Overpopulation In The World Essay, Research Paper
Overpopulation in the World
The world is a big place, but it seems to be filling up rapidly these days. A total of approximately six billion people inhabit the Earth today, and the numbers are expected to increase by fifty percent in the next twenty-five years (Ashmead 16). Overpopulation is an issue that faces societies all over the world. There are numerous effects that overpopulation presents to people daily. The growing population puts demands on limited necessities such as the food supply, natural resources, and the ability for people to find employment. There are other detrimental consequences that result from overpopulation. Some of these include pollution, famine, disease, deforestation, traffic congestion, and global warming are just a few. All of the above cannot necessarily be prevented, but technology is being used to help improve the situations. Although many people are unaware of the destruction that is taking place, some effort is being made to notify the public of the current issue of overpopulation.
For the most part, overpopulation is not looked upon as a serious problem. Many are not concerned with the number of people, but it is the way resources are used that are hurting mankind. As the population continues to explode, researchers fear that Earth s carrying capacity will be met in the near future. The
Matthews 2
term carrying capacity is used to define the limits on population with respect to the resources Earth has to offer (Ehrilch 6). If the researchers predictions come true and the carrying capacity is met it will be tragic and devastating for many. The number of deaths related to famine and disease will continue to soar because great pressure is being placed on land, water, energy, and biological resources to provide an adequate supply of food while manufacturing the integrity of our ecosystem (Pimental 1). The valuable resources that are obtained from the Earth play an important decision in our economy.
More than ninety-nine per cent of the world s food supply comes from the land (Pimental 4). Humans as well as animals depend largely on agriculture as a main source of food. With the population growing exponentially, food supplies will tremendously decrease. Hollingsworth, author of Ending the Explotion: Population Policies and Ethics for a Humane Future, points out that mankind should not be concerned about the world population outrunning the worlds food supply. He argues that there are only three major concerns he has about the increase in population over the years. One includes the prediction that the increases in food supply, which applies to the world s food production, will not be enough. The second worry that deals with food supply deals with the land that will be available and the capability to provide sufficient nutrients needed to produce the food (79). Finally, the concern he has is whether actions will take place to improve the conditions and if so how much (80).
Matthews 3
There are many nonrenewable resources that are used excessively and not conservatively. Resources such as metals and fossil energy are limited in their number and are not very accessible. If managed wisely, these can be used without posing a serious threat to mankind (Ehrilch 20). Fossil fuels are derived by the light from the sun and trapped into such things as oil, coal, and much more. These resources are used to produce energy for many different things. According to a survey that I conducted to observe the way resources are used among society, out of twenty-five respondents only seven turn out the lights when they leave the room. An astonishing number combined with the other people around the world who do not turn their lights off would add up to a great amount of energy wasted (Matthews). These resources are unevenly distributed around the world that makes it hard to gain access. Rising living standards combined with population growth will not only overwhelm the reserves in the fossil fuel bank, but also the new technological developments (Ashmead 25).
Although water is renewable, it is considered a critical resource because it provides many uses yet is taken for granted. On the recent survey conducted, out of the twenty-five people surveyed, eleven of them left the water running while they brushed their teeth. Another question that appears on the survey asks the number of times in a week a person washes his or her car. There were many different responses, but the question proves that people do not use this resource
Matthews 4
to its full extent; instead, people use water irresponsibly and take it for granted (Matthews). Such irresponsible use of a precious resource is why researchers often wonder how the plant will survive. Other ultimate factors that affect food production are energy and water, and these limited sources will deplete over time (Ashmead 90). A shortage of water would not only cause problems for farmers, but would also pose a problem to forest workers.
Every day there are acres and acres of forests being cut down because one third of the world s population depend on wood as a fuel as a significant energy source (Hui 3). Trees are not only used as fuel, but a necessity for life because they produce the important element oxygen. Trees protect the soil against erosion and reduce the risks of landslides and avalanches. Hui, author of Deforestation: Humankind and the Global Ecological Crisis, argues against the cutting down of trees states:
People destroy or degrade forests because, for them, the benefits seem to outweigh the costs. Underlying causes include such issues as poverty, unequal land ownership, and population. Immediate causes are often concerned with a search for land and resources, including both commercial timber and fuelwood (4).
