Population Growth; Some Aspects

It has been estimated that 10 000 years ago the population of the world was less than 10 million. In 50 years from 1930 to 1980 the population doubled and is increasing now at an alarming rate. Some reasons for this are: People are living longer because of better health care (for example some diseases have been almost eradicated by use of vaccines). Many people are more nutrition conscious and live longer. Infant mortality has decreased in many populations.

When population increases, cities and roads are built, often with large areas needed for playing fields and parks. There is therefore less land available for the growing of food nearby and one might have to leave the outskirts of the city and travel a distance before finding land cultivated for food. Not having food nearby means that transport for produce has to be arranged. Work is often kilometres away from home and transportation of employees and employers causes pollution problems. When a country cannot supply its own enlarging population with food it has to get food from other countries.

With a rapidly increasing population the country will need many new schools and hospitals. Many young people need to enter the job market after completion of schooling and so often jobs will be scarce. While at school the young population is unproductive and must be supported by older people.

To feed the growing population, land is cleared, more animals are put onto the land for more meat production, and artificial fertilisers are used. Animals bred for meat often consume large amounts of food that could have fed human beings and the land is used intensively. All this can cause degradation of the land and soil erosion problems might result.

Birth control, as an obvious partial solution, is used to help curb population growth and thus reduces our need for more food and energy, keeping our environment in better condition.

For a free sing along backing track and words on overpopulation problems (Know the Seeds We Sow) visit Blog Posts at http://sabirthday.blogspot.com/

Reference: Biology: The science of life by R H STONE and GAO SEKO