The Overpopulation Problem: Running Out of Natural Resources
79Addressing The Overpopulation Problem
Planet Earth is 8,000 miles wide and 24,000 miles circumference. Considering we humans are at a population of 6.8 billion people, and adding a million and a half people every week, things are starting to look crowded. It’s time our species acknowledged that we have an overpopulation problem. We must start living a different way – its no longer a question of maintaining our standard of living, but of surviving on a planet that is losing its basic ecological infrastructure. Difficult questions need to be asked: do we need population control? How can we attain zero population growth? What are the causes, the effects, and the solutions to the exponential human birth rate, and how do we overcome the overpopulation problem?
The hominid family (that’s us) has inhabited Earth for five to six million years, according to the fossil record. Hominids evolved from genus to genus several times before the homo genus appeared a million and a half to two million years ago. We continued to evolve as a species before reaching homo sapiens – sensible human. This occurred approximately 150,000 years ago.
Hominids have populated planet Earth for five to six million years. In contrast, Mother Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and the Universe is 13.7 billion years old. During the time of the hominids we have been almost exclusively hunters and gatherers. Likewise, for the 150,000 years that we home sapiens have been around, we too have been hunters and gatherers. It was only 12,000 years ago that we began domesticating plants and animals. Since then, we’ve depended upon agriculture to fuel our population growth – this is known as the Agrarian Age.
The Industrial Revolution And Population Growth
Around 200 years ago, in the late 1700s, the Industrial Age began in England. This correlates to an exponential leap in the population growth rate (not that industrialization has anything to do with the overpopulation problem…). By 1850, it had spread to Western Europe, and the United States. Over time, it spread to other industrial countries. About fifty years ago, we evolved from the industrial age to the post-industrial Information age we live in today, once again corresponding to a leap in the population growth rate. This age of information technology allows us to disseminate information almost anywhere instantly, and reveals enormous inequalities in the standard of living between inhabitants of the information age and the rest of the world.
Measuring the effect of these cultural shifts from agriculture to information reveals a startling trend in human birth rates, an exponential growth rate that culminates in the overpopulation problem we see today. Two thousand years ago, at the beginning of the common era, our population was at 250 million people. This stayed the same for the next 500 years. By 1000 C.E. our population had doubled, a 100% increase, which meant our planet was now inhabited by 500 million people. We reached 750 million people around 1500 C.E and we reached a billion people in 1800, which coincides with the Industrial Revolution. Production capacity took off with industry to power it, and the population growth rate increased exponentially. Between 1800 and 1900 we added 600 million people. By the year 1900, we were at 1.6 billion people. By 1960, only sixty years later, we nearly doubled that as we reached three billion.
In 1960, with three billion people, we humans had been breeding for 150,000 years. And yet, it only took us thirty-nine years to double that number! In 1999, the human population reached 6 billion people. It is estimated that by 2050 we will be at over 9.2 billion people. Folks, this is something to think about. We might have an overpopulation problem on our hands.
How much are we taxing Earth’s carrying capacity?
This exponential increase in birth rate depletes natural resources faster than they can be replaced, lowering the standard of living and creating economic pressures both at home and throughout the rest of the world.
The human overpopulation problem leads to consequences that are widespread and potentially catastrophic. This unsustainable population growth rate has created a complex and interrelated web of global environmental problems. Our insatiable demand for food, fuel, building materials, and useless junk is depleting irreplaceable natural resources – forests, fisheries, range lands, croplands, plant and animal species, jungles, glaciers, and entire ecosystems. The whole ocean is toxic. In an effort to survive, people are simply wiping out everything else, destroying the ecological infrastructure that gave us the conditions living conditions in the first place. We’re losing our life support, people. This is a transformation of the planet, called the sixth great wave of extinction in the history of life on Earth – but this is the first that is caused by human overconsumption. We must rein in our overpopulation problem – it may destroy us if we don’t pay attention.
We now use our formidable technology to drain aquifers and lower water tables. We systematically pollute our air, our water, our soil, and our food chain. We deplete the stratospheric ozone that shields us harmful ultraviolet radiation. And we are experiencing the effects of global warming – heat waves, droughts, dying coral reefs, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, unstable weather patterns, rapid spread of diseases, and accelerated species extinction. Human overpopulation has thrown the planet out of balance, and we all await the consequences.
