

Family planning helps reduce TFR through education (religion & media), abstinence, legislation & use of contraception.

Oral contraceptives are the most effective form of birth control.And the Nile And the Nile

Flows on…Flows on…

Wait Movies and TV can be used for GOOD??

Family Planning

Faces challenges from various religious and Faces challenges from various religious and cultural traditions. cultural traditions.

Reproductive rights of women. (low status of Reproductive rights of women. (low status of women contributes to High TFR’s)women contributes to High TFR’s)

Countries like China, India, Mexico, and Countries like China, India, Mexico, and Nigeria have attempted to control TFR.Nigeria have attempted to control TFR.

1994 Global Summit on population & 1994 Global Summit on population & Development placed an emphasis on the Development placed an emphasis on the empowerment of women.empowerment of women.

QUESTION: What is the Relationship between

education & Fertility?

QUESTION: What is the Relationship

between education & Fertility?

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/vanneman/socy441/trends/bpoveduc.html

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/vanneman/socy441/trends/bpoveduc.html

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/socy/vanneman/socy441/trends/bpoveduc.html

Percent married women using any type of contraception

% contraception Total fertility% contraception Total fertility

Population and Quality of Life

Population and World Hunger

Population and Quality of Life

Different proposed strategies for reducing hunger:

1) Strictly control population growth

2) Stimulate economic development

3) Provide better equitability of resources

Population and Quality of LifeEconomic Effects of

Continued Population Growth

Competing hypotheses:

Hyp 1: Rapid population growth ↑economic development + ↑technological innovation.

Why would they think this?

Hyp 2: Rapid population growth does the opposite.

Population and Quality of LifeEconomic Effects of

Continued Population Growth

Debt in Developing Countries

Ecological Footprint.Ecological Footprint.

Developing CountriesDeveloping countriesDeveloping countries have small resource have small resource

demands but large population deplete demands but large population deplete natural resources (renewable & natural resources (renewable & nonrenewable)nonrenewable)

CitiesCities in these countries tend to have in these countries tend to have more more males than females.males than females.

These countries contain These countries contain 80% of the world’s 80% of the world’s population.population.

Rapid growthRapid growth in the poorest cities is the in the poorest cities is the most urgent globalmost urgent global population problem. population problem.

Economic Economic Growth Growth

must be must be greater greater

thanthan population population growth to growth to increase increase

the the standard standard of livingof living..

Developing Countries

U.S. has U.S. has cancelled cancelled debts to debts to

developing developing nations nations (1990-(1990-

1997) in 1997) in excess of excess of

$2.3 $2.3 Billion.Billion.

Developing Countries

Highly Developed CountriesHighly Developed CountriesHighly Developed Countries have large have large

resource demands and deplete natural resource demands and deplete natural resources (renewable & nonrenewable) resources (renewable & nonrenewable) even though population may not be large even though population may not be large in comparison to developing countries.in comparison to developing countries.

These nations produce These nations produce 75% of the worlds 75% of the worlds pollution & waste.pollution & waste.

Reducing the Total Fertility Rate

Why is Total Fertility Typically High?

• Gender defined roles

• High fertility to compensate for high mortality

• Work expectations of children

• Religious beliefs

What is the Relationship between education & Fertility?

Relationship between education & Fertility

Reducing the Total Fertility Rate

The Social and Economic Status of Women

• Gender inequity is common worldwide

Percent illiteracy of men and women in select developing countries, 2002

Reducing the Total Fertility Rate

The Social and Economic Status of Women

• Gender inequity is common worldwide

• Younger age of marriage ↑ fertility rates

Reducing the Total Fertility Rate

The Social and Economic Status of Women

• Gender inequity is common worldwide

• Younger age of marriage ↑ fertility rates

• Higher level of education ↓ fertility rates

Reducing the Total Fertility Rate

Family Planning Services

Reducing the Total Fertility Rate

Family Planning Services

Selected Birth Control Methods

• Oral contraceptives

• Implants

• IUD

• Spermicides

• Condom, male

• Rhythm

Government Policies and Fertility

China’s Controversial Family Planning Policy

One child per family

Main problems with policy:

Eroded personal freedom

Disproportionate number of males born

Government Policies and Fertility

India’s Severe Population Pressure

• Early efforts centered on compulsory sterilization.

