Overpopulation Essay, Research Paper
OVERPOPULATION
At the dawn of a new age where technology and money rule, a disaster which threatens these, as well as the way we live, has quickly and seemingly unstoppably gained ascendancy and has somehow gone unnoticed.
During the first 2 million or so years of its history the human population was a minor element in the world ecosystem, with at most 10 million members. In the New Stone Age, less than 10,000 years ago, the number of humans began to increase more rapidly. The rough equilibrium maintained before Neolithic times gave way when the human population developed agriculture and animal domestication and no longer had to spread out in search of game. With the abandonment of a hunting-gathering way of life and the rise of permanent settlements and eventually cities, the human population underwent dramatic growth. By the beginning of the Christian era it had reached 250 million, and by 1650, half a billion.
Growth of population during 20th century was very rapid. In 1994 the total world population was estimated at about 5.6 billion people. It increased by nearly 4 billion people during past 100 years. The most significant world trend is that death rates are currently falling in poor and rich countries alike, while birthrates remain high in most poor countries and low in most rich ones. Exceptions are the generally higher death rates of Africa and the high birthrates of the rich oil-producing countries.
The most populous countries, in descending order, are China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, and Russia. The U.S. population totalled about 260.8 million in 1994. In the 1990s about 4.1 million children were born annually in the United States, and more than 2.1 million persons died yearly. The greater number of births is due in part to a fertility rate that has increased by nearly 20 percent since the mid-1980s. International immigration, both legal and illegal, is another major element in U.S. population growth. Legal immigration has recently amounted to about 1 million per year; illegal immigration is thought to be several hundred thousand. In China, the world’s most populous country, the 1994 population was estimated at nearly 1.2 billion, more than double the 1953 census population of 584 million in mainland China.
China’s annual increase has been estimated at 1.1 percent annually. India’s population of more than 911.6 million people (1994 est.) is increasing faster than that of China, and if present trends continue, it will soon catch up with or surpass China. Since the disintegration of the USSR, Indonesia and Brazil are now the fourth and fifth most populous countries, with 1994 estimated populations of 199.7 million and 155.3 million, respectively. Sixth-ranked Russia has about 147.8 million people (1994 est.). It has a negative natural increase rate of – 0.2 percent, comparable to the low or negative rates found throughout Europe.
The arithmetic is simple. Our oceans can supply a limited amount of fish. Farm production is limited by the amount of available land. Once human demand for food, energy, and other materials exceeds sustainable levels, further increase in our population will mean that we each will get less and less and less.
Not only will us humans suffer but so too will our earth. If all else were equal, more people would mean more of the activities that are causing environmental degradation. More people would mean greater energy consumption, more resource use, and more waste. If the per capita impact on the environment were to remain constant (which in turn assumes consumption and activity patterns remains constant and environmental sensitivity to impacts is uniform), then population growth would have a direct relationship with environmental impact.
Attainment of environmental goals is likely to fail if strategies to achieve them do not take into account changes in population size. A good example is air quality where efforts to reduce automobile emissions are offset by increases in the number of cars, which is in turn a function of the number of people in an affected area.
Systems designed to accommodate waste streams may be overtaxed by population and plan for these changes will place responsible agencies in a crisis mode of operation with potentially disastrous consequences for the environment.
Demand for many resources increases with population size, including demand for housing, household goods, food, entertainment, services, automobiles, and environmental resources such as fresh water.
Population growth fuels (and may be fuelled by) economic growth with corresponding industrial and commercial growth that requires additional resources, generates waste streams, and places additional demands on the environment.
Population loss affects the tax base of a local jurisdiction and therefore the fiscal resources that can be marshalled to address environmental issues.
As can be seen, it is quite obvious that our planet cannot sustain large growth in population. Placing restrictions and bans on having children is not an appropriate answer, but if people can?t or don?t want to see the reality of the problems that lie in overpopulation, then these procedures may be the only answer.
323
Другие работы по теме:
Overpopulation Essay Research Paper The Increasing Problem
Overpopulation Essay, Research Paper The Increasing Problem of Overpopulation While driving down the highway during “rush hour”, one would most likely encounter the horrors of having too many people in one area. While it may seem that the road is somehow inadequate or maybe a car accident has occurred, the problem is most likely the fact that there is no way to compensate for the large number of people traveling on the highway.
