Neha Jewalikar

2/1/2011
P. McKercher
Writing 2
A Rudimentary Analysis of the Overpopulation Myth

The Moment. The moment is a precious intricate creation that

exists on the Earth as the minute an individual is removed from the

womb. This moment has occurred more than 6,896,247,699 separate

times as of 3:55 January 15, 2011 (U.S Census Bureau). This is the

defining moment in the lives of mothers, this is the moment of

transformation, this is the moment where hours of pain are endured

only with the promise of birth, this is the moment where a child is

brought into the world with an untarnished view, and this is the

moment where Mother Earth herself becomes a little heavier.

We as a species have a rather unstable grasp on the

consequences of what the world will become if we continue to expand,

to such a point where the frail Earth simply says no. “No other single

species in evolutionary history has even remotely approached the

sheer mass in protoplasm generated by humanity” (E.O Wilson p. 111).

The human population of Earth reached one billion in 1804, two billion

in 1927, three billion in 1959, four billion in 1974, five billion in late

1986, and lastly six billion on October 12, 1999 (Overpopulation.net).

The mathematics of it indicate that it took around 123 years for the

population to hit two billion, but then only 59 years to jump from 2

billion to 6 billion. The “Day of 7 Billion” as estimated by the United

States Census Bureau is to occur on July 2012. This is only 12 years

after reaching 6 billion in 1999 (Ecology.com).

If we continue to experience such vast growth then we will not

be able to survive on this planet. Resources will become scarce, water

will become an even more sought after commodity, the concept of

undeveloped land will not exist, and humans will face severe forms of

disease and famine. There is this sense of selfishness that exists in our

constant exploitation of our surroundings, which has stemmed from

our increased intelligence. In his text, “Is Humanity Suicidal” E.O

Wilson remarks, “ The human species is, in a word, an environmental

abnormality. It is possible that intelligence in the wrong kind of species

was foreordained to be a fatal combination for the biosphere” (p. 111).

We are a poison for the Earth, absorbed through its epithelial

linings, destroying it slowly but surely. The impacts of such a large

population on global warming have been setting in for decades.

Renowned for his proposal of the Gaia Theory (a theory that views the

Earth as a single self microorganism), James Lovelock passionately

states “those who fail to see that population growth and climate

change are two sides of the same coin are either ignorant or hiding

from the truth. These two huge environmental problems are

inseparable and to discuss one while ignoring the other is irrational”

(Optimum population).

Despite these fatal consequences, there are individuals that still

believe that overpopulation is a myth. In his testimony before the

United States Senate, Sheldon Richman, the Senior Editor of the Cato

Institute (they proclaim themselves a public policy research

organization, that is dedicated to the principles of individual liberty,

limited government, free markets, and oddly enough, peace)

adamantly believes that there is no population problem. He argues this

on the basis of The International Population and Reproductive Health

Act, which clearly states:

The prefix "over" implies a standard. For example, "overweight"

implies a standard linked to height. By what standard is the earth

overpopulated? Certainly not living space. The world's population

could fit into Jacksonville, Florida, with everyone having standing

room. Dense cities are often surrounded by nearly empty

countrysides. For overpopulation to be real, there must be

conditions that are undesirable and unmistakably caused by the

presence of a certain number of people. If such indications

cannot be found, we are entitled to dismiss the claim of

overpopulation.

However, these allegations are ill researched and generalized.

Perhaps, the world’s population could fit into Jacksonville, Florida, but

why does that mean anything? For a population to thrive there needs

to be proper living space. With the increasing population

more of the land in the world is being developed. This means that that
there is more deforestation occurring, which in turn leads to species

habitat loss. 70% of the world’s species depend on receding forests;

most of them cannot survive when deforestation occurs. The data

compiled by the World Resources Institute indicates that the planet

has already been stripped of 90% of its forest cover. Over the last

century (Buzzle). Another problem that coincides with deforestation is

the reduction of absorbing the greenhouse gases that fuel global

warming. Fewer forests mean more greenhouse gases entering the

atmosphere, which increases the speed and severity of global

warming. Trees are essential to reducing greenhouse gases because

they themselves are carbon sinks. This increase of global warming will

induce the glaciers to melt faster, which will cause faster sea level rise.

