Overpopulation, Overcrowding, Poverty and Conflict
At present, there are 6.5 billion people in the world and the number continues to multiply. In contrast, there are only a limited number of natural resources. On a global basis, the human population has shown a J-shaped pattern of growth over the past two thousand years, while the availability of natural resources mandatory for human survival is in slow decline. The implications of this are not limited to mass starvation, poverty and overcrowding of poorly sanitized cities. In fact, the current stress created by the imbalance between a burgeoning population and a finite number of resources are also one of the main factors contributing to the rise of violent inter-group conflict.
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Southwick also reminds us that although the situation we have set up for ourselves in the future might be highly regrettable, we are already reaping the bad seed that we sowed in some parts of the world. We often forget that a greater part of the developing world is suffering at the hand of this incredible discrepancy between burgeoning population and environmental scarcity. As of 1992, -One out of every five people in the world, including one out of three children under the age of five is hungry or malnourished.
-17 million are refugees, stateless, landless and often homeless.
-One out of three people have poor health care and not enough fuel to cook food or keep warm.
-Over a billion people are seriously ill with preventable diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis, and filariasis.
(Miller)
According to Southwick, scientists estimate that the optimum global population is no more than 2 billion people. They believe that somewhere between 1 and 2 billion people could be supported in relative prosperity. (161) Compare this with the current gl0bal human population of 6.5 Billion. Clearly, a problem is at hand. Some pessimistic although perhaps realistic scientists even view the current human population growth as a carcinogenic or cancer-like growth with the potential of destroying the global ecosystem. (Southwick161) In simple terms, the problem of the rapid growth in
Population Growth is an issue that exists in today’s world that needs to be confronted before it becomes out of hand. The population itself has reached overwhelming numbers making it a problem that could turn to be dangerous. The amount of humans that the earth can support or the carrying capacity is slowly rising but at a much slower rate than the population growth rate. The increasing growth rate has its negative effects environmentally, agriculturally, socially, and economically and also has its positive effects nationally, and economically. The government is brainstorming and trying to come up with ways to decrease
One out of seven people or 900 million people live in extreme poverty which many of whom are children. According to Antonio Franco Garcia, a social policy officer in UNICEF, 47 percent of the 900 million people living in extreme poverty are 18-years-old or younger, and to end poverty in the future, people need to focus on the kids. This problem needs more attention because it is not fair for the children born in poverty to be unable to receive the quality education for future success. Poverty has been around for a long time and needs to end. It would cause more fairness for everyone and better economy for many countries. In the connection between children and poverty, children around the world are negatively affected by poverty in their education through cognitive readiness, academic skills, and less opportunities starting at a young age.
Humanity as a whole is growing exponentially and this growth is anything but consistent. Many nations will be experiencing population decreases while other experience intense population growth. The impending impact of that fact is scaring a multitude of countries on the international market. In this essay I will answer three of the major pressing questions facing the world as they try to prepare themselves for this drastic change.
Thesis: The topic of human population growth is an important issue due to its impacts upon people in developing countries, economics, religion, food production, and the environment; without any limitations, population growth can lead to negative consequences, such as famine and environmental destruction, or even positive outcomes, such as potential economic growth.
In Mexico, around forty five percent of its one hundred and eighteen million people face food shortages or hunger. In south America, nearly ten million Peruvians suffer from hunger; that is nearly one-third of the population. In many countries around the world, it is the rural poor who suffer most. Hunger and disease, is usually in close combination and often precipitated by natural disasters or war, have plagued humankind throughout history. People need nutrition to be strong and to be able to go to school or work, but without any healthy food that cannot happen. Their bodies cannot process the activities or material they are shown due to lack of nutrients that you get from healthy sustenance. therefore, they are not able to get a good paying job or education for later in their future. World hunger is a problem that must be addressed as seen through illness,
The United States has a population of 323,100,000 people as of 2016, however 42,238,000 people are at risk of going hungry giving a 13.4% rate. The average meal cost $2.94 in the US with $22,267,592,013 as the annual food budget shortfall. (“Map the Meal Gap”) On average, US households experience the risk of going hungry seven months out of the year. (“How We Got the Map Data”) Feeding America found that food insecurity varies by geographic regions and status. It found that counties in the South have the highest rate at 16.1%, while the West has 13.7%, Midwest is 12.1% and Northeast regions at 11.8% of food insecurity. (“Food Insecurity by Region”)
There are multiple factors that contribute to hunger, one of which is food waste. In 2010, thirty-one percent of the available food supply in America went uneaten or wasted. Every year, a minimum of 1.3 billion pounds of food goes unused. Not only does the unused food sit in landfills, but when it rots, it produces greenhouse gasses that speed up global warming. Unemployment is also one of the bigger factors in the problem of hunger. Most people commonly associate poverty with hunger. But sadly, in America, unemployment and hunger also go hand in hand. When a person is unable to earn money, they are then unable to buy food, he or she has a higher chance of going hungry. With little money it is harder to find or buy food.
