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Unit 2: The Population Bomb
Newsroom and Resources
Lecture and Readings:
In this course we are setting about to study the major global issues that confront
us now and are likely to be with us into the future. It is impossible to say which one of
these issues or any of dozens of others is the most important, most dangerous or
demands the most attention. The issues outlined in this course are sophisticated,
complicated and interwoven so that the boundaries separating them are only drawn here
for the purpose of a more focused and meaningful investigation. These are global
issues that impact human beings and as such there may be a common denominator?
Obviously we could say that the root cause of all of the great global issues confronting
humanity is humanity itself. It is a simplistic response to a complicated question that
demands a deeper, more thoughtful response. What is it in man's relationship with the
environment and with other human beings that has given rise to the issues and crises that
threaten the future? As we investigate these global issues, be on the lookout for clues to
the answer to this question.
In Unit 2 we turn our attention to the causes and the threats of what is referred
to as the Population Bomb. We begin this investigation on October 12th, 1999. It was
on this date that the population of the earth was estimated to have reached six billion
(6,000,000,000!) people. It is very difficult for me to comprehend, but when I was in high
school there were approximately half as many people sharing this planet with me. The
facts that we are faced with are sobering and test our abilities to confront the reality of the
"population bomb". Review the latest ZPG Facts sheet detailing the demographics of
our world today. Specifically look at the doubling time of the world population at the
current rate. What does this mean to you?
The evidence presented by the facts leads to more questions. In an article by
ZPG, a Washington DC based foundation that supports population control and studies
the issue, we find the basic questions asked and answered. A review of these questions
and serious thinking about the answers offered frames the issue of population.
We know from our reading and from our native intuition that population is
growing. It is important to understand why and how its growth might be slowed and
controlled. In many countries programs have been undertaken by the government to
control population. Studying population growth often requires an understanding of the
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demographics of a population. We know, for example, that population growth rates have
a tendency to increase when a population has large percentage of women in their
childbearing years. Recently the population growth rate in the United States has
increased slightly and it is the demographic distribution of the population (a higher
percentage of women in the child bearing years) that is responsible for the increasing
population growth rate. The article: US Births: Up first time since 1990 provides more
facts to support the idea that changing demographics is one cause of increasing
population growth rates. A demographically young population is not just a problem for
population growth in the United States but in fact a world-wide concern.
The article Youth and Population Momentum places the responsibility for
working to control population squarely on the shoulders of the next generation. This
article says a great deal about the inequality of women in the population equation. In
many countries the culture locks the status of women and prohibits and discourages
education and opportunity for women. Typically where these cultural chains have been
thrown off and women have demanded equal status with men the rate of population
growth has slowed. Clearly, free and equal education and opportunity for everyone is a
major remedy for uncontrolled population growth. It is perhaps hard for us to understand
that much of the world's population lacks the sophistication and knowledge required to
make a clear association between sex and pregnancy. Birth control and a woman's
choice regarding childbirth are not part of the experience enjoyed by women in many
parts of the world. Religious and cultural tradition demand that women yield to the task of
bearing and raising children.
Confronted with a momentum for increasing populations, we look and hope for
a countervailing force. The article Population Growth-Stabilization holds out some
promise in this direction. The idea that population will stabilize or reach equilibrium or a
point where births and deaths become statistically equal is something that most experts
agree will happen eventually. The issue is that when it occurs, will the population of the
earth be so great that it has outrun its resources? Or will the population stabilize either
naturally or through human effort at a point where resources are not depleted and they
can replenish and meet the needs of a stabilized population. No one knows the answer to
this question with certainty. But the answer is so important to the future of human beings
on earth that knowledge, planning and actions must be undertaken. To do less would be
to demonstrate an inexcusable level of irresponsibility toward future generations.
Population control by its very nature is a very personal issue. People have
opinions premised on the cultural, religious and economic backgrounds. Ultimately the
issue is decided individually between two people. However, governments have long
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realized that population growth has consequences that raise the issue to the level of
national concern. Governments are involved in promoting sound population policies and
among governments the right to determine population policy is sovereign. The article US
International Population Policy and Programs summarizes our countries current
policy and makes reference to our international cooperation in facing the Population
Bomb.
We conclude our study of population by investigating the data and statistics on
population to discover what more might be useful and help us make informed judgments
and decisions on issues relating to population. The U.S. Census provides World
Population Information Look at the information you find most interesting. I would
suggest a look at the graphic tables on World Population because they reveal information
in a manner that is helpful in gaining a full grasp of the reality of population growth. We
are also provided with a very interesting and useful International Data Base. All of this
information is worth your time and study - particularly the Online Demographic
Aggregations and the Population Pyramids again providing information in a graphic format
that is useful in helping to further understand the issue.
Discussion Activity for Unit 2:
Much material has been presented and we all do not see and bring the same
meaning to what we read and learn. From the lecture and reading, write several
descriptive paragraphs explaining the most important things you learned about the
population issue.
Assessment : Unit 2, Discussion
q Go to Assessments on the left-hand navigation bar select the appropriate
Assessment.
q You will be Uploading your word processed document for your instructor to
evaluate.
q Be sure to hit the Submit button when done
Critical Thinking Exercise for Unit 2:
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In 1971 I (Warren Cooley) was in San Salvador, El Salvador working for the
Mayor's Office on a Peace Corps assignment. El Salvador was at the time, and I believe
still is, one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Other members of the
group I was with worked in other areas of the country. One of the most difficult jobs was
given to a group of nurses, who were working in the area of public health. Their job was
to go into very poor communities and barrios in the cities and organize and conduct public
health educational meetings. In this Latin culture and primarily Roman Catholic country,
birth control was a very delicate subject that was sometimes met with very emotional
responses. Men in the country take great pride in the number of children that they father
and women have a diminished status. In fact, during the time I was there, husbands killed
women when it was discovered they were using birth control devices or pills.
In this exercise you are to assume the role of a public health nurse in Belize, a
Central American country that has many of the problems of El Salvador, but where
English is the language generally spoken. Your nursing assignment is to speak to a
group of poor country people about the need for, and the benefits of, family planning and
birth control. In preparing your talk you should remember that these people are rural,
poor and though intelligent they lack education. In your talk it will be important to tell them
what you know of the larger population problem and how uncontrolled population growth
can effect the environment and the economy of the country. However, ultimately you are
going to need to discuss the advantages of family planning on an individual basis. Finally
I expect that your talk will be met with some reservations, questions and perhaps strong
reactions. Briefly discuss what you imagine will be the most difficult reaction you
encounter.
I would suggest that you utilize whatever facts you can find either from the
reading or from your own search to support any ideas you put forward in your talk. Be
convincing and be personal and as compassionate and sensitive as possible. Remember
this is a very delicate issue with many of the people you are talking too. If your head
should fail you in your attempts to get your message across, your fall back position should
be to speak from the heart.
I believe you can make your arguments effectively in 300 to 500 words. You
may run longer if you need too. Be sure to organize your discussion into an introduction
(keypoints), development (of key points), and conclusion.
Assessment : Unit 2, Critical Thinking
q Go to Assessments on the left-hand navigation bar select the appropriate
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Assessment.
q You will be Uploading your word processed document for your instructor to
evaluate.
q Be sure to hit the Submit button when done
Web-dav'd BJ 2004 --- Updated.
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