As a consequence of sea level rise, more glaciers begin melting

creating a positive feedback loop. Ironically, this sea level rise will most

likely affect Florida’s coast and cause Jacksonville to go underwater.

This brings up another important argument: the global water

system and natural resources. Individuals who argue that

overpopulation is a myth often tend to overlook vital resources such as

water. A recently promoted viral video portrayed this issue in a

creative fashion (World News). It views the Earth as a bank, a bank

that we all rely on every second of every day. Last year this bank

provided us with thirty-three trillion dollars in free resources and

services such as land, water purification, clean air, and productive

soils. However, this bank is rapidly running out of savings and we are

completely dependant on it. Despite this simple reasoning there are

still individuals that believe that our bank is immune to bankruptcy.

Newsmagazine blindly states:

“Although population growth is believed to cause resource

depletion, food stocks, water supplies and crude oil reserves

have never been healthier. According to the World Bank, food

supplies have risen 27% per capita and food production 20% in

developing countries since 1960, despite a world population

increase of almost 2 billion”.

These poorly stated claims suggest that crude oil reserves have

never been healthier. Yet, most scientists are stating that we have 45

years worth of oil left at today’s rate of consumption (M. Loik). This

consumption is not stable, but it is readily increasing. U.S oil

consumption rose 16% between 1990 and 2002 (Natural Resources

Defense Council NRDC). Most of us want to believe that crude oil is

limitless. However, the fact of the matter is that it is a geological gift

provided to us by the bank and it will eventually run out.

Newsmagazine also refers to the Green Revolution of the 1960’s when

there was an expansion of synthetic fertilizers and the world’s

agricultural production increased, particularly in India and China.

However, this increase of synthetic fertilizers has only led to more

destruction of the Earth. Methane (a potent greenhouse gas) emissions

from crop fields are increased with the application of ammonium-based

fertilizers and they contribute greatly to global climate change. With

the population rising, more synthetic fertilizers are used for food

production rendering negative impacts on the Earth.

The author’s inaccurate assertions regarding food supplies are

foolishly supported by overpopulationisamyth.com (a website that

creates video content in order to prove their overpopulation myth

thesis). In one of their recently updated videos “Food: There’s lots of

it” they state that if cultivated, Africa could feed the entire world. Their

website boasts:

“Theoretically, it wouldn't even require all of Africa.

According to a 2009 report published by the FAO, about 400

million hectares of African savannah are quite suitable for

farming--but only 10 percent of that land is currently cultivated.

Called the Guinea Savannah Zone, this stretch of arable land

winds through 25 African countries. And, even though Africa has

a dire history of war and unstable government, things have

recently begun to look up for many of these nations, which

means this land is more likely to be cultivated in the future.”

However, what these theorists have overlooked is the availability

of water in order to produce the food needed to feed the world. With
the population rising by 70 million a year, the shortage of water is

more apparent. Globally, more than 1.7 billion people do have an

adequate supply of safe drinking water while more than 3 billion

people do not have proper sanitation, which puts them at risk for water

contamination. With the population rising these numbers are only

going to grow larger. As of today, 70% of the world’s fresh water is

being used for irrigation and aquifers are being depleted. Once these

aquifers are depleted the food industry will fall and lead to a major

crisis. This is happening today in China, the world’s largest grain

producer. The shallow aquifer under the China Plain produces over half

the country’s wheat and a third of its corn, is falling faster than

reported. This is due to constant over pumping of the shallow aquifer,

which is takes thousands of years to be replenished (Eoearth). Through

pollution, deforestation, rising sea levels, and overpopulation, there is

not only less fresh water to drink, but it is being used up faster than

the earth can replenish it.

Fourteen countries in Africa are already experiencing water

problems and eleven more are about to join them by 2050. Most of the

water diverted in Africa is used for irrigated agriculture but these

agricultural developments are improperly developed and have not

achieved their benefits intended for the poor. They have also reduced

scarce food supplies such as river fisheries and supplies harvested

from traditional practices. Including planting crops when floodwaters

leave the plains (World Bank). Regarding past scenarios and water

scarcity, how is it possible produce enough crops in Africa to feed the

world population now? As of now, 6:58 February 4, 2011 the world

population is 6,897,933,642. 1,685,943 individuals have joined us as

consumers and will continue to request more from the bank (US

Census Bureau).