As the number of trees decreases in certain areas every year, negative consequences occur. Global warming contributes to the rapid lost of trees
Matthews 5
because of the large amounts of ultraviolet rays that reach the trees due to the depletion of the ozone. The loss of forest lands for future forest workers and the
depletion topsoil in clearings of tropical rainforests due to heavy rainfall and high sunlight. The climate all together will become more extreme. There are many uses that forests have for not only humans, but also animals that inhabit them. These animals are forced to move out of their home and migrate to another area (6). Many animals die every year because they have a shortage of food and no place to go.
As the forests are constantly decreasing, pollution is steadily increasing. The amount of garbage that is thrown away every year is filling up landfills rapidly. Pollution is another aspect of overpopulation that is steadily increasing (Ehrilch 279). Many different types of pollution effect the Earth today. Acid rain, hazardous waste, and the contamination of our water resources contribute to the decline in agriculture production, disease, and death. The increases in the number of automobiles have produced the amount of acid rain received every year. As the number of cars continue to rise, the amount of sulfur pollution destroys the ozone layer which in turn harms the agricultural products and damages the soil for future use (Ashmead 57). More and more waste is being deposited into the oceans every year. Examples such as pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture, oil discharges, radioactive wastes, and plastics are
Matthews 6
just a few that are dumped into the water. When excessive amounts of the waste are dumped into natural water reserves such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and
oceans, the fish in which humans consume for protein are contaminated and are causing sickness among many people (59).
The increasing population affects unemployment because there are not enough jobs to supply all of mankind with work. In turn, many things can occur due to the fact that a family is not able to provide for themselves. The most devastating consequences are starvation, death, and disease. The increasing population and the new technological advancements that are being made causes the limited amounts of jobs (Ashmead 92). The income a family receives provides for them the ability to survive in the world today. Many families do not have the education requirements to hold such jobs that require a further in debt education. These jobs usually are better paid and provide the family with all the necessities of life. The people who have met the education curriculum, that is a standard for determining their place in society, are more equipped to provide for their family (Shah 47).
Although overpopulation many not seem to be a serious threat to some, it is becoming more and more of an issue to many. Researchers have proposed many solutions to help alleviate some of the problems caused by overpopulation. There are really no solutions to overpopulation, but the effects can be limited by the assistance of humans.
Matthews 7
There are many ways to help reduce the number of people born every year. Contraceptives are being used more to help regulate the number of
offspring that are produced. Birth control pills and condoms are among the highest used contraceptives in preventing pregnancy. In order for these methods of birth control to be effective, the public needs to be aware of ways to prevent pregnancy. By planning ahead, couples are more prepared for situations that may result in a mistake, one being pregnancy (Hutchinson 158). In some countries, other measures have been used to decrease the number of children produced each year. China, for example, limits the amount of children a family may have based upon their income. They are only allowed to have only the number of children that they are able to raise and provide for efficiently (70). Another way to prevent population growth is the option of an abortion, and this is a highly debated issue among many. Ever since the popular Roe vs. Wade decision is has been legal to abort a fetus. Astonishing enough, the abortion and teen pregnancy rates has decreased over the past few years, and this is contributed to the publicity of other birth control methods. Education is becoming more and more common and many are reaping the benefits (57).
Strategies to improve the effects of overpopulation for the future must be based on the conservation and management of land, water, energy, and biological resources needed for food production (Pimentel 19). Humans are responsible for such effects as deforestation and the other ecological crisis, but
Matthews 8
mankind has the ability and potential to help resolve it (Hui 16). Recycling can be used to help prevent the number of trees that are cut down every day. On the survey conducted, only nine out of the twenty-five recycled such things as paper, plastic and glass (Matthews). When editor David Gergen interviewed Robert Kaplan, author of The Ends of the Earth: The Journey at the Dawn of the 21st Century, Kaplan states that it is education that will be a cheap and effective way to lower the population.
