1. POPULATION Problems

2. Thomas Malthus Two Key components of Population management:
Positive Population checks – keep the population levels down through wars, disease, and famine
Negative Population checks- Keep the population levels down through family planning, later marriage, and celibacy

3. Carrying Capacity
Means: The maximum number of people that an environment can support without negative or damaging effects
“Doomsayers like Paul Ehrlich and Garrett Hardin seem to think the Earth has already exceeded its carrying capacity while their critics such as Julian Simon seem to believe the carrying capacity of the planet is infinite”

4. Population Rates Increasing greatly
Every minute of the day, 900 people are born
That makes about 1.3 million people a day
Today the World population is over 6.3 billion
The World Population is expected to double by the year 2050

5. Death Rates Decreasing at a significant rate Better medical treatment
Disease control (Malaria, Small pox)
Better communication and transportation (we are able to assist those in other countries more efficiently and effectively)

6. Results Over population
We have the same amount of Earth and a lot more people to sustain
Famine – people dying of starvation
Stricter laws on child birth in some areas
Poverty – poor living/working conditions

7. How can we deal with this problem?
Educate people on methods of Birth Control (Family planning strategies)
Educate people on the effects of overpopulation
Equality for women – in many countries women do not have the ability to gain access to birth control even if they want it. Often they must have permission from their husbands.

8. China’s Solutions Current population – 1.2 Billion people
1979 – Birth Control Policies introduces
1 Child per couple
Later marrying ages for men and women – late 20’s for men, mid-20’s for women
Spied on people at work and home
Strict Punishment/Reward system for following the rules

9. Punishments no medical care decreased wage
forced sterilizations/abortions
benefits cease
no university acceptance for children
decreased pension
pay back financial benefits from first child

10. Rewards increased wages and bonuses
free vacations for sterilizations/abortions
preferential housing
extra maternity leave and free daycare
free medical care
free tuition for children
extra pension income
guaranteed job for child when they graduate

11. Problems they faced
Female infanticide (killing female babies so that they could have another child with hopes of it being a boy)
Decreased number of people in the family to support it financially (women did not have the same opportunities as men)
Abandonment of female babies (full orphanages)
Social problems – more males than females

12. Present Situation
Couples in rural areas can now have another child after 4 years if the first is a girl
Couples with a female baby get cash bonuses
Girls can now support parents in old age and have jobs and possessions handed down to them.
Old age pension is increased for compliance

13. Successful? Birth rate has decreased by over 200% in the past 40 years
Is that enough?
What about their human rights?
Equality?
Forced Sterilization/Abortion issues?
Labor force?