The Solution To The Problem
We desperately need a solution to the world overpopulation problem. Our continued survival requires a healthy and functioning global ecosystem, on in which humans live in harmony with all other forms of life. We must educate ourselves, recognizing the problem and work together towards a solution. We are children on this planet, just learning how to live in harmony with one another, and we face severe challenges that require a radical shift in our perspective and our behavior. Our teacher is the natural world from which we emerged; we must learn to align ourselves to the teachings of our planet and live in a manner that supports life. There is no alternative if we are to avoid catastrophic consequences.
With so many of us on this fragile planet, and with the addition of so many more every week, we can simply not afford to relate to one another or to our environment in unsustainable or depleting ways. The global overpopulation problem needs to be resolved, or nature will resolve it for us in a manner that we would not ask for. It is time to live in an entirely new way – we must embrace change. We must learn to live together, in harmony with one another and in harmony with the natural world. Its not to late to change – let us learn to bend, that we may not break.
About the Author
Joe Simonetta is the author of Seven Words That Can Change the World, a book and now a video that explains in simple language what life requires of us unequivocally in order to reverse our destructive and unsustainable momentum, end our needless suffering, prosper together, find peace, sustain humanity, and advance our civilization.
What do you think?
Should we mandate population controls such as limiting births per family?
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you are as dumb as a rabbit...
Joe:...well expressed and oh so true. We are an infant species. Consciousness has created within us a fear of our mortality and an unreasoned, primitive arrogance in reference to our value in the universe. We have conjured supernatural forces which promise us immortality. That concept has fragmented human kind to the point of it becoming irreversible. A humanity so fragmented will never pull together in concert to realize the possibility of your solution to the overpopulation problem. I have also written a "Hub" concerning "overpopulation. your premise is real and few know of it .
no they dont
Joe:
A very factual, timely and well-written Hub.
We humans have a tendency to be so selfish in our desires to breed. There is truly only one solution to the overpopulation of this planet we rely on, and that is birth control. I commend you for writing this Hub, as I have been kicking the idea around for a couple of weeks.
Unfortunately, the potential of any politician or religious sector admitting that birth control is the only viable solution to the continuation of the planet as a whole is weak at best. And I doubt most humans would voluntarily cease to breed in an effort to save our world.
One day, after humans have destroyed many more species on Earth, it will become evident that our natural resources are no longer existent and we, as a species will perish. We only have ourselves to blame.
hi hi hi hi hi hi hi
okay have you guys ever seen how much room there is all over the u.s.?
Population reductions is all ready the agenda for most governments.
The next large scale reduction will ensure around 20% if not 40%
If we win
After reduction
1. Return to the natural world.
2. No money or system or government or religion.
3. Loose all technology till we understand how Powerful we are with out it.
4. no separation or division from the natural understanding of our selves.
5. smaller communities and unity
Take away power and electricity for 2 weeks and you'll see how so called civilized we really are.
The division that separation us is the only thing keeping this systematic slavery system together.
One thought One In Action One border that is infinite.
Life is short love is sweet I’m living the dream cause I fight to be free!
yo bitches suck penises=D lol
i always promote sex with condoms
It's surprising how naive people are towards the problems we are facing and the problems yet to come, those who think nothing of overpopulation, should be more considerate of our environment.. we not the only living things living on this planet.
"We humans have a tendency to be so selfish in our desires to breed. "
No Jennifer! You are so selfish in your desire to live an artificial life which includes remaining alive indefinitely via artificial means. We are supposed to die. This is how nature keeps population in check.
So all you people gripping and running about trying to save nature need to wake up and realize YOU are the problem, not new life.
Commentator Unknown made some good suggestions. Government controlled birth control is not one of them However, I hope the rest of his words are read by and sink into the brains of Joe Simonetta and his peanut gallery.
"A very factual, timely and well-written hub."
Eh?
I find few facts, and those presented are distorted by the hysteria that prevails in this post.
Since Malthus in 1798, doomsday philosophers have been trumpeting the "overpopulation problem."