(which was a complete failure)

• Currently attempting to integrate economic development and family planning.

(total fertility rates have dropped)

Government Policies and Fertility

Mexico’s Young Age Structure

• Strong positive population growth momentum due to high % young.

• Government measures (e.g., education reform) have reduced the fertility rate.

Government Policies and Fertility

The Population Challenge in Nigeria

• Most populous African country with high a fertility rate.

• Birth control use very low (8%).

• Government attempting to improve health care and encourage marrying later.

Government Policies and Fertility

Population Concerns in Europe:

• Opposite of most areas — fertility rate very low.

• Pronatalists predict overwhelmed pension programs and loss of economic growth.

• Opponents predict technological innovations will spur economic growth and the elderly will be asset to society.

Government Policies and Fertility

Case-in-Point: The Global Summit on Population and Development

Focused on:

• Reproductive rights

• Empowerment of women

• Reproductive health

Achieving Population Stabilization

Discuss some of the ethical issues associated with overpopulation:

• Is it ethical to have more than 2 children?

• Is it ethical to consume to much in the way of material possessions?

• Is it ethical to try to influence a couple’s decision about family size?

Family PlanningFamily Planning: : Past attempts to control populationPast attempts to control population

China: 1 child per couple (+) China: 1 child per couple (+) India: (1970’s) to slow population growth India: (1970’s) to slow population growth

forced sterilization (+) forced sterilization (+) Mexico: Education (soap operas) & healthcare Mexico: Education (soap operas) & healthcare

(+) (+) Nigeria: Education & healthcare (-) Nigeria: Education & healthcare (-) Egypt: Education & healthcare (+) Egypt: Education & healthcare (+)

+/- = the impact on population+/- = the impact on population// = popularity of the attempt = popularity of the attempt

Beginning of chapter 10

Special Tank-yews

Mr. Saccone form Eastchester High School

Mr. Gardineer Mahopac HighSchool

The City as an Ecosystem

UrbanizationUrbanization: urban areas vary by # of people.: urban areas vary by # of people.

US Bureau of Census defines an urban area US Bureau of Census defines an urban area as “a location with 2500 or more people.as “a location with 2500 or more people.

75% of US Population lives in an urban 75% of US Population lives in an urban environment.environment.

http://www.census.gov/

http://www.pe.net/~rksnow/nycountymahopac.htm#statistics

The City as an Ecosystem

Population Population Organization Organization EnvironmentEnvironmentTechnology Technology

PPopulationopulation

OOrganizationrganization

EEnvironmentnvironment

TTechnologyechnology

The City as an Ecosystem

Long Term Ecological Research (LERT)Long Term Ecological Research (LERT) sponsored by sponsored by The National Science The National Science FoundationFoundation looks into urban ecology to looks into urban ecology to assess ecological effects of human settlement.assess ecological effects of human settlement.

BrownfieldsBrownfields: areas of abandoned, : areas of abandoned, vacantvacant factories, warehouses, & residential factories, warehouses, & residential areas that may be contaminated.areas that may be contaminated.

The City as an EcosystemUrban Heat Island: Urban Heat Island: the heat released by paved streets the heat released by paved streets & Buildings is slowly released into the atmosphere.& Buildings is slowly released into the atmosphere.(remember albedo?)(remember albedo?)

The atmosphere over cities is often cloudier &The atmosphere over cities is often cloudier & produces more precipitation than the surroundingproduces more precipitation than the surrounding countryside.countryside.

The City as an EcosystemBenefits of UrbanizationBenefits of Urbanization (+) (+)

Compact Development: Compact Development: cities are often designed cities are often designed to be efficient so that public transport is utilized.to be efficient so that public transport is utilized.

Ex: Curitiba, BrazilEx: Curitiba, Brazil

Compact Development in Compact Development in Portland OregonPortland Oregon

Model of Environmental Impact

Proposed by Proposed by Ehrlich & HoldrenEhrlich & Holdren

I = P x A x TI = P x A x T

Environmental Impact = # of people Environmental Impact = # of people x affluence per person x x affluence per person x technological effect of using and technological effect of using and obtaining resources.obtaining resources.