The issue of overpopulation may be prevented when humans realize the serious outcomes it may have and take action to help improve and even prevent them. Among the most effective way to prevent the increase in population are the methods of birth control and to inform not only teens, but also everyone about the option. By educating the public more, people will see that they need to plan ahead because it will only be beneficial to not only them but also
Overpopulation in the World
The world is a big place, but it seems to be filling up rapidly these days. A total of approximately six billion people inhabit the Earth today, and the numbers are expected to increase by fifty percent in the next twenty-five years (Ashmead 16). Overpopulation is an issue that faces societies all over the world. There are numerous effects that overpopulation presents to people daily. The growing population puts demands on limited necessities such as the food supply, natural resources, and the ability for people to find employment. There are other detrimental consequences that result from overpopulation. Some of these include pollution, famine, disease, deforestation, traffic congestion, and global warming are just a few. All of the above cannot necessarily be prevented, but technology is being used to help improve the situations. Although many people are unaware of the destruction that is taking place, some effort is being made to notify the public of the current issue of overpopulation.
For the most part, overpopulation is not looked upon as a serious problem. Many are not concerned with the number of people, but it is the way resources are used that are hurting mankind. As the population continues to explode, researchers fear that Earth s carrying capacity will be met in the near future. The
Matthews 2
term carrying capacity is used to define the limits on population with respect to the resources Earth has to offer (Ehrilch 6). If the researchers predictions come true and the carrying capacity is met it will be tragic and devastating for many. The number of deaths related to famine and disease will continue to soar because great pressure is being placed on land, water, energy, and biological resources to provide an adequate supply of food while manufacturing the integrity of our ecosystem (Pimental 1). The valuable resources that are obtained from the Earth play an important decision in our economy.
More than ninety-nine per cent of the world s food supply comes from the land (Pimental 4). Humans as well as animals depend largely on agriculture as a main source of food. With the population growing exponentially, food supplies will tremendously decrease. Hollingsworth, author of Ending the Explotion: Population Policies and Ethics for a Humane Future, points out that mankind should not be concerned about the world population outrunning the worlds food supply. He argues that there are only three major concerns he has about the increase in population over the years. One includes the prediction that the increases in food supply, which applies to the world s food production, will not be enough. The second worry that deals with food supply deals with the land that will be available and the capability to provide sufficient nutrients needed to produce the food (79). Finally, the concern he has is whether actions will take place to improve the conditions and if so how much (80).
Matthews 3
There are many nonrenewable resources that are used excessively and not conservatively. Resources such as metals and fossil energy are limited in their number and are not very accessible. If managed wisely, these can be used without posing a serious threat to mankind (Ehrilch 20). Fossil fuels are derived by the light from the sun and trapped into such things as oil, coal, and much more. These resources are used to produce energy for many different things. According to a survey that I conducted to observe the way resources are used among society, out of twenty-five respondents only seven turn out the lights when they leave the room. An astonishing number combined with the other people around the world who do not turn their lights off would add up to a great amount of energy wasted (Matthews). These resources are unevenly distributed around the world that makes it hard to gain access. Rising living standards combined with population growth will not only overwhelm the reserves in the fossil fuel bank, but also the new technological developments (Ashmead 25).
Although water is renewable, it is considered a critical resource because it provides many uses yet is taken for granted. On the recent survey conducted, out of the twenty-five people surveyed, eleven of them left the water running while they brushed their teeth. Another question that appears on the survey asks the number of times in a week a person washes his or her car. There were many different responses, but the question proves that people do not use this resource
Matthews 4
to its full extent; instead, people use water irresponsibly and take it for granted (Matthews). Such irresponsible use of a precious resource is why researchers often wonder how the plant will survive. Other ultimate factors that affect food production are energy and water, and these limited sources will deplete over time (Ashmead 90). A shortage of water would not only cause problems for farmers, but would also pose a problem to forest workers.
Every day there are acres and acres of forests being cut down because one third of the world s population depend on wood as a fuel as a significant energy source (Hui 3). Trees are not only used as fuel, but a necessity for life because they produce the important element oxygen. Trees protect the soil against erosion and reduce the risks of landslides and avalanches. Hui, author of Deforestation: Humankind and the Global Ecological Crisis, argues against the cutting down of trees states:
People destroy or degrade forests because, for them, the benefits seem to outweigh the costs. Underlying causes include such issues as poverty, unequal land ownership, and population. Immediate causes are often concerned with a search for land and resources, including both commercial timber and fuelwood (4).