Overpopulation 2 Essay Research Paper Environmental health
Overpopulation 2 Essay, Research Paper Environmental health has always been a concern of the globe. Until recently, overpopulation has only been an idea of the global community. Now, in the year of 2000, it is not only a concern, but a juggernaut of a problem. Today, I come in front of the President and Congress to bring forth the idea of new laws, proposals, and other concerns.
Worlds Population Essay Research Paper The worlds
Worlds Population Essay, Research Paper The world?s population is an important issue. The earth is a sphere, which means that it has certain limitations and in particular, there are limits to growth of things that consume the earth and that live on.
Over Population Essay Research Paper Over PopulationThere
Over Population Essay, Research Paper Over Population There are several problems that affect the world today: war, crime, pollution, and several others. Overpopulation is a serious dilemma that is growing every year, every minute, and every second. It is the root of most, if not all, of the world?s problems1.
Overpopulation Essay Research Paper As a globe
Overpopulation Essay, Research Paper As a globe, we have a problem. The suffering caused by this problem is already apparent in many parts of the world but as we progress through time the suffering will become greater and greater. The issue of overpopulation is not spoken of on the news every night, nor is it discussed in the classroom, but it is one of the most pressing long-term political problems.
Cumulus Humilis Clouds Essay Research Paper The
Cumulus Humilis Clouds Essay, Research Paper The Development and Evolution of Cumulus Humilis Clouds In order for clouds to form, a few factors are crucial to begin their formation. Clouds, since they are primarily water-based with small amounts of other materials (hygroscopic condensation nuclei), need a ready source of water so evaporation can move the water from a lake or the like, into the atmosphere.
Casino Gambling Approaching Rural America Essay Research
Paper Since the dawn of casinos, casino gambling was located mainly in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada, and in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But now newer casinos are spread out across the United States, from Connecticut to California. Most are located on Indian reservations and the rest in rural areas of the United States.
Stealing Our Rights Essay Research Paper Stealing
Stealing Our Rights Essay, Research Paper Stealing Our Rights From the dawn of the first organized communities, to the powerful United States of America today, there have always been power hungry people who
Dawn Elie Wiesel Essay Research Paper Elie
Dawn Elie Wiesel Essay, Research Paper Elie Wiesel?s, Dawn Elie Wiesel was only fifteen when German troops deported him and his family from their home in Romania to the concentration camp, Auschwitz. His father, mother and younger sister all died in result to the hands of the Nazis. The young boy survived forced labor, forced marches, starvation, disease, beatings and torture to become a world-renowned writer, teacher and spokesmen for the oppressed peoples of the earth.
Prison Overpopulation Essay Research Paper The rising
Prison Overpopulation Essay, Research Paper The rising prison population in America is becoming a very serious problem. Too many American citizens are being locked up for crimes that just should not be against the law. The majority of people being convicted and sent to prison is due to the excessively strict drug laws, or the so-called, War on Drugs .
The Agricultural Revolution Essay Research Paper Shannon
The Agricultural Revolution Essay, Research Paper Shannon Gilbert Gen Ed – World Civilizations Agricultural Revolution If you were to look back at ancient history and see some of the problems they encountered within their communities, and then jump forward into today, you would see that many of the same struggles they went through are much the same as today.
Population Essay Research Paper POPULATIONThroughout history the
Population Essay, Research Paper POPULATION Throughout history, the thought of overpopulation has always concerned scientists. There have been quite a few theories about what would happen to the world if the population were to grow to a size breaking earth s carrying capacity. Of these theories, the two most probable are the Malthusian Theory and the Demographic Transition Theory.
Environmental Apocalypse Essay Research Paper Environmental Apocalypse
Environmental Apocalypse Essay, Research Paper Environmental Apocalypse The environment is in a terrible condition and although an environmental apocalypse is not imminent we are definitely headed down that road. Some of the reasons for our Earth s trouble are overpopulation, consumerism, and overconsumption.