Here's a fact to consider: you could take all the people in the world (say, 7B), move them to Texas (268820 square miles) and have a lower population density (26039) people/square mile) than NY City (26403 ppl/sq mile).
we did not evolve we were created by god
Wow, some of you people make me so sick. You are absoulutely ridiculous! First of all saying that we were created by God is an opinion so please understand that. Secondly, we do exist, we are here and we cannot change that. Yes we are the problem but there are many people out there willing to change and promote change and there is nothing wrong with that or those people. I do agree however that we are supposed to die, that is the way of the world. But that in itself will not and obviously IS not keeping population in check. I completely agree with government controlled birth control. There should be a limit to how many children a couple can have. It is insane that some people have 5, 6, 7 and even more children. That's ridiculous and utterly selfish. These people are a huge part of the problem. Also, to the person who said that there is so much space in the US, you are a moron. Are we supposed to fill every square inch of this Earth with houses and businesses so that people can continue to take away all of the natural resources. You do realize that we need trees to breathe right?
Very interesting...
this man is smart. he should be ruling this country. someone should listen to him or al gore. even if you are immortal.
The vast majority seem to agree that over population (and Global Warming) are problems that need to be solved ... but most people's attitude is "Hold it, don't do anything yet! Wait till I get mine (house, SUV, TV, job, etc) and then lets do something." Over population is the real problem. Here are two Draconian solutions that should be done concurrently.
1. Everyone from the age of puberty to 60 is offered $1000 (or more) each month in return for taking a contraceptive that lasts for 9-12 months. The money can be used for whatever the person wants; e.g. food, education, savings, toys, etc. If a person wants children, then they (man and woman) stop receiving both the contraceptive and money for 9-12 months to become fertile. Once they have a child, they can receive the monthly contraceptive and money. The amount of money is the same in all countries to discourage migration to countries that would offer larger amounts. Note that the amount is not enough to live on comfortably.
2. All illegal drugs that are confiscated are "poisoned" and put back into circulation. The poison is cumulative and causes extreme nausea and is potentially fatal in some cases. When an addict stops and/or limits using the drug, the poison will leave their system; i.e., minimal drug use, minimal nausea, heavy drug use, heavy nausea. If addicts use their monthly $1000 to buy drugs, then will not produce addicted babies.
you pointed out the obvious and you keep saying "we need to.." but what do you suggest? you've brought nothing new to the table Joe
This problem will never be solved. Example is that there are 25% of Ignorants voted no on this page alone. Even 75 % of us agreed to set the growing to 0, these 25% ignorants will continue to mess up. I hate war but I'm now a strong supporter for war because that's what kill ignorants.
faltu
mexicans breed in america like rabbits so do liberals
I must disagree with you on this one, wouldn't working with the rest of our species to find a large scale solution be better?
There are plenty of solutions already that are viable but would require a big change in lifestyle for a lot of people, which is something that seems out of favor with them.
Things like owning one house, using your legs to get around, not using money for everything (getting rid of money altogether would be better but difficult to have people adjust to) and bringing back compost bins.
There is plenty to be done about our environmental issues but nobody seems to bother about them and instead starts shouting overpopulation and pointing out people they think should be killed or not have children, like the people who were forcefully sterilized in Asia.
Earth still has space and there are food sources that have been all but forgotten that grow in peoples own backyards! There are ways to live in balance with our natural surroundings but like I have said they have pretty much been ignored by most people. Try looking at the Lammas Project, while their ideas might not be suited to big cites they have some good ideas which could be expanded upon and adapted to ease the impact that we are having on the planet.I would also suggest looking into Permaculture and nettle cloth before you all start getting all worked up about how many children need to be gotten rid of to 'save earth'.
After all we call Earth 'mother' for giving us life and
I think, people are, in their own way, important to Earth too.
kick the liberals out of the country.
im tired of listening to what ifs and ideas without no facts to back them up. Its all like facebook. just a place for people to complain. Get a life, i just want to reasearch information on my paper without having to only hear opinions.
We need to shut the power off for at least a month. Not everyone will survive, I bet. Many people would go crazy. Especially city people. Almost everyone is so fixxed up on social networks like idiot facebook 23/7. The other hour is "probably" "maybe" doing something constructive. Not enough. We need to learn how to actually survive. When sh*t hits the fan all of a sudden. A lot of people aren't going to know what to do and how to survive. I think when that happens. The weak will fall, the strong will prosper. Weed out the week. That will fix our overpopulation problems.
Limiting the number of humans able to be born has the unintentional side effect of never getting the mindpower of those humans to solve the issue.
ohh this is cool.
what are the affect of overpopulation?!?!??!?!????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!?!??!?!????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!!!!!!!?!???!?!?!?!?!/!/1/1//1/1/1/1//1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1//1/!??!?!?!
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Michael 3 years ago
rabbits are like humans, if you forget to feed rabbits, they'll eat one another!