As the number of trees decreases in certain areas every year, negative consequences occur. Global warming contributes to the rapid lost of trees
Matthews 5
because of the large amounts of ultraviolet rays that reach the trees due to the depletion of the ozone. The loss of forest lands for future forest workers and the
depletion topsoil in clearings of tropical rainforests due to heavy rainfall and high sunlight. The climate all together will become more extreme. There are many uses that forests have for not only humans, but also animals that inhabit them. These animals are forced to move out of their home and migrate to another area (6). Many animals die every year because they have a shortage of food and no place to go.
As the forests are constantly decreasing, pollution is steadily increasing. The amount of garbage that is thrown away every year is filling up landfills rapidly. Pollution is another aspect of overpopulation that is steadily increasing (Ehrilch 279). Many different types of pollution effect the Earth today. Acid rain, hazardous waste, and the contamination of our water resources contribute to the decline in agriculture production, disease, and death. The increases in the number of automobiles have produced the amount of acid rain received every year. As the number of cars continue to rise, the amount of sulfur pollution destroys the ozone layer which in turn harms the agricultural products and damages the soil for future use (Ashmead 57). More and more waste is being deposited into the oceans every year. Examples such as pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture, oil discharges, radioactive wastes, and plastics are
Matthews 6
just a few that are dumped into the water. When excessive amounts of the waste are dumped into natural water reserves such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and
oceans, the fish in which humans consume for protein are contaminated and are causing sickness among many people (59).
The increasing population affects unemployment because there are not enough jobs to supply all of mankind with work. In turn, many things can occur due to the fact that a family is not able to provide for themselves. The most devastating consequences are starvation, death, and disease. The increasing population and the new technological advancements that are being made causes the limited amounts of jobs (Ashmead 92). The income a family receives provides for them the ability to survive in the world today. Many families do not have the education requirements to hold such jobs that require a further in debt education. These jobs usually are better paid and provide the family with all the necessities of life. The people who have met the education curriculum, that is a standard for determining their place in society, are more equipped to provide for their family (Shah 47).
Although overpopulation many not seem to be a serious threat to some, it is becoming more and more of an issue to many. Researchers have proposed many solutions to help alleviate some of the problems caused by overpopulation. There are really no solutions to overpopulation, but the effects can be limited by the assistance of humans.
Matthews 7
There are many ways to help reduce the number of people born every year. Contraceptives are being used more to help regulate the number of
offspring that are produced. Birth control pills and condoms are among the highest used contraceptives in preventing pregnancy. In order for these methods of birth control to be effective, the public needs to be aware of ways to prevent pregnancy. By planning ahead, couples are more prepared for situations that may result in a mistake, one being pregnancy (Hutchinson 158). In some countries, other measures have been used to decrease the number of children produced each year. China, for example, limits the amount of children a family may have based upon their income. They are only allowed to have only the number of children that they are able to raise and provide for efficiently (70). Another way to prevent population growth is the option of an abortion, and this is a highly debated issue among many. Ever since the popular Roe vs. Wade decision is has been legal to abort a fetus. Astonishing enough, the abortion and teen pregnancy rates has decreased over the past few years, and this is contributed to the publicity of other birth control methods. Education is becoming more and more common and many are reaping the benefits (57).
Strategies to improve the effects of overpopulation for the future must be based on the conservation and management of land, water, energy, and biological resources needed for food production (Pimentel 19). Humans are responsible for such effects as deforestation and the other ecological crisis, but
Matthews 8
mankind has the ability and potential to help resolve it (Hui 16). Recycling can be used to help prevent the number of trees that are cut down every day. On the survey conducted, only nine out of the twenty-five recycled such things as paper, plastic and glass (Matthews). When editor David Gergen interviewed Robert Kaplan, author of The Ends of the Earth: The Journey at the Dawn of the 21st Century, Kaplan states that it is education that will be a cheap and effective way to lower the population.
The issue of overpopulation may be prevented when humans realize the serious outcomes it may have and take action to help improve and even prevent them. Among the most effective way to prevent the increase in population are the methods of birth control and to inform not only teens, but also everyone about the option. By educating the public more, people will see that they need to plan ahead because it will only be beneficial to not only them but also society in the long run.