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Pollution and Environment Essay - We Must Act Now to Solve the Problem of Overpopulation

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We Must Act Now to Solve the Problem of Overpopulation

In 1804 for the first time in the history of humanity more than one billion people were living on Earth. Then in 1927, 123 years later, the Earth's population surpassed two billion. Another billion was added by 1960, another in 1974, and another-bringing the total to over five billion-in 1987. Estimates are that the Earth's population will surpass six billion in 1999 and reach nine billion people in the year 2054-250 years after first reaching one billion.[1] Traditionally the historically slow increase in population has been attributed to limits on agriculture. Modern analysis of population growth, however, indicates that the primary restriction has been disease. The …show more content…

She states that the continued use of chemicals will eventually lead to unexpected results in nature and in mankind itself.[3] Some authors on the subject of overpopulation have predicted eminent doom. William and Paul Paddock in the 1967 book Famine-1975! claimed that in 1975 the world would be amidst a famine of huge proportions, and that there was nothing that could be done about it.[4] This predicted famine never materialised. We must take these proposed dangers seriously; however, man's ability to learn from past mistakes makes it possible for him to develop new ways of life that are less damaging to the environment.

Colin Clark, an English economist, proposed in his 1958 article "World Population" that advancements in commerce, politics, science, and the arts are the results of increasing population. He states that in the past man has always found ways produce more food and theorises that future advancements in the search for food will result in the colonisation of space.[5] J.H. Fremlin in his article "How Many People Can the World Support?" demonstrates the possibility that instead of conserving the earth and expanding outward man will instead use technology to bring about the destruction of the Earth's ecosystems. Fremlin outlines five steps in the increase of man's population on Earth. He discusses the scientific advancements that must take place for the

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