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Unit Two

Unit Two. “Human Population”. Human Population Growth. Human population has doubled since 1964 The human population is growing by approximately 78 million individuals annually

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Unit Two

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  1. Unit Two “Human Population”

  2. Human Population Growth • Human population has doubled since 1964 • The human population is growing by approximately 78 million individuals annually • A population paradox is occurring: contraction in post industrial countries, growth in pre industrial/industrial countries

  3. Human Global Population Growth Rates

  4. Human Population Growth cont’d • Reasons for population growth are: • 1. medical advances • 2. improved sanitation • 3. better medical care • 4. increased agricultural output

  5. Human Population Growth cont’d • Can the Earth support increases in the global human population indefinitely? • Recall limiting factors versus carrying capacity • Even if the Earth could support unlimited human growth, how would that affect quality of life?

  6. Demography • Demography – application of population ecology principles to study of change in human populations • Population size - < 6.9 billion • China: 1.3 billion • India: 1.1 billion • USA: 310 million • Various Island Nations: 100,000 or less

  7. Demography cont’d • Population density varies greatly from region to region • 1. resources • 2. stage of demographic transition • Human distribution tends to be clumped spatially; Why? • Humans clump together because of environmental factors, namely temperature and water availability

  8. Demography cont’d • Countries with the majority of individuals being of young age have higher growth rates than countries with a fairly even age distribution

  9. Demography cont’d • Population growth for humans depends on the same factors that determine population growth for other species: • 1. Birth Rate • 2. Death Rate • 3. Immigration • 4. Emigration • Formula: (br + ir) – (dr + er) = growth

  10. Demography cont’d • Fertility rate influences population growth rate • TFR is the average number of children born per female member of a population during her lifetime • TFR is very similar to an ecological term known as Fitness, which measures the total reproductive success of an individual during its lifetime • Fitness = lifetime x annual reproductive success

  11. Demography cont’d • Life Expectancy – number of years an individual is likely to live • Life expectancy has increased in industrialized nations • Stages within Demographic Transition: • 1. Pre-Industrial Stage – birth and death rates are high • 2. Transitional Stage – declining death rates • 3. Industrial Stage – lower death and birth rates • 4. Post-Industrial Stage – low, stable death and birth rates

  12. Population and Society • Factors influence population trends • 1. country’s demographic stage • 2. national population policies • 3. poverty • 4. women’s liberation • 5. diseases like HIV/AIDS • 6. famine due to drought/flooding • 7. political instability

  13. Population and Society cont’d • Will quality of life improve or decline globally in the future? Is quality of life directly linked to size of human population? • Rate of population growth has decreased almost everywhere, and some countries are seeing population declines (European countries) • Human population will not continue to increase forever due to the Earth’s Carrying Capacity!

  14. Population, Evolution, and Eugenics At times, pure scientific research can be distorted to fit a specific social and political agenda Darwin and his theory of evolution is one such example Since the publication of his research various groups have used Darwin’s assertions to support the elimination of the intellectually and/or physically weak within the human population. http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2009/02/beyond-darwin-eugenics-social-darwinism-and-the-social-theory-of-the-natural-selection-of-humans/

  15. Population, Evolution, and Eugenics • "...human weeds,' 'reckless breeders,' 'spawning... human beings who never should have been born." Margaret Sanger, Pivot of Civilization, referring to immigrants and the poor • "The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it." Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race(Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923) • Margaret Sanger is the Founder of Planned Parenthood, which for the last three decades has performed over 300,000 abortions annually and received $363 million dollars in U.S. federal funds in 2009

  16. Population, Evolution, and Eugenics • Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not; • The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation's drinking water or in food; • Single mothers and teen mothers should have their babies seized from them against their will and given away to other couples to raise; • People who "contribute to social deterioration" (i.e. undesirables) "can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility" -- in other words, be compelled to have abortions or be sterilized. • A transnational "Planetary Regime" should assume control of the global economy and also dictate the most intimate details of Americans' lives -- using an armed international police force.

  17. Population, Evolution, and Eugenics • The previous excerpts were from a 1977 book entitled “Ecoscience: Population, Resources, Environment” • Book was coauthored by current “Science Czar” of the Obama Administration, John Holdren • What is government’s role in managing population?

  18. Japan • Japan is beginning to suffer the effects of a national decline in birth rates • Japanese Health Minister called women “Birth giving machines” • http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6306685.stm

  19. Russia • Russia is also beginning to feel the effects of a declining birth rate • http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6624865 • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/9078672/Vladimir-Putin-vows-to-reverse-Russian-population-decline.html • http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100200911/vladimir-putin-hires-boyz-ii-men-to-boost-the-russian-birth-rate-authoritarians-know-how-to-have-fun/

  20. China • China implemented a government program to combat the environmental toll they experienced due to high growth rate • “One Child Policy” began in early 1970’s • Widespread social implications due to program: • large number of abortions (many late term) • many children died of starvation in orphanages • couples “encouraged” to have only one child • Population growth did decline in intensity….. But at what societal cost? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4OWJlyaHt0

  21. India • Country is grappling with a booming population; many women are aborting female babies and still others are forcing girls as young as 1 to go through sex change operations • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2008623/Girls-young-ONE-forced-sex-change-operations-India.html

  22. Birth Control • Co-creator of the birth control pill laments the development of the pill as it has caused a great decline in the populations of many European nations • http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue4672.html

  23. Unintended Consequences • We as a society must be careful of how we address the myriad of concerns that face us as some well-meaning solutions can have devastating long term effects: Japan, Russia, India, China etc.

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