Overpopulation can no longer be considered myth, as many

individuals would like to believe. Overpopulation is a major problem

that must reduced with simple tools such as education for women and

awareness. The understanding of overpopulation will pave the way to

the understanding of overconsumption from the Earth.

Overconsumption is a result of overpopulation and as the number of

consumers increases, so will our consumption. Poor countries tend to

have low consumption while rich countries have high consumption.

This is despite the fact that poorer countries have a higher birth

rate. Poorer countries tend to have a higher birth rate because children

are a source of income; they help and provide for the family, and are

obligated to look after their parents during old age. The higher birth

rate is also due women in these poorer countries not having access to

education, birth control, and family planning. These women often do

not have the skills to make decisions about the number of children

they can have.

 We as individuals (especially individuals that reside in richer

countries) must do our best to consume as little as we can and educate

others about these concepts. Education, especially for girls and women

is one the most leveraged investments that a developing country can

make for its future. Women must be provided with education and most

importantly choices such as readily available birth control, family

planning, and resources. Choices that will enrich their lives, help

provide the best for their children, and most importantly promote

gender equality. Sadia Chowdury, a child health specialist at the World

Bank insists:

“Girl’s and women’s education is just as important in reducing birth

rates as contraception. Women's education provides life-saving

knowledge, builds job skills that allow her to join the workforce

and marry later in life, gives her the power to say how many

children she wants and when. And these are enduring qualities

she will hand down to her daughters as well” (AFP).

These education opportunities can be provided with social

work and social entrepreneurship. A perfect example of this is the

Barefoot College. Established in 1972, this non-governmental

organization provides solutions to basic problems in rural

communities with the objective of making them sustainable and

self-sufficient. Only illiterate women are chosen to attend this

non-conventional university. They are trained day and night on a

wide array of professions such as schoolteachers, doctors,

midwives, solar engineers, water drillers, and architects. These

skills provide women with a steady income, self-independence,

and a better future for themselves and their families.

Founder of the Grameen Bank (a bank that provides loans to the

poor), Nobel Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus also executed these ideas

and found remarkable results. Some thirty years ago, Yunus made his

first loan to a group of 42 women. Astounded he stated “Soon we saw

that money going to women brought much more benefit to the

family than money going to the men. So we changed our policy

and gave a high priority to women. As a result, now 96% of our

four million borrowers in Grameen Bank are women” (Brainy

Quote). The Grameen Bank has created women entrepreneurs

who have raised themselves out of poverty and into better self-

sufficient lives.

Education and awareness can also be spread through social

work and participation in NGO’s (Non-governmental

Organizations). Today in India, there is one NGO for less than four

hundred Indians. Each year many participate in the Standard

Chatered Mumbai Marathon to spread awareness about issues

such as women empowerment, the environment, and children.

Out of one hundred and seventy nine NGO’s participating this

year, seventy-three will spread awareness about the importance

of women’s education. Spreading awareness and creating

sensible, sustainable, and equitable solutions such as these are

essential to reducing poverty, which highly influences population

growth. Using these tools we can mitigate the negative impacts of

global warming, species loss, resource stress, and most importantly

ensure a better, healthier, and stable future for the human species.
 Bibliography

Edward O. Wilson, “Is Humanity Suicidal?” from the New York Times
Magazine, May 30, 1993. Copyright 1993 by the New York Times
Company. Reprinted with the permission of The New York Times.

P.V. (1994). The threat of overpopulation is a myth. Alberta Report /

Newsmagazine, 21(41), 42. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Cato Institute. The International Population Stabilization and

Reproductive Health Act. Sheldon Richman. January 31st, 2011.
http://www.cato.org/testimony/ct-ps720.html

Overpopulation, Experts Say. “ScienceDaily” 20 April 2009, January 31,

2011
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090418075752.htm

AFP. “Give poor women birth control, education: World Bank”. July 10
2008.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hboHlfuYX7-7E5wPRixdHRut8YjA

Mark R. Elsis. “Overpopulation: We Have Passed Our Sustainability”.

January 20, 2011.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hboHlfuYX7-7E5wPRixdHRut8YjA

INSEAD Knowledge. “Muhammad Yunus: Helping the less privileged

unleash their entrepreneurial skills” February 6, 2011.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090418075752.htm