World Hunger Essay Research Paper Reaction PaperOverpopulation
World Hunger Essay, Research Paper Reaction Paper Overpopulation and starvation, two words synonymous with World Hunger in the society that exists today. When these two factors are associated with children, death becomes the product. The vicious circle of overpopulation, overstressed food markets and fields, governmental controls, and poverty lead to the hunger and starvation of the people, especially the children.
Dawn Essay Research Paper The book I
Dawn Essay, Research Paper The book I read for my book review was Dawn, by Elie Wiesel. This story represents the post WWII struggle of the Israeli freedom fighters ? one young
Overpopulation Essay Research Paper OverpopulationThe twentieth century
Overpopulation Essay, Research Paper Overpopulation The twentieth century has drawn to a close and humanity faces the problem of being able to support its population without inducing catastrophic and irreversible destruction on Earth?s life-support systems. Throughout time, humankind has been living as though there are no consequences to its actions.
Over Population Essay Research Paper The population
Over Population Essay, Research Paper The population of our planet will quickly reach a point where there will not be adequate amount of resources to support life on Earth. Population control must be enforced to avoid such a catastrophic occurrence. Many economic, social and environmental problems are either affiliated with or are increased due to overpopulation.
Overpopulation Essay Research Paper Overpopulation is not
Overpopulation Essay, Research Paper Overpopulation is not the necessary and inevitable consequence of high density of population. Tiny Monaco, a principality in southern Europe about half the size of New York’s Central Park, has a crude density of nearly 20,000 people per square kilometer (50,000 people per sq. mi).
Dawn Hand Soap Essay Research Paper Dawn
Dawn Hand Soap Essay, Research Paper Dawn Hand Soap Memo Purpose In this memo we will take an in depth look at the magazine advertisement used by Dawn dishwashing soap. With a specific focus on the ad’s purpose, description, their target audience, and the ad’s strategies.
Rebel Of The Night Essay Research Paper
I really do not know how to begin. I guess I will tell this story in random order, as I remember it. I sit here this dawn, having just driven a stake into the heart of a vampire. It was at his request however. He had been a vampire for 134 years, and had become bored with his existance. He found out eternity was not the gift he thought it was, and he had decided his existance meant nothing any more.
The Problems Of Mexico City Essay Research
Paper The Problems of Mexico City The principal problems now facing Mexico City are its overcrowding and overpopulation, its dangerous environment, its dwindling water supply, and its
Overcrowding Of Prisons Essay Research Paper One
Overcrowding Of Prisons Essay, Research Paper One of America’s biggest problems today is the overcrowding of prisons. This began when the population of inmates started to soar in the 1980’s. With the increase of rapist, murderers, and drug dealers skyrocketing, there is no reason to this overpopulation.
The Most Serious Social Problem In My
Mind Essay, Research Paper The Most Serious Social Problem in My Mind In Spite of the great achievements that China has achieved in the recent years, our country is still a developing country, which is facing many serious social problems. The most serious of all is overpopulation, for it has a passive influence on the national economy, education and environment.
Dawn Social Justice Group Essay Research Paper
DAWN The social justice group DAWN (disabled woman?s network Ontario) is a province wide organization of woman with all types of disabilities. They are a feminist organization which supports woman in their struggle to control their own lives. Dawn Ontario is controlled by women with disabilities. The members include woman with disabilities and non-disabled woman.
Dawn Fraser Essay Research Paper DAWN FRASERDawn
Dawn Fraser Essay, Research Paper DAWN FRASER Dawn Fraser grew up in the suburb of Balmain, a dockside industrial suburb in Sydney. She was the youngest of eight children, and suffered from anaemia, asthma and other chest complications. She learnt to swim at the age of five and two years later, Dawn Fraser swam for a professional body.
Summary Of The Future Essay Research Paper
This is a summary of the 16th chapter, a chapter in which it is written about the societies in the future. Actually I didn’t understand many words, but I think that I understood the concept, which I myself think is the most important. The chapter is about the future, how the anthropologists cannot tell how a future society will look like because there are human decisions that we can’t predict.
Ramadan Essay Research Paper RamadanRamdan the ninth
Ramadan Essay, Research Paper Ramadan Ramdan, the ninth month of the Islamic year, is a holy month of fasting ordained by the Koran for all adult Muslims . According to the Koran, the fast of Ramadan has been