It is obvious to see in today’s society that the world has changed so much compared to the last decade and the many years before that. As time moves forward, the human population also grows along with it. And as the population steadily increases, the environment also deteriorates and becomes heavily impacted by the negative effects of overpopulation. Humans are the main cause behind every damage inflicted upon the world. With the rise of overpopulation, along with the countless number of humans already existing, the world will inevitably suffer severe damages. The world, without a doubt, would be so much better off with a limited number of humans as more would only bring it its demise faster.
According to World Food Programs, 795 million people in the world do not have enough food to eat to lead a healthy lifestyle. That is about one in nine
805 million people in the world do not have enough to eat, that’s one in every nine people.
If you ask anyone on the street, they will tell you that the main essentials to survive are: food, water, shelter, and possibly clothes, depending on the environment. Unfortunately, all throughout the world (not just in third-world countries), there are people of all ages struggling to find a clean drop of water, or some morsel of edible food. Even if they managed to find such things, there’s a high chance that it will not be nearly enough, or it will make them desperately sick. Despite the help of food banks and sponsors everywhere, this problem hasn’t been solved- only disregarded as inevitable or unworthy of resources, time, and money.
Poverty is one of the biggest problems that we currently have in today’s world. But, what is poverty? Poverty is powerlessness. It is hurt, despair and suffering. Poverty is barely living one day at a time. Poverty is not being able to have a meal or clean water every day. Poverty is not being able to attend school or acquire a simple education. Poverty is being sick and debilitated, and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is a cause of death. Poverty is a problem. Poverty is an epidemic. Poverty… is a call to action.
Recently, the world’s population has been going through exponential growth since the industrial revolution because of improvements in technology, medicine, sanitation, and agriculture. The first major increase in the world’s population was during the agricultural revolution that took place about 10,000 years ago (Brennan, Withgott 4). The cause of the increase was that people were beginning to settle and farm, which increased their chance of survival. The second was the industrial revolution in the mid-1700s and caused the greatest amount of growth(Brennan, Withgott 4). This was only because improvements were made in technology involving medicine, sanitation, and agriculture. This allowed life expectancy to increase and the security provided
795 million people malnourished, frail and constantly facing sickness because they simply cannot afford food.
Thus, finding methods of educating people, and providing medical aid for these preventable diseases can avoid many deaths. Second reason for attending global health issue is for balancing resources. According to The Lancet Journal, ninety percent of the world’s health care resources are spent on diseases that affect only ten percent of the world’s population. (Norris, 2009) Therefore, ensuring that resources are evenly distributed throughout the world would assist to limit the diseases from spreading from country to country. Third, global health can influence Canadians indirectly such as, the increase of diseases. Some of these diseases becoming more prevalent is HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB and are increasing poverty and political instability within countries. (Worldwide HIV & AIDS Statistics, 2009) Thus, global health should be a concern because it can help prevent civil conflict in other countries. (Worldwide HIV & AIDS Statistics, 2009) Fourth, global health should be a concern across all nations as there is more contact amongst people because of globalization diseases occurs at a faster rate. Globalization is defined as a modern phenomenon process by which countries and peoples are increasingly interconnected, integrated, and interdependent that occurred over centuries. (Andrews, 2010) Since the world is increasingly becoming interconnected, diseases can travel from nation to nation and it can cause