The Population Problem Essay - 2973 Words

The Population Problem Two hundred years ago, Thomas Malthus, in An Essay on the Principle of Population, reached the conclusion that the number of people in the world will increase exponentially, while the ability to feed these people will only increase arithmetically (21). Current evidence shows that this theory may not be far from the truth. For example, between 1950 and 1984, the total amount of grain produced more than doubled, much more than the increase in population in those 34 years. More recently though, these statistics have become reversed. From 1950 to 1984, the amount of grain increased at 3 percent annually. Yet, from 1984 to 1993, grain production had grown at barely 1 percent per year, a decrease in grain production per†¦show more content†¦More people means more waste, more pollution, and more development. With this taken into consideration, it seems that Hardins teachings should no longer fall on deaf ears. When discussing the issue of population, it is important to note that it is one of the most controversial issues facing the world today. Population growth, like many other environmental issues, has two sides. One side will claim that the population explosion is only a myth, while the other side will argue that the population explosion is reality. Because of this, statistics concerning this subject vary widely. But, in order to persuade, it is necessary to take one side or the other. Thus, statistics may be questioned as to their validity, even though the statistics come from credible sources. Lifeboat Ethics The United States is the most populous country in the world, behind only China and India. Unlike China and India though, the United States is the fastest growing industrialized nation. The United States population expands so quickly because of the imbalance between migration and immigration, and births and deaths. For example, in 1992, 4.1 million babies were born. Weighing this statistic against the number of deaths and the number of people who entered and left the country, the result was that the United States obtained 2.8 million more people than it had gotten rid of (Douglis 12). Population increases place great strain on the American society and more particularly itShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Population Ageing Population Essay2028 Words   |  9 PagesStatistics, 2016). Population ageing is even more serious in rural areas (Department of Health and Ageing, 2008). This is evident in Little Whinging, a remote village in Queensland, where around 20 per cent of its population is expected to be over 65 by 2030 and the number may rise to 25 per cent by 2050. With the projected growth in the ageing population resulting increase in demand for healthcare and assisted living programmes, the society needs to address the problem of population ageing as a wholeRead MoreThe Problem Of Population Control1366 Words   |  6 PagesPopulation control is an idea that has been thrown around world-wide for years. One may wonder what population control would even mean for its partakers. As one researches population control, many different viewpoints are found. There are the viewpoints of those who are oblivious to the struggles an economy will be forced to face if population control is not put into effect; then, there are others who recognize the responsibility they have to care for their country the way it has cared for them forRead MoreThe Problem Of Ageing Population Essay979 Words   |  4 Pageshaving longer life due to economic well-being, better nutrition and impro vement of medical facilities. Ageing population has entailed an increasing share of old persons in the population. However, longer life expectancy has resulted in the ageing of population and has caused worldwide concerns of the problems it may consequently arouse. The two major reasons of the ageing population trend are the rising longevity and the decline of fertility rate. If the proportion of elderly people continuesRead MoreThe Problem Of Prison Population1615 Words   |  7 PagesPrison populations have grown substantially since the 70’s and there seems to be no slowing down this trend. State and local governments have become â€Å"tougher† on crime, examples include the three strikes and you’re out rule and the broken windows rule, which have lowered crime rates by increasing incarcerations. Many debates have gone on about the reasons of the overpopulation, the impacts on prisoners, the impacts on societies due to the prison overpopulation, and wha t the solution should be toRead MoreThe Problem Of Homeless Population1401 Words   |  6 Pagesintentions are not to cause there to be a vulnerability to poverty but to try to make a living some how. â€Å"Skid Row homeless population originates in South LA – where services and shelters lack resource adequacy and unemployment rates are high among adult men – and policy discussions rarely focus on this trend† (Howard, 4). Los Angeles Skid Row, is known to have the heaviest homeless population compared to other cities. Los Angeles does provide some homeless services like shelter and low-cost housing optionsRead MoreA Solution to the Population Problem:1724 Words   |  7 PagesIncreasing importance has been placed upon population and population growth over the course of the past few centuries. Scientists are frenetically searching for the solution to this issue, and their outcomes are bleak. They are telling the world that if population growth does not slow, the earth will swell to a capacity too large to sustain itself and the conclusion will be apocalyptic. Explanations are numerous, however viable solutions are difficult to find. Adherents to the Malthusian theoryRead MoreThe Problem Of Population And Growth Essay1261 Words   |  6 PagesPopulation and growth is a massive issue in the world today. It has held geographers’ interest for several years. There has been discussion and debate over the max amount of people that the world can sustain. Some geographers believe that the world is already overpopulated, while others believe that we are working toward a serious overpopulation problem in the future. One thing that everyone can agree on is some countries and regions, such as China, are vastly over populated, and other countriesRead MoreThe Problem Of Expanding Population Essay1363 Words   |  6 PagesThe topic of expanding population is one both of wonder and catastrophe, as civilizations have risen and fallen throughou t time. Collapse (Diamond) touches on this concept of population growth (or change) often, especially because a civilization is, after all, nothing without its population. Using Collapse, we can quickly start to analyze what a growing population entails. Early on, Diamond touches upon the implications of an expanding population. When a civilization starts to have a high rate ofRead MoreThe Population Problem Essay1424 Words   |  6 PagesThe Population Problem Imagine a world where there isnt enough clean water to drink and there isnt ample food to eat. We have used up most of the resources that we require to survive. What little that is left is so polluted that it is not fit to be used. Is this our future? What are we doing to keep this from happening? We recycle, we ride our bikes, we compost, but is this enough? It is up to us to find a cure to the ailment that is destroying our planet. We only have one Earth to sustainRead MoreThe Problem Of Prison Population1536 Words   |  7 PagesAfter decades trying to prevent it, prison population continued to increase. Mandatory minimum sentences and the privatization created more prisoners, rather than cutting down on the amount incarcerations. Since the 1980’s, the prison population has quadrupled and today one in every one hundred adults are in prison (Mandatory Minimums (HBO)). Infact, America leads the world in prisoners with 20% of the earth’s prison population (The Prison Crisis). In a study done by The American Prospect, charts