Population Control and Earths Sustainability - Research Paper Example

Population Control and Earth’s Sustainability The baby that marked the world’s population at seven billion was born in October 2011, and according to approximations, population of the world will reach 9 billion by 2050. These numbers are alarming, and thus, have ignited a debate on whether the available resources are enough to sustain the increasing world’s population, and even the future generation. For instance, the situation has seen constant debates on the need for population control, and indeed, several countries have adopted measures and programs aimed at controlling population. Such include the policy on one child per family, use of contraceptives among other birth control measures in developing nations among other population control methods. Opponents believe that the earth is enough to cater for the bulging world’s population. Given that most programs have not worked effectively, and instead, bring more problems, it is not appropriate to say that population control is the key to ensuring that resources are enough for a large population in the world. On the contrary, I believe that these programs have harmful effects to the population, and they are unnecessary, as the earth is capable of sustaining the human population. Population control is artificially altering human population’s growth rate with the aim of either increasing, or in most cases, decreasing human population in a given country or region. Normally, population control implementation programs and policies aim at limiting the birth rate of the human population. The governments that implement such policies do so in response to environment concerns, high poverty levels, religious reasons, and overpopulation. Population control became popular in the 1960s and 1970s worldwide with a focus on family planning and reproductive health services (Navarro 3). This saw the likes of China, Russia among other countries enact policies to ensure population control. To some extent, population control programs have improved the living standards of citizens through reproduction control. However, these same population control programs often expose the citizens to exploitation and may lead to tragic outcomes in the long term. Stanley K. Monteith in the article, The Population Control Agenda, gives the example of Russia to illustrate the negative effects of population control program on the male population. He notes, “The average life expectancy of an American male is 74-78 years of age, and in Japan the average lifespan is 78 years, but the average life span of Russian men has fallen from 68 years in the 1970s to 63.8 years in 1985 to 57.7 years in 1994” (Monteith 1). Hence, this reveals that the life expectancy will be 53 for a Russian male if the current trends continue. He concludes this by posing a question whether this is happening by ‘accident’. Clearly, this is not accidental, but instead due to population control programs. No matter the increase in population, the earth cannot exceed its ‘carrying capacity’. Proponents of population control argue that if the current trend of increase in world’s population continues without any action taken to control, it will lead to overpopulation that would exceed the earth’s capacity (Navarro 1). However, the big question raised here is what is the carrying earth’s capacity and is it possible to measure this capacity? This is because one needs to know the exact carrying capacity of the earth for them to say that it would be exceeded with the bulging human population. The truth is there is no conclusive evidence showing the carrying capacity of the earth and indicating that if the world’s population exceeds a certain level, the earth will not be able to sustain it. In fact, the earth can comfortably sustain the human population as it still has enough resources to achieve this. However, to achieve this requires proper maintenance of these resources to avoid wastage. In addition, the earth still has vast land and resources to cater for the population. For example, Tanzania in East Africa has a population of about California and Virginia’s population combined, but with a land larger than Virginia, Arizona, Michigan, and California combined (Navarro 2). This is just an example of several countries with vast land enough to sustain their populations, and the populations beyond. Increase in population does not automatically lead to a reduction in earth’s resources for the population causing famine and starvation. If Malthus 1798 predictions were true, then the whole world would be starving right now. At a time when population of the world was only 1 million, Malthus suggested that there would be widespread food shortages and famine due to exponential growth of the population (Navarro 1). This means that the population present 200 years ago would have created a deficit in global food, as well as led to deteriorated living standards. On the contrary, there was increased food production as compared to what was present 200 years ago. Furthermore, the rate of food production has become faster than ever imagined making people today enjoy a higher per capita food production. This reveals that with the adjustment in population, the earth also adjusts to accommodate the increasing number. Therefore, the earth is enough to cater for the human population whether there is a decrease or increase in population. Similarly, there have been Neo-Malthusian theories advancing on the fact that an increase in population would cause severe famine and degradation of living conditions. However, what they should know is that whenever there is an increase in population, the resources among other elements that humans require for food and survival also increase, for example, increase in population would prompt an increase in the number cows and food grown. Increase in population leads to the emergence of new technologies and advancements that play a role in enhancing food production among other necessities in earth. Therefore, this ensures that even if the population increases, the earth is still well equipped to cater for the new numbers. Technological improvements not only improve food production, but also standards of living. Looking at India’s scenario, it relied on subsistence farming of local crops, which served as food supply during the 1980s. In addition, it was a net importer of rice. Currently, India has adopted high yield crop varieties, and consequently, it has become the biggest exporter of rice. The prediction by Neo-Malthusians in 1980s and 1970s that, in the recent years, India would face disastrous food shortages is yet to be seen. The major argument was that if the population of India doubled from 600 million to 1.2 billion, it would exceed the carrying capacity of land area in India. However, only the standards of living and food production that have increased in India, and not famine. As a result, even if the population of the world increased by 100%, the earth will still be able to provide enough resources for the increased population. The population control programs cause many challenges to the human population, but do not solve population issues. Kasun explains that if the current trends in population control continue, then they will result in grave consequences (1). For example, this will lead to a decline in population by 21 million in Japan, and 100 million in Europe. Kasun further notes that 44% of the population of the world resides in countries with reported cases of population decrease (2). This reveals the negative impacts of population control. In support of this, Monteith highlights the implications of programs such as forced sterilization, infanticide, forced abortion, and regulation on a number of births (2). According to Monteith, these programs are genocide actions as they have moral consequences to the society (2). A good example of negative effects of population control programs is the developing countries, which assume control through birth control strategies. However, these have not worked effectively; instead have enhanced promiscuity, which is another problem in itself. For example, in Kenya the number of people with HIV has doubled despite popularization and increase in use of condoms (Kasun 2). As the world’s population continues to grow and concentrated in the urban areas, several developments emerge that counter the effect of population growth and ensure that the earth is enough for everyone. According to the United Nations report published in 2005, the world’s population would be major in sub-urban centers and cities (3). In addition, the report indicates that the population would be becoming older with years to come. Indeed, most people currently live in urban areas, and thus, creating room for agricultural land in the rural areas. In addition, urban structures do not occupy much space as they are built in the form of storey that can accommodate many people in a limited space. Therefore, as the new developments continue to emerge, the earth becomes more than able to support the increasing population. Another important factor to note is that, the population may be increasing now, but given the trends in population control, it will soon start to reduce. As the UN article predicts, there will be older people than younger people in the coming years (The United Nations 4). This is because of control in birth rates. Moreover, the current birth rate is not more than the death rate; thus, population will surely decrease. A lot has been said about the rapidly increasing world population, and the challenges that it brings along such as famine. However, this paper has established that with an increase in population, the food reserves also increases due to advancements and developments in technology that allows for increased production. Moreover, the assumption that the population with an increase beyond the earth’s carrying capacity is wrong because there is still vast land for cultivation and other beneficial uses. Opponents of population control support programs aimed at reducing population, but these programs create more harm than good to the people. Hence, these programs are not needed as the earth is at a good position of taking care of the world’s population. Works Cited Kasun, Jacqueline. Population control today – and tomorrow? The World & I, a publication of The Washington Times Corporation (2001). Print Monteith, Stanley. The population control agenda. Accessed, 4/42014, from http://www.radioliberty.com/pca.htm. Web. Navarro, Mireya. "Breaking a Long Silence on Population Control." The New York Times 31 October 2011. Web. The United Nation. Population challenges and development goals. New York: United Nations publication 2005. Print Read More